Creating a Firmware Image

Creating a Firmware Image

Searching Sun xVM Ops Center 1.1 Sun xVM Ops Center 1.1 Home Provisioning Operating Systems and Firmware

A firmware image is a copy of a particular version of system firmware with associated metadata, so you can then provision the firmware in an automated way through the use of firmware profiles. The firmware metadata helps to determine compatibility between a firmware image and a target system. The metadata that you provide when you import a firmware image includes the firmware type, what system or systems the firmware is for, the version of the firmware, and the dependee firmware (which other firmware does the firmware depend on).

Determining Metadata for a Firmware Image

When you import a firmware image, you need to provide metadata for the firmware update. You can usually find much of the metadata information for a firmware update from its corresponding README file. Here is an example from a README file for ALOM-CMT firmware, where a single binary is deployed to the Service Processor.

• To determine the type and version of the firmware update:

  Latest Sun System Firmware(6.1.2):
                  ----------------------------------
                  System Firmware 6.1.2 Sun Fire[TM] T2000 2006/01/20 18:19
                  ALOM-CMT v1.1.2  Jan 20 2006  18:06:10
                  VBSC 1.1.1  Jan 20 2006  17:56:19
                  Reset V1.0.0
                  Hypervisor 1.1.0 2005/12/15 11:10
                  OBP 4.20.0 2005/12/15 16:48
                  Sun Fire[TM] T2000 POST 4.20.0 2005/12/15 17:19 
  

• To determine the models supported:

  This README is intended for users who wish to 
  upgrade the firmware in their Sun Fire T2000.
  

• To determine if the system needs to be powered off prior to updating the firmware:

  a)To update the Sun System Firmware, the system must be powered off
                                     (i.e. in standby mode).
  

Based on the preceding information, you would provide the following metadata information for the firmware update:

• Available platforms: Sun Fire T2000
• Type: VBSC
• Version: 1.1.1
• Require power off: Yes

For this example, the VBSC firmware sub-component/type with version 1.1.1 was used. You can use any of the other types such as ALOM-CMT:1.1.2 or OBP:4.20.0. However, you must ensure that the version specified is always the firmware sub-component/type. Failure to do so may result in the firmware update operation failing or not being performed.

This example represents one typical conversion of the contents of the README file. Each README file might have a different format for providing the same information required to create the firmware image.

To Create a Firmware Image

You can copy firmware updates for your servers to the proxy server. Once you import a firmware image, you can use a firmware profile to provision it on a server.

Before You Begin:

• Check the firmware update's README file to help you fill out the metadata information about it. See the Determining Metadata Information for a Firmware Image section.
• To import a firmware image, you need to download the firmware file to a directory that is accessible by the satellite server. You may also need to uncompress the files to make sure that you can access the specific firmware file and its README. These files may be stored on the local file system or an NFS mounted file system.
• Most firmware updates to the Service Processor require that the server be shut down prior to the firmware update. If the firmware image has the power off option selected, this is a hard shutdown of the system and you must gracefully bring down the OS prior to attempting firmware provisioning.
• The firmware image is stored in the ImageDownload repository on the satellite server. By default, the repository location is /var/opt/SUNWscn/images/firmware.

1. From the Provisioning menu, choose Firmware.
2. From the Firmware Images menu, choose Create Firmware Image.

The Create Firmware Image wizard is displayed. Note that if you are copying or downloading firmware files from the satellite server, they must be accessible from the satellite server.

To View the Available Firmware Images

You can view the available firmware images that have already been created.

1. From the Provisioning menu, choose Firmware.
2. From the Firmware Images menu, choose View Firmware Images.

The Firmware Images dashboard is displayed and the available firmware images are listed.

To Edit a Firmware Image

You can edit an existing firmware image.

1. From the Provisioning menu, choose Firmware.
2. From the Firmware Images menu, choose View Firmware Images.
3. Find the firmware image you want to edit in the list and double-click on the firmware image name. The firmware image entry expands to a Image Details window.
4. Click Edit.

The Edit Firmware Image wizard is displayed.

To Delete a Firmware Image

You can delete an existing firmware image. Note that You cannot delete a firmware image that is currently part of a firmware profile.

1. From the Provisioning menu, choose Firmware.
2. From the Firmware Images menu, choose View Firmware Images.
3. Find the firmware image you want to edit in the list and double-click on the firmware image name.
4. Click Delete.