How to perform firmware upgrades on iDRAC management controllers?

In order to perform firmware upgrades on iDRAC management controllers, one needs to have access to the web interface of the nodes, present within the Red Hat virtual private network.

You need to have the following information handy to follow the process.

  1. Credentials for the web interfaces of the iDRAC management controllers

  2. Access to the batcave01 node via SSH

  3. Access to the Red Hat intranet via Red Hat VPN

Steps

  1. Connect with the Fedora Infrastructure team to request the credentials for the web interface of the iDRAC management controllers.

  2. Ensure that the device is connected to the Red Hat virtual private network before proceeding with the discovering their IP addresses.

  3. Connect to the batcave01 node using SSH and ping the management FQDNs to discover the IP address of the web interface.

    [cols="3*", options="header"]
    .IDRAC Management Controllers FQDN/IP Mapping (Recorded at 30 Sep 2024)
    |==================================================================================================
    |    | FQDN                                       | MGMT FQDN
    | 1  | autosign02.iad2.fedoraproject.org          | autosign02.mgmt.iad2.fedoraproject.org
    | 2  | backup01.iad2.fedoraproject.org            | backup01.mgmt.iad2.fedoraproject.org
    | 3  | bkernel01.iad2.fedoraproject.org           | bkernel01.mgmt.iad2.fedoraproject.org
    | 4  | bkernel02.iad2.fedoraproject.org           | bkernel02.mgmt.iad2.fedoraproject.org
    | 5  | buildhw-x86-01.iad2.fedoraproject.org      | buildhw-x86-01.mgmt.iad2.fedoraproject.org
    | 6  | buildhw-x86-02.iad2.fedoraproject.org      | buildhw-x86-02.mgmt.iad2.fedoraproject.org
    | 7  | buildhw-x86-03.iad2.fedoraproject.org      | buildhw-x86-03.mgmt.iad2.fedoraproject.org
    | 8  | buildhw-x86-04.iad2.fedoraproject.org      | buildhw-x86-04.mgmt.iad2.fedoraproject.org
    | 9  | buildhw-x86-05.iad2.fedoraproject.org      | buildhw-x86-05.mgmt.iad2.fedoraproject.org
    | 10 | buildhw-x86-06.iad2.fedoraproject.org      | buildhw-x86-06.mgmt.iad2.fedoraproject.org
    | 11 | buildhw-x86-07.iad2.fedoraproject.org      | buildhw-x86-07.mgmt.iad2.fedoraproject.org
    | 12 | buildhw-x86-08.iad2.fedoraproject.org      | buildhw-x86-08.mgmt.iad2.fedoraproject.org
    | 13 | buildhw-x86-09.iad2.fedoraproject.org      | buildhw-x86-09.mgmt.iad2.fedoraproject.org
    | 14 | buildhw-x86-10.iad2.fedoraproject.org      | buildhw-x86-10.mgmt.iad2.fedoraproject.org
    | 15 | buildhw-x86-11.iad2.fedoraproject.org      | buildhw-x86-11.mgmt.iad2.fedoraproject.org
    | 16 | buildhw-x86-12.iad2.fedoraproject.org      | buildhw-x86-12.mgmt.iad2.fedoraproject.org
    | 17 | buildhw-x86-13.iad2.fedoraproject.org      | buildhw-x86-13.mgmt.iad2.fedoraproject.org
    | 18 | buildhw-x86-14.iad2.fedoraproject.org      | buildhw-x86-14.mgmt.iad2.fedoraproject.org
    | 19 | buildhw-x86-15.iad2.fedoraproject.org      | buildhw-x86-15.mgmt.iad2.fedoraproject.org
    | 20 | buildhw-x86-16.iad2.fedoraproject.org      | buildhw-x86-16.mgmt.iad2.fedoraproject.org
    | 21 | bvmhost-x86-01.iad2.fedoraproject.org      | bvmhost-x86-01.mgmt.iad2.fedoraproject.org
    | 22 | bvmhost-x86-01.stg.iad2.fedoraproject.org  | bvmhost-x86-01.stg.mgmt.iad2.fedoraproject.org
    | 23 | bvmhost-x86-02.iad2.fedoraproject.org      | bvmhost-x86-02.mgmt.iad2.fedoraproject.org
    | 24 | bvmhost-x86-02.stg.iad2.fedoraproject.org  | bvmhost-x86-02.stg.mgmt.iad2.fedoraproject.org
    | 25 | bvmhost-x86-03.iad2.fedoraproject.org      | bvmhost-x86-03.mgmt.iad2.fedoraproject.org
    | 26 | bvmhost-x86-03.stg.iad2.fedoraproject.org  | bvmhost-x86-03.stg.mgmt.iad2.fedoraproject.org
    | 27 | bvmhost-x86-04.iad2.fedoraproject.org      | bvmhost-x86-04.mgmt.iad2.fedoraproject.org
    | 28 | bvmhost-x86-05.iad2.fedoraproject.org      | bvmhost-x86-05.mgmt.iad2.fedoraproject.org
    | 29 | bvmhost-x86-05.stg.iad2.fedoraproject.org  | bvmhost-x86-05.stg.mgmt.iad2.fedoraproject.org
    | 30 | bvmhost-x86-06.iad2.fedoraproject.org      | bvmhost-x86-06.mgmt.iad2.fedoraproject.org
    | 31 | bvmhost-x86-07.iad2.fedoraproject.org      | bvmhost-x86-07.mgmt.iad2.fedoraproject.org
    | 32 | bvmhost-x86-08.iad2.fedoraproject.org      | bvmhost-x86-08.mgmt.iad2.fedoraproject.org
    | 33 | ibiblio02.fedoraproject.org                | ibiblio02.fedoraproject.org
    | 34 | ibiblio05.fedoraproject.org                | ibiblio05.fedoraproject.org
