Updating BIOS and IPMI (TS4-672693)

Owned by Joey Houy (Unlicensed)
Last updated: Aug 27, 2021Version comment

Disclaimer: BIOS/BMC FW versions are uploaded and maintained by the motherboard manufacturer, not Exxact. Any issues that arises from performing these updates is not supported by Exxact.

About BIOS/BMC FW (IPMI) Updates

Instructions are further down below.

You would typically need to update BIOS/IPMI to troubleshoot hardware sensors and IPMI event logging issues (false positives/impossible logs like CPU temps at 255°c).

At the time of writing this article (Aug 2021), main difference between BIOS/BMC FW versions 1.x → 2.x and 01.00.32 → 01.00.35 respectfully are as follows:

  • Added Support for 3rd Gen AMD Epyc CPU's
  • Added Support for GPU NVIDIA A40 & A10
  • You cannot roll back from 2.x to 1.x

Full release notes and list of changes can be found in the 'Release note' .pdf's on the same page you obtain the BIOS/BMC FW files, from the board manufacturer's website. The links will change per update, but I linked the manufacturer's system website to where you can obtain and view these files.

https://www.supermicro.com/en/Aplus/system/4U/4124/AS-4124GS-TNR.cfm

If you are conducting routine BIOS/BMC FW updates, please note you may lose any BIOS setting changes when updating BIOS and IPMI files. Some BIOS settings that needed to be changed could affect:

  • Boot Order
  • PXE Boot
  • NVMe devices being identified in BIOS
    • Advanced → PCIe/PCI/PnP Configuration → NVMe Firmware Source
      • AMI Native Support may need to be set to identify NVMe devices in BIOS
  • VGA Priority (main video display)
    • Advanced → PCIe/PCI/PnP Configuration
      • Needs to be set to Onboard for JAVA/HTML5 remote control/console

Instructions

Warning: Make sure no one is touching the system physically, especially anything that could abruptly poweroff or restart the system, during any sort of system update/flashing. A very well-known issue of unexpected poweroff for the system during BIOS/BMC FW flashing is completely 'bricking' the system, rendering it completely useless and irrepairable remotely. All after effects of 'bricking' a system is still unknown. It could cause the system fans to power on without any video display, not powering on at all, or leaving screen artifacts or unresponse system hangs. If any sort of system 'bricking' occurs, you can start a Support Ticket with Exxact to see if an RMA can be opened with the motherboard manufacturer.

These instructions cover updating BIOS/BMC FW versions via IPMI. For more information on how to access IPMI, please view this article: IPMI (TS4-672693)

  1. Verify your current BIOS/FW versions before updating

     My example old BIOS/FW versions

    BIOS Firmware Version: 1.3

    Firmware Version (AKA IPMI): 01.00.32

  2. Grabbing latest BIOS/BMC FW

    On Supermicro's website, there is BIOS and IPMI linked under the system image to obtain the zipped files containing the folder with the necessary .bin file to upload and flash through IPMI

  3. Starting with BIOS flash in IPMI (BIOS Firmware Version)

     Instructions/Expectations: IPMI > Firmware Management > BIOS > Next > Select File (bin file within the unpacked zipped folder > Upload

    If your system is powered on, it will ask you to power off the system.

    Go back and attempt to 'upload' the BIOS file again in Step 2, it will 'Upload Firmware' for about 2-3 minutes, getting stuck at 70% for a majority of it.

    Once 'Upload Firmware' completes, and you regain screen activity and see 'FW Update Mode' graphic displaying in the bottom-left, it will also prompt 'Step 3' to 'Update'; displaying both your 'Existing' and 'New' Version.

    It takes about a minute at 0%, then it will progress all the way to 100% in 4-5 minutes, system will power back on near 100% and will stay on 100% for about 2-3 minutes until it kicks you off IPMI to re-login.

    At this login screen below, it looks odd, because it is. It might state 'invalid username/password' on the first time, and redirect you to the 'normal' looking login screen again.

    Successfully updated BIOS Firmware Version.

  4. Updating Firmware (BMC file)

     Instructions/Expectations: IPMI > Firmware Management > BIOS > Next > Select File (bin file within the unpacked zipped folder > Upload

    System does not need to be powered off for BMC update.

    It will 'Upload Firmware' for about 2-3 minutes, getting stuck at 75% for a majority of it.


    Once 'Upload Firmware' completes, and you regain screen activity and see 'FW Update Mode' graphic displaying in the bottom-left, it will also prompt 'Step 3' to 'Update'; displaying both your 'Existing' and 'New' Version.

    It will gradually progress to 100% in 4 minutes, and then state 'BMC is restarting' for another 4 minutes. At this point, the system's fan will rev up again as-if the system is restarting, and then the IPMI login screen will ask you to login again.

    Successfully updated Firmware (BMC) Version.