DELL SERVER (Poweredge T610 & T420) - UPDATING BIOS...

[Koldov]

Eeeeeeeek!

 

First time I've ever done this on a server, hoping to do it in the holidays!

 

Is there anything to watch out for specifically?

 

I've read things like 'Help! Updating Dell BIOS Firmware has Bricked My iDRAC' and other equally concerning things....

 

Honestly I've never really looked at that sort of stuff on the server, so I'm unsure what other software/firmware (Lifecycle Controller, OSMA, Raid Controller, VM's etc.) are installed on the server and what a bios change will impact.

[networkmangler]

I came into work Monday to find our Dell Poweredge R440 offline and a pink screen reporting a hardware error. I restarted it and all has been fine since

 

I contacted dell and sent them some support logs. They said our hardware seems fine but the error was most likely cause by an out of date BIOS version

 

So they have sent me a list of updates and bug fixes, which means I will be doing the same as you

[Oaktech]

I've done my T610 (and it is 'mine', it's my desktop PC). It went fine. took a nerve racking 20 minutes, but nothing exciting happened.

[computer_expert]

I ran this on an R420. Don't use iDRAC enterprise to mount the ISO then run the updates otherwise you will be in for a world of pain. https://www.dell.com/support/article/uk/en/ukbsdt1/sln296511/update-poweredge-servers-with-platform-specific-bootable-iso

 

This ISO won't do things like the PSU firmware for good reason and may not have the latest updates if they were released after the ISO image was built.

[TwistedHelixis]

About 5 years ago I bricked a dell server. Something to do with the iDRAC needing to be on a very specific version when another part gets updated, I had no idea about this and just updated, ouch.

 

Recently updated a couple using the F10 at boot > Lifecycle Controller option. The Lifecycle Controller update system has recently been updated itself, and is meant to be more stable now.

 

I have also done the ISO method mentioned above and that has been good.