The Service Pack for ProLiant (SPP) is HPE's tested bundle of firmware, drivers and system software for ProLiant servers. The SPP ISO also contains Smart Update Manager (SUM), the engine that inventories a server, works out dependencies and installs updates in the right order. This guide covers choosing the right SPP, preparing, and running an offline or online update.
Before you start
- An HPE account for the download, and active warranty or an HPE support agreement where HPE requires it (see below).
- A maintenance window: firmware updates need a reboot to take effect, and some prerequisite installs can reset the network or the system.
- A current backup and a note of current firmware versions (the iLO Firmware & OS Software page lists them).
- iLO administrator credentials if iLO uses a High Security state or Require Host Authentication; SUM will ask for them.
Which SPP for which server
HPE now publishes a separate SPP for each production generation (the HPE SPP quick-links page lists Gen12, Gen11 and Gen10/Gen10 Plus SPPs with their own release notes, contents reports and server support guides), plus frozen post-production SPPs for older generations.
| Servers | SPP to use | Notes from HPE |
|---|---|---|
| Gen11 | Gen11 SPP (production) | Login required; the Smart Update guide's table marks entitlement as not required. |
| Gen10, Gen10 Plus | Gen10/Gen10 Plus SPP (production) | Login required; entitlement marked as not required. |
| Gen9 and older | Post-production SPP for that generation, plus applicable hot fixes | Login and entitlement required. |
| Gen12 | Gen12 SPP | Non-bootable ISO: no offline update; use online methods. |
HPE's download page also states the SPP is a free download for products under active warranty or an HPE support agreement. You can check the server's warranty before you plan the update. HPE releases a production SPP about two to four times a year and recommends updating production generations yearly.
Step 1 — Download the right ISO
- SPP Custom Download is HPE's preferred method. It can build a smaller SPP for only your server models and OS versions, or give you the Base SPP ISO (as released) or the Full SPP ISO (base plus all hot fixes, OS supplements and Maintenance Supplement Bundles published since).
- The SPP download page and HPE Support Center also offer the ISO and its documentation.
Use the Full SPP ISO if you want every SPP-tested fix released after the base SPP.
Step 2 — Read the release documentation
Each SPP release comes with:
- Release notes — important notes, supported OS versions for online updates, prerequisites and deployment instructions.
- Server support guide — which servers the SPP supports.
- Contents report — every component, its version and whether it is critical, recommended or optional.
- Component release notes — per-component dependencies, fixes and prerequisites.
Check the update path too. HPE tests each SPP against the previous year of SPP releases, so you can update directly from any SPP released within the last year. If your server is older than that, HPE recommends intermediate updates; its example is going from 2018.11.0 to 2019.09.0 and then to 2020.03.0.
Step 3 — Choose offline or online
| Method | How it works | Use it when |
|---|---|---|
| Offline | Boot the server from the SPP ISO (usually via iLO virtual media or a bootable USB key). SUM runs in a small SUSE Linux Enterprise Server boot kernel and updates firmware on that server only, from one baseline. | Before the OS is installed, when the OS/hypervisor version is not supported by the SPP, or when the server uses the OS vendor's in-box drivers. |
| Online, local | Run SUM on the server's own Windows or Linux OS. Updates firmware, drivers and system software; reboot to activate firmware. | Routine updates of a supported OS with minimal downtime before the reboot. |
| Online, remote | Run SUM on one Windows or Linux system to update other nodes. | Several servers from one admin workstation. |
Step 4a — Offline update from the bootable ISO
- Mount the SPP ISO with iLO virtual media or write it to a bootable USB key, and boot the server from it.
- Select Automatic or Interactive mode. In Automatic mode the firmware is updated without further interaction.
- In Interactive mode, select Firmware Update to start SUM, then follow the on-screen steps.
- When finished, disconnect the ISO and let the server reboot into its OS.
Step 4b — Online update with SUM Localhost Guided Update
- Mount or extract the SPP ISO on the server and run
launch_sum.bat(Windows) orlaunch_sum.sh(Linux) from the root of the ISO. - In the SUM navigation menu, click Localhost Guided Update, then Interactive.
- Enter iLO administrator credentials if prompted.
- Optionally tick Install Prerequisite components if not already installed. HPE warns that installing prerequisites such as a network driver can reset the network or the system.
- Confirm the baseline (the SPP) and click OK. SUM inventories the server.
- Click Next. Recommended updates are highlighted in pale green with a green icon in Ready to proceed. A red icon means a dependency must be resolved first; click it for details.
- Choose when SUM may reboot, click Deploy, and review the installation logs afterwards.
Automatic mode (Localhost Guided Update > Automatic) starts deploying as soon as you click OK and cannot be interrupted. It also cannot install the SNMP and WBEM Providers components; use Interactive mode for those.
Warning: Items that are up to date are not selected by default. SUM's Force button and Actions > Advanced Options (Rewrite and Downgrade) can reinstall or downgrade firmware. Only downgrade when HPE support or a component release note tells you to, check the component's notes for dependencies, and back up first.
Order of updates and reboots
Let SUM handle the order: HPE states it deploys updates in the correct order and checks dependencies and interdependencies before deploying. Online firmware updates only activate after a reboot, so plan one even if the OS keeps running during the install. After the update, check the iLO firmware inventory and the Integrated Management Log for errors.
On iLO 5 and iLO 6 servers SUM can also queue updates in iLO or save install sets to the iLO Repository; see updating from the iLO web interface.
Frequently asked questions
Can I use one SPP for Gen10 and Gen11 servers?
Current SPP releases are published per generation (Gen10/Gen10 Plus, Gen11, Gen12). Check the server support guide of the SPP you download.
Can I boot the Gen12 SPP?
No. HPE states the Gen12 SPP is a non-bootable ISO with no offline update; use online methods.
Checklist
- Correct generation-specific SPP downloaded (Full ISO if you need all hot fixes).
- Release notes, server support guide and contents report read.
- Current SPP level within HPE's one-year update window, or an intermediate step planned.
- Backup taken and maintenance window booked.
- Offline (boot ISO) or online (SUM) method chosen; update completed and server rebooted.
- Firmware versions and IML checked afterwards.
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