How to update BIOS and firmware using Dell Lifecycle Controller | what to do when it doesn't work

[@stefanharms8545]

Even in 2024 your video is still helpful. Thank you

[@ArtofServer]

very happy to hear that. i'm glad it is still helpful! thanks!! :-)

[@TheMightyAgency]

Everyone consumes how-to/tutorial differently and I have to say the way you explained things matches the way I learn things so I very much appreciate your video. I am in the midst of investigating a problem that requires me to go through the steps you described so it's good to know all the possible pitfalls ahead of time. Speaking of that, I'm trying to resolve "The System board BP1 PG voltage is outside of range" for a R730XD. Google search tells me to apply an update related to CPLD but there's no such update for the R730XD. If anyone ever experienced this error and have a solution, I'd greatly appreciate. This error is causing the server to randomly restart the server, which as you can imagine is a showstopper.

[@ArtofServer]

Glad this video was helpful. I think this article might be helpful for you? : www.dell.com/support/kbdoc/en-us/000144335/r740-r740xd-the-system-board-bp1-pg-voltage-is-outside-of-range

[@TheMightyAgency]

@@ArtofServer Thanks. I've seen this. As mentioned, this is for the 740xd while mine is a 730xd. The download list doesn't contain anything pertaining to CPLD for the 730xd. I actually performed the updates (after upgrading the LC Controller as outlined in your video). The latest version, released late last year, had the https site pre-populated once you clicked on the https option. I recall you had to provide the site yourself. So that's an improvement from Dell I guess.

[@geoffhalsey2184]

Updated a R320 today by following this video. Brilliant.

[@ArtofServer]

Glad this helped! :-)

[@weak.]

This is the one and only video that helped for the real things. Showed and solved all problems. Thank you so much! I'm a beginner at server stuff and this was just amazing

[@ArtofServer]

Glad it helped!

[@frclayton]

So many research hours saved!!! Thanks once more for this educating video. I had an outdated - and nearly useless - Idrac7 firmware, now is "brand new".

[@ArtofServer]

Happy to hear it! glad this helped! :-)

[@Renholder76]

I performed these same steps in 2023 on a Dell poweredge t430 using Ubuntu 22.04.3 live from usb. Thank you for your help!

[@ArtofServer]

Glad this helped! :-)

[@colekelley9923]

Im on ubuntu as well, but when I run the binary it gives the error: “command not found.”

[@harshbarj]

My hope is these systems keep getting updates for years to come. For a lot of uses they are more than enough.

[@ArtofServer]

It would be nice, but Dell is not likely to continue to support EOL products. They have already removed access to some of their older server support files.

[@harshbarj]

@@ArtofServer Guess I better hurry up and get my T420 running then. It's sad that a machine like this which can still do the work more modern systems can is just being pushed aside. I'm a big supporter of reusing rather than throwing away. I rescued a NOS T320 from being recycled at work. It's why I bought the T420. I mean how much horsepower do I need for a file server that will also run a Minecraft and Rust Server?

[@opvallend4672]

Make a video how to setup the network settings and Idrac 7 via the lifecycle controller

[@pavelkristofik5269]

Hello, good to hear that you are back on your feet. Thanks for info, helpful.

[@ArtofServer]

Thank you!

[@rogerdebortoli88]

Thanks for the video, worked for me on R715 and R710 servers running ubuntu from USB stick

[@ArtofServer]

Glad it helped

[@jeremiahbright706]

For the cert saying its not trusted, either the idrac client can't lookup the cert, like no certificate stores to check root CAs, or it has an issue because the domain has a wildcard cert installed, some clients don't like that. But I agree, Dell should fix that, this entire ecosystem is in their control. I also noticed it lists the server at the time of updates as having a \ at the end. not sure if you typo'd that or if its a bug in their software

[@roboknight]

This still doesn't seem to work as I got some kind of "login credential" error after I got to the point where it was trying to connect to the shares. Not sure what to do here. Guess I'll have to do this the manual way. Error was: "Unable to connect to the network share (SWC0066)... according to DELL: Dell EMC Lifecycle Controller Engineering is aware of this issue and is working on solution for this behavior. When updated iDRAC/ Lifecycle Controller code is available, an update will need to be applied to iDRAC to resolve.

