Cisco C200M1 CIMC Update Process

Just a quick note from the field (as it were).  If you’ve been blessed enough to get a Cisco C-series server, there’s a nifty new Cisco Integrated Management Controller (CIMC) release available as of today’s writing.

Version 1.0(1e) was the shipping release as of January 2010.

Version 1.0(2) is the latest point release available as of March 2010.

To update your CIMC (this assumes you’re using either TFTP or the Browser upload function):

a.) Download the “c200-m1-cimc.1.0.2.zip” file from Cisco’s Support Site (you need to be registered on the Cisco site to do this)

b.) Unpack the archive to it’s own directory and find the “upd-pkg-c200-m1-cimc.full.1.0.2.bin” file. This will be used for your update. (Note: Previously, you would just upload the entire *.zip file via the browser. However, there is a known issue with this process so, you can use the “full” bin file for the CIMC updates.)

c.) Go to the “Admin” tab in CIMC and select “Firmware Management.”  Your screen should look like this:

d.) The upload and install process should begin relatively quickly and look like:

e.) Once complete, you should see the following:

Click on “Activate CIMC Firmware” and you’ll be presented with this screen:

Click on “Activate Firmware” and the CIMC will reboot immediately.

Differences in the CIMC Interfaces between the versions

So, what changed?

Here are the changes I’ve been able to see so far:

Splash Screen:

vs.

Can you spot the difference?

Server Summary Screen:

vs.

Addition of PID, BIOS version, and updated boot order iconography.

Firmware Management:

vs.

Addition of BIOS section, the Recover Corrupt BIOS Action, and the Last Firmware Install section.

Overall Status *(found in the upper left hand corner of the CIMC screen):

vs.

Change from Server Health to Server Status

Overall, some very subtle changes but definitely ones that refine the end-user experience.

Hopefully this helps people out.

Cheers,

Dave G

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Tagged as: Cisco, Cisco C-series servers, Cisco Systems, Cisco UCS, Cisco Unified Computing