HP BladeSystem c-class Virtual Connect Support Utility User Guide

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HP BladeSystem c-Class Virtual Connect Support

Utility

User Guide

Version 1.2.0

Part Number 482172-001 February 2008 (First Edition)

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The information contained herein is subject to change without notice. The only warranties for HP products and services are set forth in the express warranty statements accompanying such products and services. Nothing herein should be construed as constituting an additional warranty. HP shall not be liable for technical or editorial errors or omissions contained herein.

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Microsoft, Windows XP, and Windows Vista are U.S. registered trademarks of Microsoft Corporation. Windows Server 2003 is a trademark of Microsoft Corporation.

Audience assumptions

This document is for the person who installs, administers, and troubleshoots servers and storage systems. HP assumes you are qualified in the servicing of computer equipment and trained in recognizing hazards in products with hazardous energy levels.

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Contents 3

Introduction

Overview

The HP BladeSystem c-Class Virtual Connect Support Utility enables administrators to upgrade VC-Enet and VC-FC module firmware remotely on both HP BladeSystem c-Class c7000 and c3000 enclosures using a standalone, Windows-based command line utility.

When the utility initiates a firmware process, all modules are updated at the same time. The utility displays a progress message indicating that an update is in progress and the percentage complete. After the module firmware updates are complete, the utility activates all of the modules.

Requirements

The Virtual Connect Support Utility requires the following:

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Microsoft® Windows® XP, Microsoft® Windows Server™ 2003, or Microsoft® Windows Vista® operating system

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Administrator or Power User group membership

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No FTP Service, or other service running bound to TCP port 21

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Add the Virtual Connect Support Utility application to the list of exceptions for any host-based firewall on the client

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Connectivity between client and OA on enclosure

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Onboard Administrator user account with Administrative privileges to all interconnect bays

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VC Manager account with domain rights if Virtual Connect is configured

Restrictions and limitations

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This version of VCSU supports c3000 and c7000 enclosures.

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The utility does not update modules that are not physically present, are powered off, or are non-functional. A status message indicates if any modules are in these states.

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The utility does not update unknown or unsupported module types, including pass-thru Ethernet and FC modules.

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HTTP downloads are restricted to non-SSL, non-authenticated websites.

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FTP downloads are restricted to non-SSL/TLS, Passive Transfer Mode FTP sites.

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Any IP addresses that are not accessible timeout within 20 seconds. Any IP addresses that have an active SSL enabled web server, but not an OA, fail immediately.

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Introduction 5

Command line syntax

CLI input is case-insensitive except when otherwise noted. The general CLI syntax format is as follows: vcutil -a <command>

Valid commands include the following. Command Description

version Display list of current module firmware versions on target enclosure

report _{Display current module firmware versions, package firmware versions, and whether} a module is updateable

update _{Update the module firmware on the target enclosure using the specified Virtual} Connect firmware package

discover _{Search a range of IP addresses for Onboard Administrator configurations}

Parameters are extensions that provide extra information required for the execution of a particular command. Whether or not a parameter is required depends on the specific action being executed. For example, the version command includes parameters for IP address, username, password, and bay location. The syntax is:

vcutil -a version -i <IP> -u <USER> -p <PWD> [-b <BAY>] To display a single module and its current firmware version, enter:

vcutil -a version -i 192.168.1.100 -u Administrator -p password -b 1

Usage

Use the following steps to install and run the HP BladeSystem c-Class Virtual Connect Support Utility.

1. Install the application on the client system by running SETUP.EXE.

2. After the program is installed, click Start>Programs>Hewlett-Packard>Virtual Connect Support Utility to start a console.

o To display the top-level help and available options, enter vcutil.

o To display version syntax and available options, enter vcutil -a version.

o To display report syntax and available options, enter vcutil -a report.

o To display update syntax and available options, enter vcutil -a update.

3. Download a valid Virtual Connect firmware package file from the HP website

(http://www.hp.com/go/bladesystemupdates), and then save it to your local file system.

4. Enter the version command to display all of the modules in the enclosure and ensure that the required connectivity exists between the utility and the remote enclosure.

Non-VC modules are shown as “Unknown or unsupported module.” Version information is displayed for supported VC modules only.

5. Enter the report command to display all modules in the target enclosure and which modules can be updated. The report command also displays the firmware package file contents and versions. To use the report command, a valid firmware package must be available on the local filesystem.

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Introduction 6 Non-VC modules are shown as “Unknown or unsupported module.” Detailed information is

displayed for supported VC modules only.

6. Enter the update command to update the firmware on supported VC-Enet and VC-FC modules in the enclosure. The update process takes approximately 20 minutes for each VC-Enet module, and 5 minutes for each VC-FC module to be updated.

