About Xserve Lights-Out Management Firmware Update 1.1

This update provides enhanced reliability to the monitoring and management features of Intel-based Xserves by changing the Lights-Out Management environment. This update is strongly recommended for all Intel-based Xserve systems.

The Xserve Lights-Out Management Firmware Update 1.1 works only on Intel-based Xserve systems. The update implements version 1.2.8 of the firmware.

Typically, the Lights-Out Management firmware can be updated without requiring a restart and without impacting running Mac OS X Server services. Existing lights-out management settings will be preserved and current Server Monitor connections will be interrupted. If an issue occurs during the firmware flashing, you may be prompted to perform a full firmware flash, which requires a server restart and re-entering the lights-out management settings in Server Monitor.

How to update the firmware

To update the firmware on your Intel-based Xserve, follow one of the sets of steps below. You can print these instructions so that they are available while you update the firmware.

Important: Before proceeding with the update, you should write down your current Server Monitor lights-out management settings.

Updating the Lights-Out Management firmware on the Xserve (directly)

A keyboard and display must be connected to the Xserve to perform these steps, as well as a video card to connect the display to.

  1. Download the update using Software Update or the softwareupdate command line tool--you'll receive a disk image named Xserve LOM Firmware Update 1.1.
  2. Mount the Xserve LOM Firmware Update 1.1 disk image.
  3. Double-click the LOMUpdate.pkg file on the disk image. This installs the updater in (/Applications/Server) on the selected volume.
  4. Go to (/Applications/Server).
  5. Double-click Xserve Light-Out Management Firmware Update.
  6. Click the Update button.
  7. Authenticate as an administrator.

It will take about two minutes to complete the flash and verification. Once complete, the Update application will confirm the successful flash, display the current version, then quit. The Lights-Out Management processor in the Xserve automatically will reboot and should begin running the new firmware without any interruption to Mac OS X Server running on the host.

If an issue occurs during flashing, you may be prompted to perform a full firmware flash, which requires you to restart the server and re-enter the lights-out management settings in Server Monitor. After a full firmware flash, the current version will not be available until after the restart has been performed. You may run the updater again to see the current firmware version.

Updating the Lights-Out Management firmware remotely using Remote Desktop

  1. On a Remote Desktop admin computer, download the update using Software Update or the softwareupdate command line tool--you'll receive a disk image named Xserve LOM Firmware Update 1.1.
  2. Mount the Xserve LOM Firmware Update 1.1 disk image.
  3. Copy the package file named "LOMUpdate.pkg" to the desktop of your Remote Desktop admin computer.
  4. Open Remote Desktop.
  5. Select the target server(s) in your preferred computer list
  6. Either drag the "LOMUpdate.pkg" package into the window or choose Install from the Remote Desktop menu. This installs the updater in (/Applications/Server) on the selected volume.
  7. From the Remote Desktop, choose Unix (for "Send Unix Command").
  8. Run the updater on the Xserve by typing the following command on a single line:
sudo /Applications/Server/Xserve\\ Lights-Out\\ Management\\ Firmware\\ Update.app/Contents/MacOS/Xserve\\ Lights-Out\\ Management\\ Firmware\\ Update –remote

It will take about two minutes to complete the flash and verification. Once complete, the Update application will confirm the successful flash, display the current version, then quit. The Lights-Out Management processor in the Xserve automatically will reboot and should begin running the new firmware without any interruption to Mac OS X Server running on the host.

If an issue occurs during flashing, you may be prompted to perform a full firmware flash, which requires you to restart the server and re-enter the lights-out management settings in Server Monitor. After a full firmware flash, the current version will not be available until after the restart has been performed. You may run the updater again to see the current firmware version.

Updating the Lights-Out Management firmware remotely using Terminal

  1. Use Terminal to SSH into the Intel-based Xserve that you wish to update (as an administrator).

  2. After connecting via SSH, use the softwareupdate command line tool to install the Xserve LOM Firmware Update. This installs the updater application in the Xserve's (/Application/Server) directory, but does not perform the firmware update itself.

  3. To update the firmware, run the updater with this single-line command (in Terminal):

sudo /Applications/Server/Xserve\\ Lights-Out\\ Management\\ Firmware\\ Update.app/Contents/MacOS/Xserve\\ Lights-Out\\ Management\\ Firmware\\ Update –remote

If your Intel-based Xserve's firmware needs to be updated, the Xserve Lights-Out Management Firmware Updater will display instructions (in English, in the Terminal window). If your firmware is up to date or if an issue occurs, that information will be sent to the Terminal window. If a full update is required, Terminal will display a message indicating that, and you'll need to re-enter your Lights-Out Management settings using Server Monitor when the update is complete.

If an issue occurs during flashing, you may be prompted to perform a full firmware flash, which requires you to restart the server and re-enter the lights-out management settings in Server Monitor. After a full firmware flash, the current version will not be available until after the restart has been performed. You may run the updater again to see the current firmware version.

Published Date: Oct 10, 2016