[@rmgnair]

Thank you very much for making this video, and for the efforts. Well described.

[@ArtofServer]

You're welcome! glad it was helpful!

[@mikebloomberg9975]

Great video! For folks that are getting errors (package error in linux or the inability to verify in the lifecycle controller or idrac interface) when attempting to update you may need to do a step approach to updating (dell article #000135299). For me I had to update to 2.40.40.40 before I could update to 2.65.65.65, although the error messages are useless; hopefully, this saves someone the hour it cost me.

[@ArtofServer]

thanks for sharing that tip! :-)

[@bn406]

helped me. Thanks mate

[@kylejoel87]

Thank you for the video, I really appreciate it. Did you find out why you got no netowk connection afterwards? Because I have the same problem now.

[@ArtofServer]

upon reboot, the network connection worked again.

[@antfooo]

Amazing video. So well done.

[@ArtofServer]

Thank you very much!

[@zadkieladdae8145]

Happy New and hope in are in good health now. I appreciate your hard work.

[@ArtofServer]

Happy New Year! Thank you 😊

[@Muscleduck]

Thanks so much for this video. I've picked up a server a while back but haven't gotten around to setting it up. This video will definitely help. I'm trying to learn about server stuff. Though 1 remark, but it's towards Dell: why are there no release notes available for these updates? I like reading those, especially with bios and firmware updates.

[@ArtofServer]

Glad this helped you. Thanks for watching.

[@CoolDude-vc2fl]

i have heard that if you dont update every version of life cycle firmware in sequence then it will brick the life cycle controller. I bricked R630 once and i am not willing to take a chance.

[@ArtofServer]

I've heard the same, but never had that problem.

[@elcolin_]

I want to follow along, but I'm lost from the get-go. Trying to learn/understand what the iDRAC and Lifecycle Controller are and do, but we're talking about updating the BIOS etc in this video and you're like already logged into the iDRAC, somehow? How? Is this Red Hat Linux in the background of this window of this video? How do we even get to this point first?

[@ArtofServer]

the iDRAC is for remote and out of band management of the server. the LCC (lifecycle contrller) is used to maintain all the firmwares of the machine and the various components in it. i'm using a Fedora workstation machine, but it really doesn't matter. you use any web common web browser to connect to the idrac virtual console, or you can just use the server connected to a monitor and keyboard directly. from there, you can enter the LCC to perform what is shown in this video. If that still doesn't make sense to you, unfortunately, I do not currently have any content that is more basic to help you out.

[@elcolin_]

@@ArtofServer Thanks I guess it would help if I could even get my damn R430 online. It won't connect to the internet via ethernet no matter what I do. I've tried my verified working ethernet cable coming off my router into each of the FOUR different NIC ports and the ONE iDRAC ethernet port. None of the 5 different places will give me internet access. So the iDRAC is pointless and dead to me, so is the entire server if I can't get it online. I can't update drivers or missing files or new firmware or anything! Ugh! Maybe I need to buy an entirely new separate NIC card and use up one of the x16 PCIe slots on the PCIe riser on the back. Then I guess those 4 NIC cards that come from the factory stock are pointless useless things to stare at lol. Maybe they just need a driver or firmware update or something. OH but wait, I can't actually get online to ping the dell support server for any new updates lol

[@davebradberry5879]

Firstly thankyou for these series of very informative videos, I followed the R410 series and now have a R710 too. My niggle is with the R710, despite upgrading successfully bios to 6.6.0 , idrac 2.92 and LC 1.7.5 my boot screen F10 System Services, takes me to the USC. Running the LC to update from here I still get the old view , ie no https option. Any ideas to get it to update properly? Not having good Linux skills I used windows Server as i couldnt read the screen text as you typed. Many thanks.

[@ArtofServer]

that sounds like the update of LCC didn't really take effect. perhaps try removing A/C power, let it sit for 10 minutes, and then power back on again. see if that allows it to load the new LCC update. otherwise, i'm clueless...