The utility only updates supported VC modules that are able to be updated and require an update.

Password masking

For all of the commands provided by VCSU, the username, password, and IP address of the enclosure OA must be provided. In some cases, the VC domain username and password must also be specified. VCSU enables the user to enter the password interactively with password masking, primarily for security reasons. To do this, enter the password as "*" and a prompt is provided that masks the input.

Example:

vcutil -a version -i 192.168.1.100 -u Administrator -p *

OA Password :***********

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Commands 7

Commands

version

Display the current running firmware version on all modules in a specific target enclosure. Item Description

Syntax vcutil -a version -i <IP> -u <USER> -p <PWD> [-b <BAY>] Parameters:

IP _{IP address of the active OA in the enclosure}

USER Name of the OA user with privileges to access all enclosure interconnect bays PWD Password of the OA user

BAY _{Optional. The bay number of the target module. If not specified, the default is all supported} modules.

Examples

Display all modules and their current firmware versions:

vcutil -a version -i 192.168.1.100 -u Administrator -p password Display a single module and its current firmware version:

vcutil -a version -i 192.168.1.100 -u Administrator -p password -b 1

report

Display the current running firmware version on all modules in a specific target enclosure, plus display the VC-Enet and VC-FC firmware versions provided in the specified VC package file, and whether or not the module can be updated. In addition to displaying the module firmware version and status, the report command also displays details about the VC package contents.

Because the package version details are displayed, the user must provide a VC package file as part of the input at the command line. The report command does not require VC privileges because it is a read-only command.

Item Description

Syntax vcutil -a report -i <IP> -u <USER> -p <PWD> -l <FILE> [-b <BAY>] Parameters:

USER _{Name of the OA user with privileges to access all enclosure interconnect bays} PWD _{Password of the OA user}

FILE _{Full path to the Virtual Connect package on the local computer}

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Commands 8 Examples

Display all modules in an enclosure:

vcutil -a report -i 192.168.1.100 -u Administrator -p password -l VCpackage

Display a single module in an enclosure:

vcutil -a report -i 192.168.1.100 -u Administrator -p password -1 VCpackage -b 2

discover

Locate remote OA enclosures that exist on the network within a specified address range.

This command is useful if an Administrator cannot remember the exact IP address of the OA on a certain enclosure, but the general IP address range is known.

Item Description

Syntax vcutil -a discover -s <START IP> -e <END IP> Parameters:

START IP _{First IP address in the range to search} END IP _{Last IP address in the range to search} Example

Discover an enclosure in a certain address range:

vcutil -a discover -s 192.168.1.100 -e 192.168.1.200

update

Update the firmware.

The user must provide the primary OA IP address, user credentials, the package file to use for the update, and an optional bay number.

The user can also force an update of modules in the following circumstances:

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The target module contains a running firmware image that is the same version as the one in the source package.

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The target module contains a running firmware image that is newer than the version in the source package.

Item Description

Syntax vcutil -a update -i <IP> -u <USER> -p <PWD> -l <FILE> [-b <BAY>] [-f <FORCE>] [-vcu <VCM USER> -vcp <VCM PASS>] [-q] [-o <ORDER>] Parameters:

USER _{Name of the OA user with privileges to access all enclosure interconnect bays} PWD _{Password of the OA user}

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Commands 9 Item Description

-f version _{Optional. Allow an update of same or older firmware versions.}

VCM USER _{Name of Virtual Connect user with Domain privileges. Required if an enclosure is in a} Virtual Connect domain.

VCM PASS Password for the Virtual Connect user.

-q _{Optional. Specifies that the firmware update does not prompt for confirmation before} updating, and uses the default answer for the confirmation (YES).

-o _{Optional. Specifies VC-Enet Modules activation order. Supported activation order methods} are:

• parallel—(Default) All modules are activated at the same time

• odd-even—All modules in odd numbered bays are activated first, then modules in even numbered bays

• serial—Modules are activated one at a time starting with the highest numbered bay through the lowest numbered

• manual—Modules are updated but not activated. Use the VC Manager GUI or OA GUI to activate (reboot) modules

Examples

Update multiple modules in an enclosure imported into a VC domain:

vcutil -a update -i 192.168.1.100 -u Administrator -p password -vcu John -vcp vcPass -l C:\images\vcfw-120.bin

Update a single module in an enclosure not managed by Virtual Connect:

vcutil -a update -i 192.168.1.100 -u Administrator -p password -1 vcfw121.bin -b 3

Update a single module in an enclosure managed by Virtual Connect:

vcutil -a update -i 192.168.1.100 -u Administrator -p password -vcu John -vcp vcPass -l C:\images\vcfw-120.bin

