IBM eserver xSeries 360 POST/BIOS Flash Diskette Version 1.14 Installation README File CONTENTS ________ 1.0 Overview 2.0 Change History 3.0 Installation and Setup Instructions 4.0 Unattended Mode 5.0 Web Sites and Support Phone Number 6.0 Trademarks and Notices 7.0 Disclaimer 1.0 Overview 1.1 This README file contains the latest information about installing the IBM xSeries 360 POST/BIOS. Before performing the flash update you must follow the update procedure noted in the Dependencies section. 1.2 Limitations - NA 1.3 Enhancements - This version of POST/BIOS supports IBM xSeries 360 system with or without the IBM RXE-100 Remote Expansion Enclosure. - This BIOS flash image update contains an Intel errata patch for the microprocessor firmware. It addresses a potential issue which might cause a system to exhibit erratic behavior such as a system hang, reboot, blue screen or Kernel Panic (Linux), and may also cause in-progress system operations (e.g., file, I/O) to fail. The possibility of this behavior is believed to be limited, but IBM strongly recommends that customers install this update as soon as possible to prevent the possibility of the issues listed above. See Retain Tip H181994 for more details on this issue. 1.4 Dependencies For flash update of POST/BIOS and Remote Supervisor Adapter code: 1.4.1 If the current level of BIOS code on the xSeries 360 is BIOS 1.01 or below, then BIOS 1.02 must be installed before attaching the RXE-100 Remote Expansion Enclosure. 1.4.2 If the current level of BIOS code on the xSeries 360 is BIOS 1.02 or later, attach the RXE-100 Remote Expansion Enclosure. 1.4.3 If the current level of the IBM Remote Supervisor Adapter code in the xSeries 360 is less than 1.01, then the Supervisor Adapter code must be updated. Note: Updating this code must be performed with the RXE-100 Remote Expansion Enclosure attached. 2.0 Change History V1.14 - June 01, 2004 ------------------------- - Updated the microcode for Gallatin processor B1 stepping (CPUID:0F25h, PATCH ID:1D). - Added support for wFlash and lFlash. V1.13 - April 9, 2004 ------------------------- - Added fix to boot from alternate boot sequence for all subsequent warm boots after WOL event occured. - Updated latest microcode for Gallatin processor B1 stepping (CPUID:0F25h, PATCH ID:19) and A0 stepping (CPUID:0F22h, PATCH ID:05). V1.12 - September 4, 2003 ------------------------- - Added in fix to allow emm386.exe to be used when booting the system with the remote boot feature of the Remote Supervisor Adapter. - Fixed the Gigabit ethernet adapter issue for Model 1RX, 2RX and 3RX. Other x360 models do not have this problem. V1.11 - June 13, 2003 ------------------------- - Updated latest microcode for Gallatin processor B1 stepping (CPUID:0F25h, PATCH ID:0E). V1.10 - June 04, 2003 ------------------------- - Updated latest microcode for Gallatin processor B1 stepping (CPUID:0F25h, PATCH ID:0B). - Fixed SMBIOS Type 17 structure for 2GB DIMMs. V1.09 - April 15, 2003 ------------------------- - Added support for Gallatin processor B1 stepping(CPUID:0F25h, PATCH ID:04). V1.08 - March 14, 2003 ------------------------- - Fixed the target abort error during ROM scan of JNIFCX-6562 fiber controller PCI-X adapter card. - Fixed the failed processor number reporting due to MCA error. - Fixed SMBIOS header information. - Added code to support additional warning messages with 2GB DIMMs installed. - Fixed the problem of unrecoverable error that was caused with Netware hot-plug device driver. - Fixed unreported Memory/IO test failure of HCT. V1.07 - February 19, 2003 ------------------------- - Added code to handle Dialogic fax adapter (Model = D/41JCT-LS, Vender ID = 12C7 and Device ID = 0676). V1.06 - October 25, 2002 ------------------------- - Added the enhancement to the ECC logic verification test during POST. - Changed the maximum CPU speed reported in SMBIOS for system with Gallatin processor. V1.05 - October 02, 2002 ------------------------- - Added Serial port support code. - Fixed the problem of ALT-F1 not working with serial console redirection. - Updated Foster Micro Code (patch = 08). - Added Remote Floppy Ghost Disk support. - Fixed the problem of Diagnostics flash update failure in unattended mode. - Changed WOL default setup option to disabled for 8686-1RX/2RX/3RX models. - Added NLS translations. - Modified code to keep SP COM port enabled during serial console redirection. - Resolved the issue of configuration change caused by updating to the latest version of BIOS using RDM. - Changed the Product ID field in MPS table from "NF 6000R SMP" to "CRUSADER SMP". V1.04 - July 11, 2002 ------------------------- - Fixed the code to report "161 - Bad CMOS Battery Error" whenever bad CMOS battery is detected. - Added RXE-100 slots in "Boot Device Location" of Setup. - Updated Intel ethernet PXE ROM to version 4.0.17. - Added remote floppy boot support. - Added in POST/BIOS serial console redirection. This feature can be enabled in system setup and will provide remote console redirection via the serial ports without the service processor. - Modified BIOS defaults to support remote deployment. - Reorganized some menus of IBM BIOS setup screen. - Added support to enable/disable Hyper-Threading technology in SETUP. - BIOS will not log onboard SCSI disabled messages when SCSI cable is connected between the add-on SCSI adapter and connector on the system planar. - Patched the DAC problem of S3 video controller only when onboard SCSI is