[@justADeni]

*exact* same problem, server, versions, everything here. Did you manage to find a solution?

[@maherkhalil007]

Did you find the reason why can not select NIC card after update? and if yes is there any solution?

[@ArtofServer]

yeah, i had to completely power off the system, then power on again, and the NIC showed up normally everywhere.

[@alexanderdavies8332]

I managed to get idrac and the lifecycle controller updated but always get the updated packages missing in repository (sup0539) with Recommended Action: Enter another repository location that contans the desred Update Packages and retry the operation.

[@ArtofServer]

Good question but I'm not familiar with that error. Check out the Dell forums and see if the Dell engineers can help you with that.

[@jj-icejoe6642]

Thank you for this. I have a question I see there is an upgrade for your H710 if this raid card is flashed in IT MODE will it override this and apply the update and break my it mode flash ?

[@ArtofServer]

That's a good question. I should make a video about that!

[@kattasudhir]

@@ArtofServer Is there a video on that ?

[@ArtofServer]

Not yet...

[@mct0407]

@@ArtofServer yet?

[@0cool966]

This is one of the worst tools I have ever seen. Documentation suck badly. I have NFS working, but don't know what path format the LC requires. Its extremely frustrating to use this. I dont even understand how someone could develop something so horrible. Thank you for your guide. Makes it easier. Dell should learn.

[@ArtofServer]

Glad this helped!

[@quantumstring7359]

Why not use the platform specific update bootable iso? It explicitly does not update PSU firmwares. I found it substantially easier.

[@ArtofServer]

sure, many ways to do the same thing. :-)

[@mwils51]

Got my lifecycle controller updated thanks to your excellent video but it looks like Dell has dorked updates again. My Precision R7910 is giving me "Update Packages missing in the repository. (SUP0539)"

[@ArtofServer]

yeah, did the R7910 recently go EOL? If so, that might be why. Dell has been aggressively purging stuff that is EOL. it may not be available through their automated methods, but everything is still downloadable manually. if you had a large enough installation, you could setup your own update repository and point to that.

[@mwils51]

@@ArtofServer I can't find anything saying it is EOL. I ended up booting it directly from WIn10. I couldn't even find a linux bios for it, all I saw was .exe file. An FYI you might be interested in: Last summer I upgraded it with a H330 SAS controller I bought from you which worked great after I found the correct length cable. Then, yesterday I just installed a 16bay SAS backplane (8TGM0) and upgrade kit made for the R730 and it works fine. The only issues I had was I had to disable the built-in SATA controller. Also the included BP signal cable that connected to J_BP_SIG2 was giving cable errors for some reason. When I plugged the BP into the old original long signal cable that runs to the back of the board the errors went away and all 16 drives were detected.

[@jaypeedizon3006]

Im sorry to ask. how did you do that via linux?

[@dogsauce19]

would any of this apply when using proxmox?

[@ArtofServer]

Yes, because this method does not require OS. It is the best method without depending on the firmware updates or BIOS updates to be compatible with your OS.

[@carlbaillargeon4037]

Hey man! Just discovered your channel and subscribed :) Thank for all the info! Is this going to work with R710 or you recommend I follow your other series on the R710 ? Thanks

[@ArtofServer]

Follow the R710 series. Updating 11th gen servers via LCC is no longer supported as they are EOL.

[@lerxtpratt8101]

@@ArtofServer ouch!

[@gilbchez]

Are you using the Dirac Ethernet port with a license or using the iDrac with the LOM ports ?

[@ArtofServer]

Dedicated idrac port

[@gilbchez]

Its possible to use other ports is the same function as iDrac ?

[@ArtofServer]

Yes

[@duffdunlap6705]

Another great video. Thanks.

[@ArtofServer]

Thank you 😊

[@DarkStar1967]

Thanks for the video!

[@ArtofServer]

Thank you for watching!

