Description

The Veritas Appliance firmware update tool is a replacement for the Manage > Software > Firmware command. Starting with NetBackup Appliance release 3.1.1 and Access release 7.4.2, Flex release 2.0 this tool is the recommended method for firmware updates.

The Firmware update tool packaged in two forms:

1.       An RPM 

 Firmware update RPMs are currently available for the following appliance platforms and their associated software versions:

New products supported:

• Access 8.1                             – Release 27
• Flex 3.0                                   – Release 27
• NBA 5.1.1                              – Release 27

MR Releases supported:

• Access 8.0.200                 – Release 27
• Flex 2.1.4                            – Release 27
• NBA 5.0.0.1-MR3            – Release 27
• NBA 4.1.0.1-MR5            – Release 27

Support for Flex 3.1.x will be provided in upcoming Release 28 (ETA Late May/Early June 2023).

Do not install Release 27 on Flex 3.1.x.

Existing products supported:

• Access 8.0                            – Release 27
• Access 7.4.3                        – Release 27
• Flex 2.1.1                               – Release 27
• Flex 2.1                                   – Release 27
• NBA 5.0                                  – Release 27
• NBA 4.1                                  – Release 27

Support retired for:

• Access 7.4.2                        – Release 25
• Flex 2.0.x                               – Release 25
• NBA 4.0                                  – Release 25
• NBA 3.3.0.1                           – Release 25
• NBA 3.2                                  – Release 25
• NBA 3.1.2                               – Release 13
• NBA 3.1.1                               – Release 10

On appliance, install Appliance OS release (e.g. NBA 5.0 / Access 8.0 ) before installing the firmware update RPM. Attempting to install Firmware Update RPM before updating appliance OS will give installation error and will not allow Firmware Update.

The RPM installs the Veritas Standalone firmware Update and Recovery Environment. This is a standalone operating system which is booted by the appliance to deploy the firmware updates in a controlled and isolated environment. Upon completion of the firmware updates, the appliance automatically reboots back into the primary application operating system.

Note:

• Uninstalling the firmware update RPM does not revert the firmware changes.
• If an earlier version of this RPM is already installed, you must uninstall the previous RPM first before installing the updated version.
• If SURE 13 version fixes grub.cfg overwrite issue only, no payload change, so if SURE 12 already installed version 13 installation is not required.

2.       An ISO

The firmware update is packaged as a standalone operating system (ISO) till Flex 2.0.x. FLEX product uses ISO form of firmware update tool. Firmware update ISO is currently available for the following appliance platforms and their associated software versions:

• Flex Appliance 2.0.1   – Release 25
• Flex Appliance 2.0     – Release 25

The Steps for firmware update using ISO:

• Make sure IPMI configured for appliance (if not please refer The Appliance Hardware Installation Guide)
• Download firmware update tool iso from Veritas Download Center
• Open IPMI console -> Launch virtual console
• Login to appliance (Flex) from console.
• Attach firmware update tool iso to virtual media/CDROM
• Reboot appliance from appliance (Flex) console.
• On bios post hit F6 -> select boot device Virtual CDROM
• Appliance will boot with firmware update tool, upgrade Firmware versions and reboot setup in appliance OS.

           Note:

• Please connect to Veritas Support for further FW upgrade support/help
• Before running firmware tool upgrade, please confirm alliance OS (upgrade) is not in transient state.

 The ISO installs the Veritas Standalone firmware Update and Recovery Environment. This is a standalone operating system which is boots and updates the firmware in a controlled and isolated environment. Upon completion of the firmware updates, the appliance can be rebooted back into the primary application operating system.

Note:

• The BIOS and the BMC updates occur in the final stage of the firmware update process. During this stage of the installation, the process may appear to stall or hang while applying those updates. If this occurs, you can restart the IPMI console without affecting the installation.

Known Issues:

• Seagate Controller some times do not respond to version check post upgrade. Final report may show as "Upgrade Failed". Please Check the controller version from the available means.
• Even after successful BIOS upgrade, the Correctable Threshold may fail the first time as the hexadecimal input ‘1F4’ is not recognized by the older BIOS (older than 02.01.3013). The older BIOS used hex ‘F4’, limited by the 8 bits. Intel has fixed this issue in the BIOS 02.01.3013. This is a known and expected behavior. So please re-confirm the BIOS version, in case upgrading BIOS older than 02.01.3013.