Note: This is a supplementary guide to Dell's hardware firmware update procedure from Dell Tech support site for VOS. Please refer to Dell's firmware release note for the firmware bug fixes

https://www.dell.com/support/home/en-vn/?app=products

It is strongly advised to consult with Dell Technical Support regarding Dell hardware support, warranty, RMA service, service agreement, etc. before proceeding with this supplementary guide.


Note: latest UFW release: vep4600_ufw_4.0 (as of 09/27/23)


Note: Versa services will be interrupted. Hard power cycling the system is required. Management/eth0 SSH access is required. Serial console access or BMC/IPMI access is highly recommended.


Note: UFW firmware update is NOT supported in VOS based on Ubuntu Trusty. Check and make sure VOS version is based on Bionic as shown below. Note Versa package name contains "-B" characters at the end.


[root@versa-flexvnf: ~] $ cat /etc/lsb-release 

DISTRIB_ID=Ubuntu

DISTRIB_RELEASE=18.04

DISTRIB_CODENAME=bionic

DISTRIB_DESCRIPTION="Ubuntu 18.04.6 LTS"

[root@versa-flexvnf: ~] $ 


admin@versa-flexvnf-cli> show system details | nomore


 Software Details

   Software Release    21.2.3

   Package name        versa-flexvnf-20230524-123603-9e712c3-21.2.3-B



Dell VEP4600 (V910/930) UFW (Unified Firmware update) tool can be executed in VOS to update following hardware firmware's:

- BMC

- BIOS

- CPLD firmware

- X722 NVM firmware


Step 1:

Check the system model name and Dell Service Tag (system serial number) 


[admin@versa-flexvnf: ~] $ sudo dmidecode -t 1

# dmidecode 2.12

SMBIOS 2.8 present.


Handle 0x0001, DMI type 1, 27 bytes

System Information

        Manufacturer: DELL

        Product Name: VEP-4600-V930

        Version: A2

        Serial Number: 1ABCD23

        UUID: A1234556-B123-C123-D123-E12345678900

        Wake-up Type: Power Switch

        SKU Number: 0ABC1AB02

        Family: VEP-4600



admin@versa-flexvnf-cli> show system details | nomore


 Software Details

   Software Release    21.2.3

   Package name        versa-flexvnf-20230524-123603-9e712c3-21.2.3-B


 Hardware Details

   Hypervisor Type     baremetal

   Manufacturer        DELL

   SKU Number          0ABC1AB02

   Model               VEP-4600-V930

   Serial number       1ABCD23

   Hardware ID number  1ABCD23

   



Step 2: 

Find the latest compatible firmware on the Dell Tech Support site using the Dell Service Tag (serial number).

https://www.dell.com/support/home/en-vn/?app=products



Step 3:

Download the latest Dell UFW (Unified Firmware Updater) available for the given Service Tag

https://www.dell.com/support/home/en-us/product-support/product/virtual-edge-platform-4600-16c/drivers

Example:



Step 4:

Copy the UFW firmware updater to VEP4600 VOS (e.g. /home/admin/).

[admin@versa-flexvnf: ~] $ ls -l vep4600_ufw_4.0

-rw-r----- 1 admin versa 117169451 Jul 26 04:00 vep4600_ufw_4.0


Step 5:


Note: for NIC (x722, x710, i350, etc.) NVM firmware update, stop Versa services.

[admin@versa-flexvnf: ~] $ vsh stop


Access root and set executable permission 

[admin@versa-flexvnf: ~] $ sudo bash

[root@versa-flexvnf: ~] $ 

[root@versa-flexvnf: ~] $ chmod a+x vep4600_ufw_4.0



Step 6:

Run the following command with root privileges to execute the UFW firmware update tool.

Running version in [ ] brackets is the current firmware version.

Packaged version is the new firmware available to update.


[root@versa-flexvnf: ~] $ ./vep4600_ufw_4.0 interactive

Creating directory temp

Verifying archive integrity...  100%   MD5 checksums are OK. All good.