[@drukoz69]

How did you get the server to boot so fast? i am trying to get my server with 128GB memory to boot faster or my 32gb one as well

[@ArtofServer]

I didn't do anything special. But some segments of this video was sped up in editing to save time.

[@SkaterKonks]

In your bios, under memory, check if System Memory Testing or similar is enabled. Disabling will make booting much faster.

[@gusvieira6140]

Hi, Please help if you can I have a server dell R530 and I have a problem with avago efi sas driver PERC H730P, it does not let me pass to the setup or to the lifecycle controler

[@danimoosakhan]

If I don’t have any OS running, can I update the LCC via iDRAC web portal.

[@ArtofServer]

Its the other way around. You can run the LCC in pre-boot environment to update all other firmware, like the iDRAC, etc. This is what I'm showing in this video.

[@danimoosakhan]

@@ArtofServer I mean, can I update "iDRAC with Lifecycle Controller firmware" using LCC USB option.

[@ArtofServer]

@@danimoosakhan IDK what you mean by LCC USB option?

[@fmj_556]

You are the Man!

[@ArtofServer]

Glad you enjoyed it. thanks for watching!

[@GeorgeBattell]

Attempting to update firmware on an r750 with the lifecycle controller. Getting "Unable to install the Update Packages (SUP0531)" when attempting to update via HTTPS. Test network connection is successful and shows no problems. I have manually updated iDRAC/lifecycle controller to the latest version and have poked every setting imaginable with no luck. On the off chance anyone has any suggestions I would be very grateful.

[@leszczyn07]

Verily, good job.

[@ArtofServer]

Thank you very much!

[@apollosolutions9961]

hi does this apply to r720 too?

[@ArtofServer]

This should apply to any Dell PowerEdge 12th gen server, including the R720.

[@lerxtpratt8101]

Would that work for an R710 ?

[@ArtofServer]

no. 11th gen and older are EOL.

[@DwayneKSmith876]

Thanks for this video. I have installed the update however I keep getting the error "Unable to decompress the catalog file. (SUP0506)". Any recommendations for a fix? This is on an R220

[@ArtofServer]

Do you have tar installed?

[@demenig4065]

can u help me on How to update BIOS and firmware using Dell Lifecycle Controller on dell power edge T710

[@ArtofServer]

You can't, the server is EOL.

[@praveenkumarbobby6499]

How to update the firmware on a server, but has no network connectivity. What can the technician use to update the BIOS and iDRAC/ lifecycle Controller firmware?

[@ArtofServer]

download the update files to a USB drive...

[@dimitristsoutsouras2712]

Hello I have used lifecycle controller to update whatever possible for an r720 but it keeps failing at the below package only OS DriversPack 7.4.1.11 A00 with no specific message other than just failed . Any thoughts? PS All other components have been updated to the latest version

[@ArtofServer]

not sure...

[@obione6757]

what version of centos is this ? i keep getting an error ioslinux missing or corrupt when tried to install centos 7 netinstall o my r815

[@ArtofServer]

CentOS 7. Sorry, don't know anything about the R815.

[@SteinerSE]

I have a PowerEdge R710 with Idrac 6 and can NOT get the LIfecycle update to work, it loads the catalog and then fails.

[@ArtofServer]

That's because the 11G servers are all EOL and Dell removed the repository for those servers. You'll have to update the manual way I showed in part 1 of my r710 series.

[@SteinerSE]

@@ArtofServer Yeah I watched that, very nice video, but stumbled pretty quickly as Red Hat refuses to accept my email so I can't DL the Red Hat iso :P

[@thomasburns6666]

how are you getting it to go to server?

[@ArtofServer]

getting what?

[@SteinerSE]

Could you use a Ubuntu live image to update drivers and BIOS and if so, which driver packages to use? (My LCC is 1.7.5.4, Idrac 2.90)

[@ArtofServer]

You might be able to, but I haven't tried it. Live boot images usually run in RAM, so it's volatile; upon reboot the contents are gone if you don't save stuff to non-volatile storage.

[@SteinerSE]

@@ArtofServer Just need to run long enough to apply the updates since I can't get Lifecycle to work.

[@sonnynguyen2921]

AWSOME!

