PowerEdge: Update Firmware Via HTTPS Using iDRAC 7-8-9

Table of contents

1. How to perform a manual update

2. How to enable automatic updates

Other methods to update a Dell EMC PowerEdge server firmware and drivers are available in Updating Firmware and Drivers on Dell EMC PowerEdge Servers.

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General Introduction

The iDRAC allows the firmware of the local server to be remotely updated.
This article explains how to use the HTTPS location type to update the firmware using a Dell Update Package.
FTP and HTTP protocols are still options to connect to the Dell online catalog file.
The online Dell Update Packages (DUPs) requires an HTTPS connection to download.

HTTPS location option requires iDRAC9 firmware version 3.30.30.30, iDRAC8 firmware version 2.63.60.61, and iDRAC7 firmware version 2.63.60.62 or newer firmware versions.

For IDRAC8, iDRAC Enterprise license or higher license level is required to use any remote update location (Network Share, FTP, TFTP, HTTP, or HTTPS).

With IDRAC8 Express license, only local location is available for use:


Figure 1: Idrac8 Express License Upload options

With IDRAC8 Enterprise License, local and remote methods are available for use:


Figure 2: Idrac8 Enterprise License Upload options

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How to perform a manual update

1. Log in to the iDRAC web interface
2. Navigate to the update menu:
   • iDRAC9: Maintenance → System Update
   • iDRAC8 and iDRAC7: Overview → iDRAC Settings → Update and Rollback
3. Select HTTPS
4. HTTPS Address is downloads.dell.com
5. Click the Check for Update button to find new updates.
6. Once connected to the online catalog, a list of updates is presented.
7. Select individual updates or select all the updates
8. Check Install, Install and Reboot, or Install Next Reboot.
9. The iDRAC puts one or more update tasks in the Job Queue.

iDRAC9 System Update Screen - Manual Update Tab:

Figure 3: iDRAC9 System Update Screen - Manual Update Tab

iDRAC8 and iDRAC7 System Update Screen - Manual Update Tab:

Figure 4: iDRAC8 and iDRAC7 System Update Screen - Manual Update Tab
 
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How to enable automatic updates

iDRAC Enterprise license or higher license level is required to schedule automatic updates.

You can create a periodic recurring schedule for iDRAC to check for new firmware updates.
At the scheduled date and time, iDRAC connects to the specified destination, checks for updates, and applies or stages all applicable updates.
 

1. Log in to the iDRAC web interface
2. Navigate to the update menu:
   • iDRAC9: Maintenance → System Update > Automatic Update. The Firmware Update page is displayed.

2. • iDRAC8 and iDRAC7: Overview > iDRAC Settings > Update and Rollback. The Firmware Update page is displayed.
3. Click the Enable Automatic Update option.
4. Select the Server Reboot type
   • Schedule Updates — Stage the firmware updates but do not reboot the server.
   • Schedule Updates and reboot Server —Enables server reboot after the firmware updates are staged.
5. Select an HTTPS location.
6. HTTPS address is downloads.dell.com
7. In the Update Window Schedule section, specify the start time for the firmware update and the frequency of the updates (daily, weekly, or monthly). For information about the fields, see the iDRAC Online Help.
8. Click Schedule Update. The next scheduled job is created in the job queue. Five minutes after the first instance of the recurring job starts, the job for the next time period is created.