Upgrading Earlier Release Servers for Cisco UCS Manager Integration

This chapter includes the following sections:

Overview

If your server version is earlier than 1.2 (2) release, and you want to integrate that server with Cisco UCS Manager, you have to upgrade the CIMC version to 1.2.

Important:
  • The server must be a Generation M2 (or later) server.
  • Release 1.3(x) does not support UCS integration. Do not upgrade your server later than 1.2(2xx) if you want to use the server in UCSM mode with UCS Manager 1.4 or 2.0(1).

See the following URLs for additional information about the equipment in this configuration.

Required Items for Upgrade

The hardware configuration described in this procedure provides redundant network fabrics and paths for both management traffic and data traffic. The following items are required to create this configuration.
  • A Cisco UCS system running Cisco UCS Manager software release 1.4(1x) or 2.0(1x).
  • A Cisco UCS C-Series M2 server with a Cisco 10-Gb adapter card installed.

    Note
    • The server CIMC and BIOS firmware must be at version 1.2(1a) or later before you can use the Cisco Host Upgrade Utility as described in this procedure.
    • If you install a Cisco UCS P81E Virtual Interface Card (N2XX-ACPCI01), see Special Considerations for the Cisco UCS P81E Virtual Interface Card (N2XX-ACPCI01) in Install and Upgrade Guides.. To use this card for UCS integration, the minimum card-firmware level is 1.4(1i).
  • A physical VGA monitor and a USB keyboard.
  • The Cisco UCS C-Series 1.2(2xx) standalone software release container for your server. The software release is distributed on Cisco.com as an ISO file that contains the Host Upgrade Utility and required firmware.
  • (Optional for local upgrades) A writable DVD with at least 23 MB of space.
  • Two Cisco UCS 6100 Series or 6200 Series FIs.
  • Two Cisco Nexus 2248 FEXes.

    Note

    You must plug a power cord into each of the two power supplies in the FEX. If a power supply is not connected to power, you might see “Major” faults reported during power-on self test (POST). For example, Power supply 1 in fex 6 power: error. You can clear these errors by connecting the missing power cord to the FEX power supply.
  • Two RJ-45 Ethernet cables.
  • Four 10-Gb SFP cables.

Upgrading and Connection Procedures

If your C-Series Rack-Mount Server card-firmware does not meet the required criteria for integration with Cisco UCS Manager, you must upgrade the server. Before upgrading, the server must be installed in your rack and connected to power. Upgrading an earlier release server to latest release version is a two step procedure:

  1. Upgrading the C-Series Server Firmware
  2. Connecting the C-Series Server with Cisco UCS Domain in Cluster Setup

Upgrading the C-Series Server Firmware

Cisco UCS C-Series server CIMC Release version 1.2(2) is the required level for integration with Cisco UCS Manager 1.4 or 2.0(1). If your server CIMC release version does not meet the requirement for integration with Cisco UCS Manager, make sure to upgrade the server firmware before connecting the server with Cisco UCS domain. For more information on upgrading the C-series server firmware, see the host upgrade utility quick start guide for your release http:/​/​www.cisco.com/​en/​US/​products/​ps10493/​products_​user_​guide_​list.html

    Step 1   Find the Host Upgrade Utility ISO file download for your server online and download it to a temporary location on your workstation:
    1. See the following URL: http://www.cisco.com/cisco/software/navigator.html
    2. Click Unified Computing and Servers in the middle column.
    3. Click Cisco UCS C-Series Rack-Mount Standalone Server Software in the right-hand column.
    4. Click your model of server in the right-hand column.
    5. Click Unified Computing System (UCS) Server Firmware.
    6. Click the release number that you are downloading.
    7. Click Download Now to download the ISO file.
    8. Verify the information on the next page, then click Proceed With Download.
    9. Continue through the subsequent screens to accept the license agreement and then browse to a location where you will save the ISO file.
    Step 2   Prepare the ISO. For local upgrade, on a local media and for remote upgrade, as a virtual device:
    Option Description

    Local upgrade
    Perform the steps before going to Step 3:
    1. Burn the ISO image onto a writable DVD.
    2. Connect a VGA monitor and USB keyboard to the Cisco C-Series server.
    3. Insert the DVD into the DVD drive of the Cisco C-Series server or an external DVD drive.

    Remote upgrade
    Perform the steps before going to Step 3:
    1. Use a browser to connect to the CIMC Manager software on the server that you are upgrading.
    2. Enter the CIMC IP address for that server in the address field of the browser, then enter your user name and password.
    3. Launch a KVM Console window (click the KVM keyboard icon).
    4. When the Virtual KVM Console window launches, select Tools > Launch Virtual Media.
    5. In the Virtual Media Session window, click Add Image and navigate to the utility ISO file and select it. Navigate to the location where you downloaded the ISO. The ISO image is displayed in the Client View area.
    6. In the Virtual Media Session window, select the check box in the Mapped column for the ISO file that you added, and then wait for mapping to complete. Observe the progress in the Details area. Now the ISO image is mapped to the remote device.
    Step 3   Boot the server and press F6 when prompted to open the Boot Menu screen.
    Step 4   On the Boot Menu screen, select the device where you prepared the ISO in Step 2:
    • If you are upgrading locally, select the physical CD/DVD device and then press Enter (for example, SATA5:TSSTcorp CDDVDW TS-L633C).
    • If you are upgrading remotely, select Cisco Virtual CD/DVD and then press Enter.

    The server is rebooted from the device you choose.
    Step 5   A screen appears with the server BIOS and CIMC firmware versions. Answer the prompt, Have you read the Cisco EULA (end user license agreement)?
    • Press y to accept the EULA and continue the update.
    • Press n to read the EULA. The EULA is displayed and you are prompted to press y to continue the update, or n to cancel. If you press n, the server will reboot without updating.
    • Press q to exit without updating. This selection reboots the server.