enabled. - Fixed the incorrect memory type reporting in Smbios. V1.03 - April 2, 2002 ------------------------- - Fixed the problem of cache disabled after installation of Windows operating system. - Patched the DAC problem of S3 video controller which may cause system hang if the system has 8GB memory installed. - Fixed the problem of remote console which may cause system hang. - Tuned the bus timeout of each HOST-PCI bridge to max. value. - Added code to enhance the robustness of PCI-X bridge support. V1.02 - March 29, 2002 ------------------------- - Integrated code to support the attachment of "IBM RXE-100 Remote Expansion Enclosure". - Fixed the problem of "IBM xSeries 360 diagnostics" unable to obtain the status of RXE through service processor. - Fixed ROM scan problem of QLogic SCSI adapter installed in RXE-100. - Fixed the problem of adapter unable to be recognized in "Windows.NET server" operating system when the adapter is hot-removed and then hot-added. - Fixed message displayed for changed field replaceable unit (FRU) in RXE-100. - Changed the 'year' field of copyright message to 2002. - Changed the remote flash update utility to support the method of virtual disk. PLEASE NOTE: (1) If system is installed with BIOS V1.02 (or above), must use packet file(s) for BIOS V1.02 (or above). (2) If system is installed with BIOS 1.01 (or below), must use file(s) for BIOS V1.01 (or below). It should be noted that this change has no impact on "diskette flash update". - Fixed Linux system hang during boot when remote video console is used. - Added PCI(x)-PCI(x) bridge support at boot time. - Corrected some data for SMBIOS. V1.01 - December 19, 2001 ------------------------- - Added code to fix occurrence of IERRs during reboot test caused by an RXE expansion device timeout. - Fixed SMBIOS structure to display correct processor cache size. - OS will now display the same BIOS version as POST. - Flash diskette attributes now being set correctly. - Added a workaround to fix Intel Xeon processor errata which can cause an invalid processor machine check. - Fixed several setup help related problems. - Added a BIOS check for installed adapters with onboard PCI-X. - Added an enhancement to processor MCK initialization requirement by Intel. - Removed Checkpoint 50 and log error for SPINT clear failure. V1.00 - December 13, 2001 ------------------------- - Initial release 3.0 Installation and Setup Instructions The procedure to update the POST/BIOS is as follows: 3.1 Insert the "IBM xSeries 360 POST/BIOS Flash Disk" into drive A. 3.2 Start up or restart your IBM xSeries 360 server. 3.3 The system will boot off of the disk and present a window which allows you the option to flash various options. Choose "1 - Update POST/BIOS". 3.4 You will be asked if you would like to move the current POST/BIOS image to the backup ROM location. If you select 'Y', the current code will be flashed in to the backup bank immediately. 3.5 You will then be asked if you would like to save the current code to a disk. If you select 'Y', you need to have a formatted disk already available, or specify a fully qualified path and file name. 3.6 At this point, the image will be loaded from the disk, and you will be asked to choose which language you wish to use during POST and in Setup. If you select a choice other than English, the selected language will be merged into the image. There is also an option to Quit the flash update on this menu. 3.7 After this completes the system will update the flash ROM with the new code. When this is complete you will be prompted to remove the disk and hit return to reboot the system. 3.8 On the reboot immediately following the flash update the user MUST enter the BIOS Setup utility by pressing when prompted. Upon entering the Setup utility the user must select the "Load Default Settings" line item from the main "Configuration/Setup Utility" menu. Select to load the system default settings. The user must now exit the setup utility and select "Yes, save and exit the Setup Utility". The system will automatically reboot. 4.0 Configuration Information 5.0 Unattended Mode NOTE: This section is for Advanced Users. It describes how to perform unattended flash updates for English only. For all other languages use the procedure in step 3.0. 5.1 Steps for unattended mode. 5.1.1 "shell=flash2.exe" is the content of the config.sys file on the flash diskette. Modify this entry as shown to perform the unattended flash update operation. shell=flash2.exe /u /r 5.1.2 Insert the flash diskette in drive A and start (or restart) the server. 5.1.3 Remove the diskette when the IBM eserver logo screen is displayed at the next reboot. 6.0 Web Sites and Support Phone Number 6.1 IBM Support Web Site: http://www.pc.ibm.com/support 6.2 IBM Marketing eserver Web Site: http://www.pc.ibm.com/us/eserver/xseries 6.3 If you have any questions about this update, or problems applying the update go to the following Worldwide Help Center phone list index URL: http://www.pc.ibm.com/qtechinfo/YAST-3P2QYL.html 7.0 Trademarks and Notices THIS DOCUMENT IS PROVIDED "AS IS" WITHOUT WARRANTY OF ANY KIND. IBM DISCLAIMS ALL WARRANTIES, WHETHER EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING WITHOUT LIMITATION, THE IMPLIED WARRANTIES OF FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE AND MERCHANTABILITY WITH RESPECT TO THE INFORMATION IN THIS DOCUMENT. BY FURNISHING THIS DOCUMENT, IBM GRANTS NO LICENSES TO ANY PATENTS OR COPYRIGHTS. 8.0 Disclaimer