iDRAC9 can update the BIOS, iDRAC itself, RAID controllers, NICs, PSUs, backplanes, drives and other components without the OS and without a visit to the server. You either upload a single Dell Update Package (DUP) or point iDRAC at a repository such as Dell's online catalog. Each update becomes a job that you can follow, and for staged jobs delete, in the Job Queue. This guide follows the iDRAC9 7.xx User's Guide and Dell KB 000435817.
Before you start
- Read the release notes for each update. Plan a maintenance window for anything that needs a host reboot (BIOS, RAID controller, NIC and more).
- You need the Administrator or Operator role. Deleting jobs needs the Server Control privilege.
- Check that Lifecycle Controller is enabled and ready.
racadm getremoteservicesstatusshould report ready before you start. - For local uploads, keep DUP file names free of spaces. Uploads are staged in about 300 MB of temporary space on iDRAC.
- For PERC, PSU or other storage changes, back up data first.
Step 1a — Upload a single DUP
- Download the Windows DUP (
.exe) for your component from Dell support. For iDRAC itself, a.d10image also works. - Go to Maintenance > System Update. On the Update tab, set Location Type to Local.
- Click Browse, select the file and click Upload. To queue several updates, upload more files one at a time.
- In Update Details, expand each file to compare Current and Available versions, then select the files to install.
Step 1b — Or check Dell's online catalog over HTTPS
- Go to Maintenance > System Update > Manual Update.
- Set Location Type to HTTPS. Under HTTPS Server Settings, enter
downloads.dell.comas the HTTPS address. Add proxy details if your network needs them. - Click Check for Update. iDRAC lists the updates that match the detected hardware. Select some or all of them.
For tighter version control, build an internal repository with Dell Repository Manager and use Network Share (CIFS or NFS), HTTP, HTTPS or FTP as the location type. Dell notes that a version shown as Available is not always the newest, so confirm that it is newer than what is installed. HTTP and HTTPS repositories support digest authentication or no authentication only. If SUP029 appears after Check for Update, Dell explains that the installed firmware already matches the repository and no action is needed.
Step 2 — Pick the install option
| Button | What happens |
|---|---|
| Install | Starts immediately with no host reboot. It is the only option for updates that do not need a reboot, such as iDRAC firmware. |
| Install and Reboot | Schedules the update and sends a reboot request to the OS now. Staged updates run during that reboot. |
| Install Next Reboot | Stages the update without rebooting. It runs the next time you restart the server, so you choose the moment. |
Updates that need a reboot are staged together, and one reboot applies all of them. When you click an install option, iDRAC shows "Updating Job Queue". Do not leave the page before that, or the uploaded files are lost.
Step 3 — Track it in the Job Queue
Go to Maintenance > Job Queue. Each update appears as a job with its ID, status and completion percentage. From the CLI:
racadm jobqueue view
racadm jobqueue view -i <JobID>- Scheduled jobs wait for the reboot. You can delete them (select the job and click Delete, or use
racadm jobqueue delete -i <JobID>). Running or Downloading jobs cannot be deleted. - Completed, Virtual AC Pending means the component needs an AC power cycle to activate the new firmware. Do a physical or virtual AC power cycle. Some GPU updates show Completed instead and write the AC power cycle instruction to the Lifecycle Log.
- A job that gets no status update for 6 hours times out and is marked Failed. Check the Lifecycle Log for the reason (see SEL and Lifecycle Log).
- After an iDRAC update, the browser may show RAC0508. Dell says this is expected: wait a few minutes, refresh and log in again.
Warning: While a job is running, do not reboot, shut down or AC power cycle the host or iDRAC, including Ctrl+Alt+Del and iDRAC power controls. Dell warns this can corrupt firmware. Back up first and wait for every job to finish.
When you queue several updates through Lifecycle Controller, Dell advises making the iDRAC update the last job. Start it only after the other jobs show Scheduled or Completed. After a PSU update, or a PERC/HBA update to 12.2 or later, the guide calls for a cold reboot (power cycle) rather than a warm reboot.
Optional — Scheduled automatic updates
Maintenance > System Update > Automatic Update lets iDRAC check a catalog on a schedule (daily, weekly or monthly) and either stage the updates or stage them and reboot. Dell recommends pointing it at your own DRM repository, so servers only receive versions you approved. IPv6 addresses are not supported for automatic updates.
Rolling back a component
Warning: A rollback puts the previous firmware back, which may remove fixes, including security fixes. Back up first and roll back only to undo a problem update. If the iDRAC NIC is in Shared LOM mode, Dell asks you to switch it to Dedicated before a rollback.
- Go to Maintenance > System Update > Rollback.
- Select the device(s). iDRAC with Lifecycle Controller, BIOS, NIC, PSU, RAID controller and backplane can be rolled back. Diagnostics, driver packs and CPLD cannot.
- Click Install (iDRAC only) or Install and Reboot / Install Next Reboot, then follow the job in the Job Queue.
From racadm: run racadm swinventory to confirm that a Rollback Version is available and note the FQDD, then run racadm rollback <FQDD>.
Frequently asked questions
Should I update iDRAC before other components?
Dell recommends updating iDRAC first before you use the online catalog from Lifecycle Controller. When jobs are queued together, the iDRAC job should run last.
Why does my update stay Scheduled?
It was staged with Install Next Reboot and is waiting for a host restart. Restart the server, or delete the job if you no longer want it.
Checklist
- Release notes read and a maintenance window planned
- Lifecycle Controller ready and data backed up
- Updates uploaded or checked against downloads.dell.com or your repository
- Correct install option chosen for each update
- Job Queue followed to Completed, with AC power cycles done where pending
- Lifecycle Log checked and new versions confirmed
- Same task offline: Lifecycle Controller firmware update
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