How to update Server firmware using HP Service Pack
HP released HP Service Pack for Proliant and you can use it to update both firmware and driver of your HP Proliant ML, DL, SL and Blade Server. As every HP customer want easy access to all of the necessary firmware and driver components in a single location, HP has introduced HP Service Pack.
HP Service pack is a combination of your HP Smart Update Firmware DVD and HP Proliant Support Pack. Now using HP Service Pack, you can update drivers and firmware at one go. This will eliminate the use of Firmware DVD to update Firmware and usage of Proliant Support pack to update the drivers of your Server as you have both included in one DVD.
At HP Service pack download page, you can either download the bootable Complete ISO file which supports both online (driver and firmware) and offline implementation (firmware only). You also have an option to choose separate non-bootable ISO files available for Red Hat Linux, SUSE Linux and Windows (Only Online method). Online methods are currently supported on Red Hat Linux, SUSE Linux and Windows OS. If you need to update any firmware on a server which has Vmware installed, then you need to use Offline method using the complete ISO file.
To know more about HP Service Pack and downloads, please refer our guide at:
Guide: HP Service Pack for ProLiant released
Here, I have downloaded the complete ISO file and I am updating Server firmware offline. I prefer updating Server offline as I feel it is the best method. Remember that you can use the same complete ISO file to update both Firmware and Drivers when used in Windows or Linux.
Updating firmware of Server Offline using HP Service Pack
1. Boot the server from HP Service Pack (From DVD/using iLO Virtual media).
2. Once the server boots from HP Service Pack, below provided screen will appear.
3. At the Boot menu, select Interactive Mode (Automatic is default).
4. Please wait while HP Service Pack loads on your Server.
5. Select the Language from below provided screen.
6. Accept HP End User License Agreement (EULA) and click Next
7. At below provided screen, click Launch HP SUM
8. Please wait while HP Smart Update Manager loads.
9. HP Smart Update Manager will open and start building Inventory of Available Updates.
10. HP SUM will Check Installed Firmware of your Server.
11. Now you are at Select Bundle Filter window.
12. You need to select HP Service Pack.
13. Once you select HP Service Pack, click OK
14. Now all the applicable firmware update for your Server will be listed in below screen.
15. Here, I selected firmware update for HP Smart Array P212, P410 as I did not want to update others.
16. Once you choose the firmware update, Click on Install button.
17. HP Smart Update Manager will install the selected Firmware updates on your Server.
18. Please wait till it finishes the firmware upgrade process.
19. Congrats, we have successfully update the firmware of the Server now.
19. Click on Reboot Now for the firmware update to take affect.
You can use the HP Service Pack Complete ISO file in Online mode and update both drivers and firmware at one go. When you use Offline method, you can only update firmware not drivers..