    | 35 | kernel01.iad2.fedoraproject.org            | kernel01.mgmt.iad2.fedoraproject.org
    | 36 | kernel02.iad2.fedoraproject.org            | kernel02.mgmt.iad2.fedoraproject.org
    | 37 | openqa-x86-worker01.iad2.fedoraproject.org | openqa-x86-worker01.mgmt.iad2.fedoraproject.org
    | 38 | openqa-x86-worker02.iad2.fedoraproject.org | openqa-x86-worker02.mgmt.iad2.fedoraproject.org
    | 39 | openqa-x86-worker03.iad2.fedoraproject.org | openqa-x86-worker03.mgmt.iad2.fedoraproject.org
    | 40 | openqa-x86-worker04.iad2.fedoraproject.org | openqa-x86-worker04.mgmt.iad2.fedoraproject.org
    | 41 | openqa-x86-worker05.iad2.fedoraproject.org | openqa-x86-worker05.mgmt.iad2.fedoraproject.org
    | 42 | openqa-x86-worker06.iad2.fedoraproject.org | openqa-x86-worker06.mgmt.iad2.fedoraproject.org
    | 43 | osuosl02.fedoraproject.org                 | osuosl02.fedoraproject.org
    | 44 | qvmhost-x86-01.iad2.fedoraproject.org      | qvmhost-x86-01.mgmt.iad2.fedoraproject.org
    | 45 | qvmhost-x86-02.iad2.fedoraproject.org      | qvmhost-x86-02.mgmt.iad2.fedoraproject.org
    | 46 | sign-vault01.iad2.fedoraproject.org        | sign-vault01.mgmt.iad2.fedoraproject.org
    | 47 | sign-vault02.iad2.fedoraproject.org        | sign-vault02.mgmt.iad2.fedoraproject.org
    | 48 | virthost-cc-rdu02.fedoraproject.org        | virthost-cc-rdu02.fedoraproject.org
    | 49 | vmhost-x86-01.iad2.fedoraproject.org       | vmhost-x86-01.mgmt.iad2.fedoraproject.org
    | 50 | vmhost-x86-01.stg.iad2.fedoraproject.org   | vmhost-x86-01.stg.mgmt.iad2.fedoraproject.org
    | 51 | vmhost-x86-02.iad2.fedoraproject.org       | vmhost-x86-02.mgmt.iad2.fedoraproject.org
    | 52 | vmhost-x86-02.stg.iad2.fedoraproject.org   | vmhost-x86-02.stg.mgmt.iad2.fedoraproject.org
    | 53 | vmhost-x86-03.iad2.fedoraproject.org       | vmhost-x86-03.mgmt.iad2.fedoraproject.org
    | 54 | vmhost-x86-04.iad2.fedoraproject.org       | vmhost-x86-04.mgmt.iad2.fedoraproject.org
    | 55 | vmhost-x86-05.iad2.fedoraproject.org       | vmhost-x86-05.mgmt.iad2.fedoraproject.org
    | 56 | vmhost-x86-05.stg.iad2.fedoraproject.org   | vmhost-x86-05.stg.mgmt.iad2.fedoraproject.org
    | 57 | vmhost-x86-06.iad2.fedoraproject.org       | vmhost-x86-06.mgmt.iad2.fedoraproject.org
    | 58 | vmhost-x86-06.stg.iad2.fedoraproject.org   | vmhost-x86-06.stg.mgmt.iad2.fedoraproject.org
    | 59 | vmhost-x86-07.iad2.fedoraproject.org       | vmhost-x86-07.mgmt.iad2.fedoraproject.org
    | 60 | vmhost-x86-07.stg.iad2.fedoraproject.org   | vmhost-x86-07.stg.mgmt.iad2.fedoraproject.org
    | 61 | vmhost-x86-08.iad2.fedoraproject.org       | vmhost-x86-08.mgmt.iad2.fedoraproject.org
    | 62 | vmhost-x86-08.stg.iad2.fedoraproject.org   | vmhost-x86-08.stg.mgmt.iad2.fedoraproject.org
    | 63 | vmhost-x86-09.stg.iad2.fedoraproject.org   | vmhost-x86-09.stg.mgmt.iad2.fedoraproject.org
    | 64 | vmhost-x86-11.stg.iad2.fedoraproject.org   | vmhost-x86-11.stg.mgmt.iad2.fedoraproject.org
    | 65 | vmhost-x86-12.stg.iad2.fedoraproject.org   | vmhost-x86-12.stg.mgmt.iad2.fedoraproject.org
    | 66 | vmhost-x86-cc01.rdu-cc.fedoraproject.org   | vmhost-x86-cc01.rdu-cc.fedoraproject.org
    | 67 | vmhost-x86-cc02.rdu-cc.fedoraproject.org   | vmhost-x86-cc02.rdu-cc.fedoraproject.org
    | 68 | vmhost-x86-cc03.rdu-cc.fedoraproject.org   | vmhost-x86-cc03.rdu-cc.fedoraproject.org
    | 69 | vmhost-x86-cc05.rdu-cc.fedoraproject.org   | vmhost-x86-cc05.rdu-cc.fedoraproject.org
    | 70 | vmhost-x86-cc06.rdu-cc.fedoraproject.org   | vmhost-x86-cc06.rdu-cc.fedoraproject.org
    | 71 | worker02.ocp.iad2.fedoraproject.org        | worker02.ocp.mgmt.iad2.fedoraproject.org
    | 72 | worker04.iad2.fedoraproject.org            | worker04.mgmt.iad2.fedoraproject.org
    | 73 | worker04-stg.ocp.iad2.fedoraproject.org    | worker04-stg.ocp.mgmt.iad2.fedoraproject.org
    | 74 | worker04.ocp.iad2.fedoraproject.org        | worker04.ocp.mgmt.iad2.fedoraproject.org
    | 75 | worker05.iad2.fedoraproject.org            | worker05.mgmt.iad2.fedoraproject.org
    | 76 | worker05.ocp.iad2.fedoraproject.org        | worker05.ocp.mgmt.iad2.fedoraproject.org
    | 77 | worker06.ocp.iad2.fedoraproject.org        | worker06.ocp.mgmt.iad2.fedoraproject.org
    |==================================================================================================
  4. For this instance, we would be performing firmware upgrade on the iDRAC management controller of the FQDN autosign02.iad2.fedoraproject.org.

