ts202c v68b fw relnote

This document, "hp AlphaServer TS202c V6.8B Firmware Release Notes and Update Procedures" (September 2005), details significant changes in this firmware release and provides methods for updating console firmware.

Key points include:

1. Scope & Audience: It's intended for system administrators responsible for OS installations/upgrades and firmware updates.
2. Golden Rules: Emphasizes updating all console firmware (SRM, ipmi_booter, ipmi_rt, ipmi_sdr, SROM, and TIG) before installing or updating an operating system to ensure compatibility, and explicitly warns against loading older firmware versions.
3. Console Changes (V6.8B): The main enhancement in this release is an adjustment to the Memory Timing Register to improve DIMM reliability in elevated temperature environments.
4. Compatibility: Provides a matrix of compatible operating system (Tru64 Unix V5.1B, OpenVMS V1.98-35) and various firmware component revisions. It notes that SRM (V6.8-20) and SROM (V1.3G) have changed since the previous release.
5. Helpful Hints: Offers console commands to clear FRU table error flags (clear_error all, init) and the console error log (info 7 to display, info 8 to clear).
6. Manageability Subsystem (IPMI):
   • Specifies IPMI firmware versions (Runtime V1.0B, Booter V1.0A, SDDR V1.0A).
   • Hardware Requirement: This firmware release requires Pass 2 (or later) Falcon hardware (54-30410-02 or 54-30520-01) and is not supported on Pass 1 Falcon platforms.
   • Restrictions: Critical warnings are issued regarding IPMI updates, including the necessity to install specific SDR Build Record Repository versions, not rolling back runtime images, and most importantly, halting all Intelligent Platform Management Bus (IPMB) activity from add-on devices prior to performing an LFU update to prevent firmware corruption and potential inoperability of the manageability subsystem.
   • Issues Addressed (from V6.3 release): Lists numerous fixes related to Block Transfer, BMC-To-Host interrupts, I2C driver, OEM SDR records, and power supply sensor thresholds.
7. Firmware Update Procedure:
   • Updates are performed using the Loadable Firmware Utility (LFU) from the Alpha Systems Firmware Update CD.
   • The LFU operates in two modes: Default-update mode (updates SRM, SROM, ipmi_booter, ipmi_rt) and Manual-update mode (updates all firmware, including ipmi_sdr and TIG). Manual mode is recommended to ensure all components are updated.
   • Users must manually confirm updates, especially in manual mode. The document provides example command line interactions for both update modes.
8. Console Firmware Change History: Details updates and fixes across previous firmware versions (V6.8a down to V6.3), including Gigabit Ethernet driver fixes, support for new adapters, improvements to the LFU, and memory configuration bug fixes.

In essence, the document serves as a guide for updating the AlphaServer TS202c firmware to V6.8B, highlighting a critical memory reliability fix, crucial compatibility requirements, and detailed instructions with warnings regarding the update process for its various components, especially the IPMI subsystem.