How do I update the BIOS on a linux server without a floppy?

[John Parnefjord]

Harald wrote a nice tip on that a while ago. It is as follows:


To set up GRUB to allow a user to boot a floppy image:

1. Copy the floppy image to /boot
2. Copy the memdisk file, usually it is in /usr/lib/syslinux, to /boot
3. Edit your GRUB config, add something like:
	title Firmware/BIOS Update
     		kernel /memdisk
		initrd /<imagename>.img
4. At boot select the "Firmware/BIOS Update".



// John
 

> -----Original Message-----
> From: linux-poweredge-bounces at dell.com 
> [mailto:linux-poweredge-bounces at dell.com] On Behalf Of David Mitchell
> Sent: Wednesday, November 01, 2006 7:09 AM
> To: linux-poweredge at dell.com
> Subject: Re: How do I update the BIOS on a linux server 
> without a floppy?
> 
> watchman wrote:
>  > Well, as they say, the road goes on forever and the party 
> never ends.
>  >
>  > I need to update the bios on my PowerApp servers.  
> However, the BIOS  > update utility:
>  >
>  > http://ftp.us.dell.com/bios/B103RE06.exe
>  >
>  > wants to create a floppy on A: from within a DOS shell.  
> My present  > workstations have no floppy disks (only 
> CD/DVD), and the PowerApp  > servers are running linux.
>  >
>  > Is it possible to upgrade the bios of a linux machine from 
> CD, or  > perhaps over the network?
> 
> Not sure, but I can offer an alternative solution :)
> 
> I've get a USB floppy drive that I use to do such things on 
> floppy-less machines. As long as the BIOS will let you boot 
> from USB devices it works a treat.
> 
> Cheers,
> Dave
> 
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