[@ArtofServer]

Thanks!

[@TristensMadness]

what if HTTPS repository is invalid after following all the steps with my R720 LFF

[@ArtofServer]

Could be something wrong with Dell's respository or there servers? not sure...

[@pabloriel6612]

Ah no idea why it doesn't work for me. Keeps saying failed to upgrade

[@merlingt1]

Does anyone know if this is possible to do with an R720? It looks like I have the latest version of the Life Cycle Controller found on the website but I still do not have the option for HTTPS. Thanks.

[@ArtofServer]

Yes, it should be possible on all 12th gen PowerEdge servers...

[@azrinzamberi5457]

Why not you just perform the upgrade via iDRAC?Download the latest version from Dell Support website and then insert you Service Tag for the searching. Go and get the latest version usually on the right side you can "URGENT" message.

[@ierosgr]

Hi..... tried to update everything on my R720 via lifecycle (jsut upgraded its version differently first in order to show up https. Until then it showed only http which couldnt locate updates either). It updated everything except the OS driver pack (currently have version 7.4.something and latest is 15.something) No matter what I do it still gives me an error while trying to download/upgrade the 15.something version PS By the way have you noticed in a 710 (if you dont have an r720) that the middle fan (fan4) keeps running after shutting down the server. Only way to make it stop is to unplug from power. Someone mentioned to downgrade idrac to 1.65 but I find it a little odd to go from 2.65 to 1.65

[@ArtofServer]

yeah, the latest iDRAC/BMC firmware keeps that center fan running even when powered off. i suspect it's to address overheating issues when the server is powered off, but the BMC/iDRAC is still powered on, the NIC on the R720 is still on and generates heat. Probably even more so, if you have the 10G NIC in there. my guess, and this is speculation, that they programmed the BMC to keep the fan running at low speed just to keep some air flowing over the rNDC.

[@ierosgr]

@@ArtofServer hm...that could be a reasonable explanation ... thanks ..... So I assume that you let it run too and dindn t downgrade so many versions backwards. Other solution would be to rip off the center fan ahahhha .

[@ArtofServer]

@@ierosgr No, I didn't downgrade. Plus, the latest iDRAC firmware has the HTML5 console so I much prefer that over Java. When I first noticed the fan running when the server was off, i wondered about it too. But I have a "lab rack" where the servers are off most of the time and only powered on when I'm trying some experiment or making a video for this channel. I noticed when I opened my R720XD or R620, that the rNDC was really warm... and noticed the fan that was spinning was in front of it.. so that's what made me figure that was the reason. As long as there's a reason, and not some random Dell BMC firmware engineer messing with me, I can accept the slightly extra noise.

[@tomaz9601]

and how to update the lifecycle controler without a OS?

[@ArtofServer]

Well, you need some sort of runtime environment. The LCC can update itself if the archives are still available.

[@bekapapelishvili3875]

Great!

[@ArtofServer]

thanks for watching!

[@kmorin]

the site seems to have been retired

[@MuminovicGoran]

Updated to legacy Lifecycle Controller on r810, no https :) , can not run idrac BIN file from CentOS 8 because of some c++-33 library not found :) , going back to good ole windows, installing server 2012 :) oooooooooooooooo, well I had to do it, unless I could have installed CentOS7, will try that also maybe :)

[@ArtofServer]

better off with CentOS7 when working with older server.

[@MuminovicGoran]

@@ArtofServer this this is a beast but where do I keep it it's sooo loud :), but winter is coming might as well use an extra heater :) I did update power supply, server was off for ten minutes :) then it came back on yeeey hahah scary

[@ArtofServer]

Never had R810 before, but Westmere CPUs do get very hot if you have high clock speed ones.

[@nettyvoyager6336]

just roll back the driver

[@ArtofServer]

what are you referring to?

[@nettyvoyager6336]

sorry life-cycle control i think there is a driver roll back service www.dell.com/support/article/uk/en/ukbsdt1/sln155153/how-to-roll-back-a-device-driver-on-a-dell-system-using-windows?lang=en