Dell PowerEdge 1850 RAID Controller 4e/Si Firmware Update 

Version: 516A


TABLE OF CONTENTS

1.0 Introduction
2.0 Performing the Firmware Upgrade
3.0 Important Information 
4.0 Change History


1.0   Introduction

This is a firmware update release for the PowerEdge 1850
Expandable RAID Controller 4e/Si.

Component		Current Version		Previous Version
Firmware		516A			513O
BIOS			H418			H418
Ctrl-M			U821			U819
Boot Block		D.2.1.3			R.2.1.3



2.0 Performing the Firmware Upgrade

Webpack Instructions:
---------------------

This program creates a bootable diskette to upgrade the firmware of the 
controllers. You will need a formatted 3 1/2 inch floppy diskette for the 
following procedure.

1. Download the file to a directory on your hard drive. The file downloaded is
   a self extracting executable.
2. Insert a blank diskette into the system's diskette drive.
3. Double click on the file that you downloaded and follow the instructions on
   the screen to extract the files to the diskette.
4. Insert the diskette into the system with the RAID controller for which you
   want to update the firmware and boot the system.
5. Follow the instructions on the screen to update the firmware.

NOTICE: Pflash.exe will be executed automatically and will report existing code 
        level and prompt you to reconfirm before starting the firmware upgrade 
        process.

To perform this process in non-interactive mode please execute,
   Pflash /?
and read about possible command line switches.

6. Remove the diskette and reboot the system.


Windows Update Package Instructions:
------------------------------------

Download

1. Click the "Download Now" link to download the file.
2. If the Export Compliance Disclaimer window appears, click the "I agree" link 
   to accept the agreement.
3. When the File Download window appears, click "Save" to save the file to your
   hard drive.

Installation

1. Browse to the location where you downloaded the file and double-click the new
   file.
2. Read over the release information presented in the dialog window.
3. Download and install any prerequisites identified in the dialog window before
   proceeding.
4. Install any necessary Embedded Systems Management firmware prior to this BIOS
   update.
5. Click the Install button.
6. Follow the remaining prompts to perform the update.

The Update Package can also be used with Dell OpenManage Server Administrator. 
See the Dell Update Package User's Guide for more information.


Linux Update Package Instructions:
----------------------------------

Download 

1. Click the "Download Now" link to download the file. 
2. If the Export Compliance Disclaimer window appears, click the "I agree" link
   to accept the agreement. 
3. When the File Download window appears, click "Save" to save the file to your
   hard drive. 

Installation 

1. Read over the release information presented by executing the ./<filename>.bin --version
   command from the shell. 
2. Download and install any prerequisites identified in the above step before proceeding. 
3. Run the update by executing ./<filename>.bin from the shell. 
4. Follow the remaining prompts to perform the update. 


Linux EM64T Update Package Instructions:
----------------------------------------

To install, enter the following on the command line:

  rpm -Uvh linflash-3.03-0.i386.rpm

You must copy the firmware image to the same directory for the linux 
flash utility to work. Create a diskette image of the firmware and copy 
the .rom file to the same directory as linflash.

Usage : linflash [-r] [-p] [-s] [-i [file] [file] [...]] [-f [file] 
        [file] [...]]

-r : Flash without asking for user input to flash adapter(s).
-p : Prompt user for filename. Flash without checking for signatures.
-s : Silent flash. First matching image file will be taken for each 
     adapter.
-i : Ignore the following files. These files will not be considered for
     flashing the matching controllers.
-f : Force the following files To be flashed for the matching controller.
     In case more than one matching files are specified, the first one 
     would be taken.

To uninstall the rpm, enter the following command:

  rpm -e linflash



3.0 Important Information

Firmware upgrade while controller is doing background I/O task

Firmware upgrade process will fail if any background I/O task (i.e. RAID-5 
background consistency check or power on auto-resume rebuild and reconstruction) 
is being performed.  

The program will stop at the "Flash Download" screen with the following message: 

"Consistency Check of logical drive(s) in progress for adapter-X. Failed Writing 
Image on Adapter X with Baseport ...".

Firmware and configuration on the adapter will not be modified by the program. A 
reboot can be performed to return to the Operating System. Wait until the 
background task completes before updating the firmware.



4.0 Change History

1. Modified memory timing values to increase timing margins to prevent ECC errors in some DIMMs.