HP ProLiant SL250s HP ProLiant firmware management architecture - Page 2

Introduction Servers require firmware updates for many reasons, such as allowing array controllers to work with a new OS making devices run more efficiently, or addressing critical bug fixes. The more sophisticated servers become, the more involved firmware maintenance becomes, because you are dealing with a complex system of servers, operating systems, drivers, and options. Across the entire server industry, the continual integration of more and more hardware components makes firmware management increasingly important. This technology brief explains the HP strategy for providing server firmware updates. We make firmware maintenance simpler and more efficient so you can get maximum value from your hardware and focus your energies on your business instead of IT updates. This paper also provides tips and best practices for updating firmware in your environment more efficiently. HP server firmware strategy We have developed a unified deployment tool to simplify updating HP firmware. The Smart Update Firmware DVD ISO is now the single tool for most firmware updates on ProLiant servers, HP BladeSystem enclosures, and options. The Smart Update Firmware DVD ISO provides two essentials:  HP smart components contain the firmware in a binary image and an OS-specific (Linux® or Windows®) wrapper program that installs the firmware. Smart components typically perform the same functions across OSes and server platforms.  HP Smart Update Manager (HP SUM) is the main deployment tool, or the engine, that drives the firmware updates. We combine the smart components into tested sets of firmware on the Smart Update Firmware DVD. We test the full firmware sets against software, drivers, and ProLiant Support Packs (PSPs) to standardize components and to test system interdependencies. This ensures that the smart components work correctly with other firmware components and the hardware they run on. Because frequent firmware updates cost you time and money, we distribute the Smart Update Firmware DVD at regular intervals. Firmware distribution on comprehensive HP DVDs allows you to make updates less often and on a more predictable maintenance schedule. You can download the Smart Update Firmware DVD ISO from the HP Technical Support website at http://www.hp.com/go/proliant/bladesystem/updates and HP ProLiant Essentials Foundation Pack website at http://www.hp.com/go/foundation. It is also part of the HP Insight Foundation suite for ProLiant kit. Smart components HP creates smart components for the following ProLiant server options:  HP BladeSystem Onboard Administrator  HP BladeSystem Virtual Connect  System ROM  Integrated Lights Out (iLO) and Lights-Out 100 products  Broadcom and QLogic NICs  Power Management Controller  Modular Smart Array Controller (MSA)  Smart Array Controller  SAS and SATA hard drive 2