Updating server blades, Dell PowerEdge 1855 Blade Server

SYSTEMS MANAGEMENT

Updating the

Dell PowerEdge 1855 Blade Server

Chassis and Server Blades

Many hardware components in the Dell™ PowerEdge™ 1855 blade server have been designed with a firmware upgrade option—including the Dell Remote Access Controller/ Modular Chassis (DRAC/MC) management module; server baseboard management controllers; I/O modules; and keyboard, video, mouse modules. This article discusses standards-based frameworks for updating individual server blades and available software utilities as well as recommended methods and best practices for updating chassis component firmware.

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Dell PowerEdge blade servers

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BY NARAYAN DEVIREDDY AND RUOTING HUANG

Equipped with 10 server blades and several I/O mod- ules and management modules, the Dell PowerEdge 1855 blade server contains numerous system software components to update during the change-management process. Although best practices dictate careful planning and methodical implementation when deploying system software updates for the PowerEdge 1855 blade server, such change management need not be difficult. As is the case with other PowerEdge servers, administrators can manage software updates for the PowerEdge 1855 blade server using standards-based Dell OpenManage™ tools, third-party enterprise change-management

tools, or both.

processes in their IT organization to manage updates to PowerEdge 1855 server blades. On PowerEdge 1855 server blades, administrators can typically update firmware on the following system software components:

•Server system BIOS

•Baseboard management controller (BMC)

•PowerEdge Expandable RAID Controller 4, Integrated Mirroring (PERC 4/IM)

•Adaptec SCSI Card 39160

•SCSI hard disk drives

•OS-level drivers