PowerEdge: Dell Recommends upgrading the BIOS and iDRAC for Best Performance

• Memory self-healing after both uncorrectable and correctable error
• BIOS setup option to disable Post Package Repair (PPR) with uncorrectable error
• Optimized correctable error messaging

• Fixed multiple system crash issues with machine check errors
• Fixed multiple system issues causing boot failure
• 40+ security fixes and enhancements including fixes with a CVE rating >=8.0

• Enhanced capability for supporting complex PCIe device
• Virtual Network File 2 support and bug fixes

Step 1: Download the latest BIOS

Dell Technologies recommends keeping your system up to date with the latest BIOS (UEFI firmware) available. This ensures critical bug fixes and changes to improve the functionality, reliability, and stability of your Dell system. It may also include security fixes and other feature enhancements. BIOS updates require a reboot of the host. The BIOS version can differ from one system to another, for downloading the BIOS available for your system, see Drivers & Downloads.

• Go to Drivers & Downloads
• Identify your Dell product
  • Enter the service tag of the Dell product and click Search.
  • Or click Browse all products and manually select your Dell product from the menu.
• Select your host Operating System and BIOS from the Category drop-down.
  • Click Download to download the latest BIOS Dell Update Package directly.
  • Or expand the BIOS release to choose from older versions and to view full driver details. The full driver details also provide all available download formats and release notes.

Step 2: Download the latest iDRAC Firmware

Dell Technologies recommends keeping your system up to date with the latest iDRAC firmware available. This ensures the best performance and the latest security updates and bug fixes. iDRAC updates do not require a reboot of the host, allowing for in-place updates. The iDRAC firmware version can differ from one system to another, for the listing of iDRAC9 versions available for your system, see Integrated Dell Remote Access Controller 9 Versions and Release Notes for all versions of iDRAC including iDRAC9, iDRAC8, iDRAC7, and others.

• Go to Drivers & Downloads
• Identify your Dell product
  • Enter the service tag of the Dell product and click Search.
  • Or click Browse all products and manually select your Dell product from the menu.
• Select your host operating system from Operating system and iDRAC with Lifecycle controller from Category drop-down.
  • Click Download to download the latest iDRAC Dell Update Package directly.
  • Or expand the iDRAC release to choose from older versions and to view full driver details. The full driver details also provide all available download formats and release notes.

Step 3: Deploy the updated BIOS and iDRAC Firmware

There are multiple methods to update the firmware for your PowerEdge server. These different methods are outlined in this section.

Manual method for updating individual components

Dell Update Packages (DUP)
Using the Dell Update Packages (DUP) is an easy and quick way to update the firmware or drivers of the entire system or individual system components. A DUP is an executable which contains firmware for a single component.

Updating all or selected system components

Platform Bootable ISOs are custom built using Dell Repository Manager.
Create a Platform Bootable ISO based on PowerEdge server using the latest enterprise catalog from the Dell support site without creating or using any repository. This is a way of updating all server firmware in one single step. An ISO can be transferred on a bootable USB storage device, accessed through iDRAC virtual media or accessible over the network.

Dell Server Update Utility (SUU)
The Dell Server Update Utility ISO (SUU) is a local one-to-one utility to update BIOS, firmware, drivers, and application on PowerEdge servers to the latest version. The SUU also allows comparison between the current versions that are installed on the server and the most up-to-date versions available. Select the components in need of updating and upon confirmation, SUU orchestrates the deployment of the selected updates.

LifeCycle Controller
Dell Lifecycle Controller is an advanced embedded systems management technology that enables remote server management. Using Lifecycle Controller, you can update the firmware using a local or Dell-based firmware repository.

Dell Repository Manager (DRM)
An update management tool used to assist with the identification, gathering, and packaging of Dell Update Packages (DUPs) into a format to be used for deployment.

DELL System Update (DSU)
Command-Line Interface optimized deployment tool that assists customers who prefer to manage the deployment of updates in a scripted manner.

Integrated Dell Remote Access Controller (iDRAC)
An embedded systems management tool that is available on PowerEdge servers. With iDRAC, you can remote into a system to perform many systems management tasks, including updating of firmware. *Some additional features may require the iDRAC Enterprise or DataCenter license.

Console-based methods for updating multiple components

OpenManage Enterprise (OME)
OpenManage Enterprise systems management console is designed to simplify, intelligently automate and unify IT infrastructure management tasks. One of these tasks is the update of multiple components.

VMware vCenter
Performing Firmware Updates for Clusters

Microsoft System Center (MSSC)
Microsoft System Center Configuration Manager (SCCM) also known as ConfigMgr and formerly known as Systems Management Server (SMS) is a systems management software product that is developed by Microsoft for managing large groups of systems running Windows NT, Windows Embedded, macOS (OS X), Linux, or UNIX. Configuration Manager provides remote control, patch management, software distribution, operating system deployment, network access protection and hardware and software inventory.