Best practices for managing firmware

Best practice

Description

Upload the latest HPE Synergy Custom SPP from the appropriate software release.

Download the latest HPE Synergy Custom SPP and then upload the SPP to your appliance repository.

Apply your favorite filter to download an environment-specific SPP.

NOTE:

Each HPE Synergy Custom SPP deliverable contains the SUM and firmware smart components.

Set the same firmware baseline for all devices in a logical enclosure.

Hewlett Packard Enterprise recommends that you set the firmware baseline using the Update Firmware option on the Logical Enclosures screen. This option immediately updates all the devices in the enclosure to the specified SPP level.

Update firmware in the proper sequence.

Although Hewlett Packard Enterprise recommends that you set the firmware baseline for all devices in an enclosure, which installs all firmware in the proper order, you can update firmware on specific components. If you choose to update component firmware independently, upgrade the firmware in the following order: logical interconnect, and then the server profile. Hewlett Packard Enterprise recommends that you install the drivers from the same SPP that contains the firmware.

Update firmware and drivers using SUT when the compute module is powered on and running an OS.

Firmware and drivers can be updated through the server profile when using SUT.

Verify the managed device setting before updating the firmware.

Do not update the firmware using SUM or another external tool, on a managed device unless the firmware baseline is set to Manage manually.

Store SPPs in a separate location from the appliance.

As HPE OneView does not back up the firmware repository, store SPPs in a repository that is not on the appliance, such as in a backup SFTP or HTTPS server. After an HPE OneView restore is performed, retrieve the backed-up SPPs from the SFTP/HTTPS servers and then upload into HPE OneView.

Remove SPPs from the firmware repository.

SPPs that have been uploaded and discovered through an external repository are automatically restored by HPE OneView. Ensure that a backup is taken after adding the external repository.

As an SPP is required when adding resources to the appliance that have versions older than the minimum firmware versions for monitoring or managing, have at least one SPP available at all times. If you want to delete an SPP, reassign all resources to a different SPP before removing the SPP.

Validating firmware updates.

Validate firmware and driver updates in a nonproduction environment before rolling out to production.

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