Uncompressing release  100%

cat: /etc/redhat-release: No such file or directory


Making directory ramfs

mounting ramfs

firmware_updater/

...

~/temp ~/temp


is versaos

ethnum is 4, ethlable is Intel

eth is eth5

eth_driver is i40e, eth_version is 4.30

Can’t find matching X722 NVRAM image, BIOS will updated with lowest version of X722 NVRAM image

get X722 version from firmware.files is: 5.00


(Note these packages images are the new firmware's available to upgrade)


    Package version: 4.0

    Packaged images:

        BMC image:  2.30

        BIOS image: 3.59.0.9-24

        CPLD image: 0x12

        Wifi CPLD image: 0x1

        X722 image: 5.00

    Note:If BMC version is less than 1.23 CPLD versions will not be shown correctly


(Note these firmware's in [ ] brackets are the current running firmware's)


    1. Automatically update all firmware components

    2. BMC image[Primary version:2.30, backup version:2.0]

    3. BIOS image[Booted version: 3.41.0.9-21]

    4. CPLD image[CPLD version: 0x12]

    8. intel X722 firmware[X722 firmware version: 4.30]

       Note: also need to update i40e driver to 2.14.13 and DPDK to 20.08 or further version

    9. Reset BMC after CPLD update completion and system bootup

    q. Exit


    Enter your choice:


Note: to exit from UFW, enter 'q'.


Step 7:

Enter your choice to update accordingly. 

To update all firmware's, enter 1.


    1. Automatically update all firmware components

    2. BMC image[Primary version:2.30, backup version:2.0]

    3. BIOS image[Booted version: 3.41.0.9-21]

    4. CPLD image[CPLD version: 0x12]

    8. intel X722 firmware[X722 firmware version: 4.30]

       Note: also need to update i40e driver to 2.14.13 and DPDK to 20.08 or further version

    9. Reset BMC after CPLD update completion and system bootup

    q. Exit


    Enter your choice: 1


Step 8:

Follow the on-screen instructions to continue. 

Note: Some firmware update such as PIC firmware may require UFW firmware updated be run again after a system reboot.



updating ALL images

updating BMC image


****************************

* BMC version = 2.30       *

* Back-up Version = 2.0   *

****************************

Already have 2.30 programmed


updating BIOS image

Already have latest version of BIOS(3.59.0.9-24)


updating CPLD image ./AZUL_CPLD_V12_20210520_norefresh.vme

Already have 0x12 programmed

Power cycle chassis for updates to take effect



Step 9:

After updating and automatic reboot, please poweroff the system and power cycle the system once for some firmware update may require hard power cycle as noted in on-screen instructions.


To gracefully shutdown the system, run the following command:

[admin@versa-flexvnf: ~] $ sudo poweroff


Step 10:

Once system is gracefully power down by poweroff command, hard power cycle the system from the power cord. (remove the power cord, wait ~ 15 seconds, and plug in the power cord again to power cycle the system)


Step 11:

Once system is power cycled and rebooted into VOS, run UFW firmware updater again to verify firmware's are updated accordingly. Current (Running) firmware should be the latest versions. 

Then, select 'q' to exit.


[admin@versa-flexvnf: ~] $ sudo ./vep4600_ufw_4.0 interactive 


    Package version: 4.0

    Packaged images:

        BMC image:  2.30

        BIOS image: 3.59.0.9-24

        CPLD image: 0x12

        Wifi CPLD image: 0x1

        X722 image: 5.00

    Note:If BMC version is less than 1.23 CPLD versions will not be shown correctly


    1. Automatically update all firmware components

    2. BMC image[Primary version:2.30, backup version:2.0]

    3. BIOS image[Booted version: 3.59.0.9-24]

    4. CPLD image[CPLD version: 0x12]

    8. intel X722 firmware[X722 firmware version: 5.00]

       Note: also need to update i40e driver to 2.14.13 and DPDK to 20.08 or further version

    9. Reset BMC after CPLD update completion and system bootup

    q. Exit


    Enter your choice:



    Enter your choice: q


<< DONE >>