BIOS + more on Debian/Ubuntu

[Matt Domsch]

On Fri, Feb 22, 2008 at 01:50:03PM -0000, Giddings, Bret wrote:
> Hello,
> 
> This may be a dumb question or the wrong forum - so apologies in advance
> ...
> 
> I have a number of Dell servers running debian on which I would like to
> better manage the firmware updates. I have been able to frig the
> bootstrap.cgi program to work and allow installation on the servers.
> However, what is not clear to me is whether the current setup will only
> allow system BIOS firmware to be updated or whether things like PERC
> controllers are also included. The test system in question is a 2950 and
> although the system BIOS updated OK, there seems to be no recognition of
> the PERC 5/i, despite this apparently being something for which firmware
> is available in the repository
> (pci_firmware_ven_0x1028_dev_0x0015_subven_0x1028_subdev_0x1f03_version_
> a05), albeit one version behind what is current.
> 
> So, is the current status of the project that things like the PERC
> controllers are candidates for being updated and if so, is it something
> debian related that is failing to allow recognition of these addition
> firmware upgrades? Also, given that there does appear to be firmware for
> things like the PERC 5/i, should a newer version exist in the
> repository?

As of right now only BIOS updates are available on Debian/Ubuntu
systems.  PERC and more are work in progress in the RPM environments
right now (and what Michael's been working on this week helps as a
proof-of-concept for these other firmware devices), but we're going to
need some long-term strategy changes from Dell's firmware release
teams to embrace firmware-tools, so their outputs can be easily used
on all Linux distributions.  We've got buy-in at a very high level, so
it's really down to timing of the switchover, and people to implement
this strategy.

Thanks,
Matt

-- 
Matt Domsch
Linux Technology Strategist, Dell Office of the CTO
linux.dell.com & www.dell.com/linux