    The Host Upgrade Menu screen displays.
    Step 6   Upgrade all the firmware by entering the number for the All the above menu item at the Enter Choice prompt:

    The utility selects the correct firmware components for your server and then upgrades the firmware. Watch your console screen until you see confirmation that the upgrades were successful, then go to Step 7.
    Step 7   In Host Upgrade Menu, at the Enter Choice prompt, enter the number for the Reboot (Configures CIMC to UCSM mode—default factory settings) menu item to reboot the server with UCSM mode settings.

    The utility reboots the server with UCSM mode settings. This mode allows integration with the Cisco UCS environment.

    Note   
    • The new CIMC firmware is activated automatically during this reboot.
    • These UCSM mode settings enable DHCP, Active-Active NIC redundancy, and Shared LOM NIC mode, which enables CIMC control through the 1-Gb LOM ports, rather than the management port. Any static IP addresses and the management port are disabled, so you lose connection with the CIMC.
    What to Do Next

    After upgrading the server to the compatible server release version, you must establish the physical connection for the server to make it a part of Cisco UCS domain.To connect the server to your Cisco UCS FEXes and FIs, see Connecting the Server with Cisco UCS Domain.

    Updating Cisco UCS P81E VIC Firmware and uboot Image in Integrated Servers

    If your Cisco UCS P81E VIC firmware and uboot version is earlier than 2.0(2g), when you integrate the server with any Cisco UCS Manager version, the UCS Manager software will return discovery and associate/disassociate failures. To avoid such failures you can do the following:

    • Before you integrate the server with UCS System, upgrade your P81E VIC firmware and uboot image to the required minimum 2.0(2g) level in standalone mode.
    • If your server is already integrated, you cannot upgrade the P81E VIC uboot image in the UCS Manager software. You have to remove the server from the integration and then use Cisco Host Upgrade Utility to upgrade the card and server firmware. The following procedure provides the process to upgrade when your server is integrated with Cisco UCS Manager.
      Step 1   Decommission the server from UCS Manager.
      Step 2   Disconnect the cables from the 1-Gb LOM ports on the server.
      Step 3   Connect an Ethernet line from your LAN to one of the 1-Gb LOM ports (not to the dedicated management port, which is disabled in UCSM mode).
      Step 4   Find the Host Upgrade Utility ISO file download for your server online and download it to a temporary location on your workstation:
      1. See the following URL: http://www.cisco.com/cisco/software/navigator.html
      2. Click Unified Computing and Servers in the middle column.
      3. Click Cisco UCS C-Series Rack-Mount Standalone Server Software in the right-hand column.
      4. Click your model of server in the right-hand column.
      5. Click Unified Computing System (UCS) Server Firmware.
      6. Click the release number that you are downloading.
      7. Click Download Now to download the ISO file.
      8. Verify the information on the next page, then click Proceed With Download.
      9. Continue through the subsequent screens to accept the license agreement and then browse to a location where you will save the ISO file.
      Step 5   Prepare the ISO. For local upgrade, on a local media and for remote upgrade, as a virtual device:
      Option Description

      Local upgrade
      Perform the steps before going to Step 3:
      1. Burn the ISO image onto a writable DVD.
      2. Connect a VGA monitor and USB keyboard to the Cisco C-Series server.
      3. Insert the DVD into the DVD drive of the Cisco C-Series server or an external DVD drive.

      Remote upgrade
      Perform the steps before going to Step 3:
      1. Use a browser to connect to the CIMC Manager software on the server that you are upgrading.
      2. Enter the CIMC IP address for that server in the address field of the browser, then enter your user name and password.
      3. Launch a KVM Console window (click the KVM keyboard icon).
      4. When the Virtual KVM Console window launches, select Tools > Launch Virtual Media.
      5. In the Virtual Media Session window, click Add Image and navigate to the utility ISO file and select it. Navigate to the location where you downloaded the ISO. The ISO image is displayed in the Client View area.
      6. In the Virtual Media Session window, select the check box in the Mapped column for the ISO file that you added, and then wait for mapping to complete. Observe the progress in the Details area. Now the ISO image is mapped to the remote device.
      Step 6   Boot the server and press F6 when prompted to open the Boot Menu screen.
      Step 7   On the Boot Menu screen, select the device where you prepared the ISO in Step 2:
      • If you are upgrading locally, select the physical CD/DVD device and then press Enter (for example, SATA5:TSSTcorp CDDVDW TS-L633C).
      • If you are upgrading remotely, select Cisco Virtual CD/DVD and then press Enter.

      The server is rebooted from the device you choose.
      Step 8   A screen appears with the server BIOS and CIMC firmware versions. Answer the prompt, Have you read the Cisco EULA (end user license agreement)?
      • Press y to accept the EULA and continue the update.
      • Press n to read the EULA. The EULA is displayed and you are prompted to press y to continue the update, or n to cancel. If you press n, the server will reboot without updating.
      • Press q to exit without updating. This selection reboots the server.

      The Host Upgrade Menu screen displays.
      Step 9   Select the option to Update UCS P81E VIC. This will update the card firmware and uboot image to the required level.
      Step 10   Select the option to Update CIMC Firmware. This will update the CIMC firmware.
      Step 11   Verify the firmware levels on the next screen.
      Step 12   Select the option to Reboot the machine.
      Step 13   When you see the F8 prompt during rebooting, press F8 to open the CIMC Configuration Utility.
      Step 14   In the CIMC Configuration Utility, select the option CIMC Factory Default, then press F10 to save your changes.
      Step 15   Return the cables from the FEXes to the 1-Gb LOM ports on the server.
      Step 16   Recommission the server in UCS Manager.