Bios update on PE2850

[Matt Domsch]

On Fri, Feb 08, 2008 at 02:03:33PM +0100, Lazy wrote:
> I'm trying to upgrade bios on our old 2850.
> The system is Debian 4.0 64bit, omsa 5.3 is running correctly,
> I tried this in single mode so there should be plenty of memory free
> (3G installed)
> Stock debian kernel 2.6.18-6-amd64.
> 
> ./PE2850_BIOS_LX_A06.BIN
> Collecting inventory...
> .
> Running validation...
> 
> BIOS
> 
> The version of this Update Package is newer than the currently
> installed version.
> Software application name: BIOS
> Package version: A06
> Installed version: A04
> 
> Continue? Y/N:Y
> Executing update...
> WARNING: DO NOT STOP THIS PROCESS OR INSTALL OTHER DELL PRODUCTS WHILE
> UPDATE IS IN PROGRESS.
> THESE ACTIONS MAY CAUSE YOUR SYSTEM TO BECOME UNSTABLE!
> .
> Enough contiguous physical memory is not available to perform the BIOS
> update running under this Operating System. Reboot and try again.
> 
> BIOS
> Enough contiguous physical memory is not available to perform the BIOS
> update running under this Operating System. Reboot and try again.
> 
> Enough contiguous physical memory is not available to perform the BIOS
> update running under this Operating System. Reboot and try again.
> 
> 
> Any pointers what can be wrong?


Reboot, then try it.

The PEx8xx and earlier systems need a good bit of physically
contiguous memory to perform the BIOS update.  This is difficult to
provide if the system has been running for a while.

PE x9xx and newer systems removed this limitation.

Thanks,
Matt

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