Sun Fire[TM] V480/V490/V880/V890 servers: Firmware update information

Asset ID:	1-71-1007526.1
Update Date:	2012-07-30
Keywords:

Solution Type Technical Instruction Sure

Solution 1007526.1 : Sun Fire[TM] V480/V490/V880/V890 servers: Firmware update information

Applies to:

Sun Fire V480 Server - Version Not Applicable and later
Sun Fire V490 Server - Version Not Applicable and later
Sun Fire V880 Server - Version Not Applicable and later
Sun Fire V880z Visualization Server - Version Not Applicable and later
Sun Fire V890 Server - Version Not Applicable and later
All Platforms

Goal

This Technical Instruction is intended as a quick reference for flashing the PROM on a Sun Fire[TM] V480/V490/V880/V890 server. It will also provide information on where the Flash PROM is located, where the enable jumper is located (on different boards), and how to perform the Flash update on a Sun Fire[TM] V480/V490/V880/V890 server.

Go To V480/V490 Steps

Go To V880/V890 Steps

Note: This process will require that you shutdown and reboot your machine. Do not run this unless you can take downtime on the machine.

Fix

Steps for V480/V490

For detailed information, refer to the following files, included with firmware patch # 113034 (as an example, this is not the latest FW patch):

README.113034-xx
unix.flash-update.README
802-3233-xx.ps Sun Flash PROM Guide for Workstations and Workgroup Servers
817-6957-xx.pdf OpenBoot[tm] PROM Enhancements for Diagnostic Operation

(substitute "xx" in the above with the latest revision)

Steps to Follow
Procedure-

To update the firmware a Sun Fire[TM] V480/V490 server, you must:
Boot to the OS level (# prompt).

Download the patch (in this example 113034-xx) The most recent firmware is available here.

Ensure Jumper J1104 (near pci slot 0 on the PCI riser board) is set, so that the flash PROM is write-enabled. This is the default factory position.

SPECIAL NOTE: The OBP Flash PROM is on the centerplane, and the Flash PROM write-enable jumper is on the PCI riser board.

Ensure that the keyswitch is in the NORMAL power-on position (the keyswitch is located behind the right front door) and not the locked or diagnostics position. (Problems will occur if the keyswitch is in the incorrect position). See Document 1006293.1 to verify the keyswitch position for the command line using prtpicl.

There are two options to update the firmware on the Sun Fire V480/V490:

Option #1. As root run the Solaris script that is included in the patch directory.

# chmod 755 unix.flash-update.SunFire480.sh
#./unix.flash-update.SunFire480.sh

(This script is labeled for the Sun Fire V480 but works for the Sun Fire V490 as well)

CAUTION: This script will halt your machine once the Flash update is done. Do not run this unless you can take downtime on the machine.

Option #2. Copy the latest "flash-update" files from the directory containing the patch, to the root directory as follows:

# cp flash*latest /
 # chmod 755 /flash-update*

If your system happens to have Solaris 10 Update 6 or higher the boot process is different. In essence you will be putting the flash-update file into the boot archive, which will allow you to boot from it.

# cd / # echo flash-update* >> /boot/solaris/filelist.ramdisk # bootadm update-archive

In order to boot, this file must be located within the root partition.

Exit the Solaris[TM] Operating System(OS), and go to the PROM's "ok" prompt on the serial port or RSC/LOM console. See <Document 1011888.1> for additional information on setting up RSC/LOM console:

# init 0
 < Shutdown messages >
 ok

Using the "printenv" command, note the contents of the NVRAM configuration variables that have been customized, so that they may be restored later. Pay particular attention to the use-nvramrc? and nvramrc variables for any customized commands. Also, use the devalias command to check for any customized device aliases (these should also be listed under the nvramrc variable above).

type the following ("ok" represents the prompt and should not be typed):

ok boot disk /flash-update-SunFire480-latest

Answer the questions as prompted by the utility.

Take precautions to prevent the loss of system power during the Flash PROM programming process!

Verify the results using the .version command

Steps for V880/V890

For detailed information, refer to the following files, included with firmware patch # 142706 (as an example, this may not be the latest FW patch):

* README.142706-xx
* unix.flash-update.README
* 802-3233-xx.ps Sun Flash PROM Guide for Workstations and Workgroup Servers
* 817-6957-xx.pdf OpenBoot[tm] PROM Enhancements for Diagnostic Operation

(substitute "xx" in the above with the latest revision)

Steps to Follow
Procedure-

To update the firmware a Sun Fire[TM] V880/V890 server, you must:
Boot to the OS level (# prompt).

Download the patch (in this example 142706-xx) The most recent firmware is available here.

Ensure Jumper J3003 (near the RSC slot on IO Board) is set, so that the flash PROM is write-enabled. This is the default factory position.There is no need to switch the jumper before flash updating; however, you must ensure that the keyswitch is in the Power-on or Diagnostics position. When the key switch is in the locked position the flash PROM is write protected.

See Document 1006293.1 to verify the keyswitch position for the command line using prtpicl.

There are two options to update the firmware on the Sun Fire V880/V890:

Option #1. As root run the Solaris script that is included in the patch directory.

# chmod 755 unix.flash-update.SunFire880.sh #./unix.flash-update.SunFire880.sh

(This script is labeled for the Sun Fire V880 but works for the Sun Fire V890 as well)

CAUTION: This script will halt your machine once the Flash update is done. Do not run this unless you can take downtime on the machine.

Option #2. Copy the latest "flash-update" files from the directory containing the patch, to the root directory as follows:

# cp flash*latest / # chmod 755 /flash-update*

# cd / # echo flash-update* >> /boot/solaris/filelist.ramdisk # bootadm update-archive

In order to boot, this file must be located within the root partition.

Exit the Solaris[TM] Operating System(OS), and go to the PROM's "ok" prompt on the serial port or RSC/LOM console. See <Document 1011888.1> for additional information on setting up RSC/LOM console:

# init 0 < Shutdown messages > ok

ok boot disk /flash-update-SunFire880-latest

Answer the questions as prompted by the utility.

Take precautions to prevent the loss of system power during the Flash PROM programming process!

Verify the results using the .version command

References

@<NOTE:1006293.1> - Sun Fire[TM] V440 Server: How Can You Verify the Keyswitch Position Using the Prtpicl Command?
<NOTE:1011888.1> - How to set up and disable the RSC console on Sun Fire[TM] 280R, V480, V490, V880, V890 and V880z servers.

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