Sample catalog file

Figure B-4 shows file 1909.xml , which has been placed in folder 1909 within a repository at www.server.com/bios.

Figure B-4. Sample catalog

<?xml version="1.0" encoding="utf-8"?> <BIOS>

<SysId>1909</SysId>

<Rel Ver="98.61" Date="2013-01-04"Bin="L70_9861.bin" RB="1" L="1" /> <Rel Ver="98.63" Date="2013-02-04"Bin="L70_9863.bin" RB="1" L="0" /> <Rel Ver="98.64" Date="2013-03-04"Bin="L70_9864.bin" RB="1" L="1" />

</BIOS>

This catalog lists the following BIOS versions:

•98.61

•98.63

•98.64

The respective file names and release dates of these versions are:

•L70_9861.bin – released January 4, 2013

•L70_9863.bin – released February 4, 2013

•L70_9864.bin – released March 4, 2013

All three versions support rollback to previous versions (RB=”1”).14

98.61 and 98.64 are considered important updates (L=”1”), while 98.63 is a normal update (L=”0”).

Note

There must be no more than one entry in the catalog for a particular BIOS version.

If the HTTP/FTP server is running on Linux, the filename is typically case-sensitive; if the server is running on Windows, the filename is not typically case-sensitive.

Final caveat

The catalog should accurately reflect the version, date, and other metadata associated with a particular BIOS version, thus allowing a BIOS to locate, download, and enforce the intended update. If the catalog were to provide an incorrect filename, for example, the BIOS would attempt to download and enforce an incorrect update.

Consider the following:

•If the BIOS referenced by the catalog entry for version 98.61 is actually version 99.53, then version 99.53 is installed and enforced.

•If the catalog indicates that a particular .bin file contains BIOS version 98.61 but the file actually contains version 98.60, the update process would report an error indicating a mismatch.

•If the catalog indicates that a particular BIOS version allows rollbacks, while the BIOS itself does not, then the rollback requirement from the catalog is ignored.

To summarize, the logic contained in a newly-updated BIOS is enforced, which may lead to unintended consequences if information contained in the catalog is incorrect.

14Quotation marks are required.

26