Perform an update and specify an activation ordering method:

vcutil -a update -i 192.168.1.100 -u Administrator -p password -vcu John -vcp vcPass -l C:\images\vcfw-120.bin -o serial

Perform an update using a firmware image from a web server URL:

vcutil –a update –i 192.168.1.100 –u Administrator –p password –l http://www.myserver.com/vcfw-120.bin

Perform an update using a firmware image from an FTP server on the network:

vcutil –a update –I 192.168.1.100 –u Administrator –p password –l ftp://user:password@192.168.1.10/vcfw-120.bin

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Troubleshooting 10

Troubleshooting

Error messages

Error message Resolution

This version of the application does not support

the target enclosure Specify a supported enclosure type.

Invalid bay number x for a c3000 enclosure The c3000 enclosure has only four I/O bays. Specify a valid bay number.

Unable to get enclosure part number Check connectivity with the OA, and then restart the update process.

Another instance of this application is running. Please wait until all other instances are completed and try again.

More than one instance of the update utility is attempting to run on the client. Wait until all other instances are complete, and then try again.

Unable to initialize Onboard Administrator

interface Check connectivity with the OA, and then restart the update process. Unable to login to the Onboard Administrator.

Please confirm the OA IP address and user credentials.

Confirm the OA IP address and user credentials.

Invalid option An invalid option has been specified by the user. Verify the list of available options for that command.

Invalid -a option An invalid -a format has been specified by the user. Verify the list of available commands.

One or more parameters missing One or more required parameters was not specified. See the required syntax for the command.

Missing -l option Specify the required package location.

Invalid -f option The -f version option can only be used with the update command. Be sure a valid version is specified. Invalid OA IP address Provide a valid IP address in the proper format. Unable to communicate with OA IP

aaa.bbb.ccc.ddd Check connectivity with the OA and verify that you are using a valid IP address. OA user name is longer than 13 characters Enter a valid OA user name.

OA user password is greater than 40 characters Enter a valid OA user password.

Invalid bay number Specify a valid bay number for the target enclosure. OA firmware version a.bb is not supported Update the firmware on the target enclosure. Unable to communicate with Onboard

Administrator. Please confirm validity of the OA IP address and user credentials.

Confirm the validity of the OA IP address and user credentials.

Specified Onboard Administrator is not primary Specify the OA IP address of the primary OA in the target enclosure.

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Troubleshooting 11

Error message Resolution

Unable to get enclosure VC mode information Log into VC Manager GUI and resolve any errors with VC Manager. Reset the OA to factory defaults, and log into the VC Manager GUI.

Initialization process failed. Firmware update

cannot continue. Check update requirements and try the update again. File extraction failed Verify that the Virtual Connect firmware package is

correct, or download again from the HP website. Firmware update failed on module See the fwupdate.log file.

Unable to transfer file to module Verify connectivity between the client and the enclosure. Unable to configure module for update Verify connectivity between the client and the enclosure. Another firmware update is currently in progress Wait until the current update is complete before

attempting to update the firmware. The specified activation ordering method is not

valid Verify that the activation order method (-o) is correct. Before contacting HP technical support, be sure to have the Virtual Connect Support Utility log file (fwupdate.log) available.

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Technical support 12

Technical support

Before you contact HP

Be sure to have the following information available before you call HP:

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Technical support registration number (if applicable)

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Product serial number

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Product model name and number

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Product identification number

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Applicable error messages

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Add-on boards or hardware

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Third-party hardware or software

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Operating system type and revision level

HP contact information

For the name of the nearest HP authorized reseller:

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In the United States, see the HP US service locator webpage (http://www.hp.com/service_locator).

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In other locations, see the Contact HP worldwide (in English) webpage (http://welcome.hp.com/country/us/en/wwcontact.html).

For HP technical support:

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In the United States, for contact options see the Contact HP United States webpage (http://welcome.hp.com/country/us/en/contact_us.html). To contact HP by phone:

o Call 1-800-HP-INVENT (1-800-474-6836). This service is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. For continuous quality improvement, calls may be recorded or monitored.

o If you have purchased a Care Pack (service upgrade), call 1-800-633-3600. For more information about Care Packs, refer to the HP website (http://www.hp.com).

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In other locations, see the Contact HP worldwide (in English) webpage (http://welcome.hp.com/country/us/en/wwcontact.html).

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Acronyms and abbreviations 13

Acronyms and abbreviations

CLI

Command Line Interface

DHCP

Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol

DNS

domain name system

FC

Fibre Channel

IP

Internet Protocol

OA

Onboard Administrator

SSH

Secure Shell

HP BladeSystem c-class Virtual Connect Support Utility User Guide