  5. Ping the management FQDN from the batcave01 session to obtain the internal IP address of the same a.b.c.d and open it up in web browser.

  6. Log into the web interface of the management controller using the provided credentials after skipping the HTTPS warning message. image

  7. Make a note of the Service Tag from the dashboard of the web interface (which, in this case, is DEADCAFE). image

  8. Head over to the Dell Support website on a separate browser session or tab and enter the Service Tag in the identifier field. image

  9. When the Product Support page finishes loading for the associated product switch over to the Drivers & Downloads tab. image

  10. Search for keywords like Firmware and iDRAC in the search bar to find the iDRAC Firmware update package file. image

  11. Scroll down to the entry of the iDRAC Firmware update package file and confirm the update package file extension to be EXE. image

  12. Confirm the presence of the current version of the iDRAC Firmware in the Older Versions list to ensure correct selection. image

  13. Navigate to the Maintenance > System Update > Manual Update section of the web interface of the management controller. image

  14. Upload the iDRAC Firmware update package file to the web interface and wait for it to finish uploading before continuing. image

  15. After uploading has finished, click on the Install button to begin with installing the uploaded iDRAC Firmware package file. image

  16. Navigate to the Job Queue section of the web interface after clicking on the Job Queue button from the modal window. image

  17. Observe the running processes in the Job Queue section from the Maintenance section and wait for the installation to complete. image

  18. After the installation completes and the management controller is finished rebooting, confirm the current version from the dashboard. image