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« Citrix releases Presentation Server 4.5 tomorrow. Is it all that exciting? | Main | ViceVersa Pro: Really Easy File Syncs »

Floppy-based Firmware Upgrades must DIE.

Argh!

I spent nearly the entire day today trying to figure out how to upgrade the HBA firmware on a Dell server-class system spec'ed without a floppy drive. The QLogic HBA had instructions for upgrading the firmware that either used a floppy drive to dismount the O/S or was done via an installed application...

Unfortunately, the installed O/S was VMware ESX. Although ESX resides on a Red Hat v2.4 kernel, it is not Red Hat Linux. So, installing the client application for Linux resulted in the dreaded VMware Purple Screen Of Death (PSODtm). The Dell server hosting the ESX installation didn't have a floppy drive.

Thankfully we found UBCD from http://www.ultimatebootcd.com/. Hacking around with this tool and a USB hard drive gave us the DOS command prompt we needed. But not until spending numerous hours wasting time with other options.

Attention all hardware manufacturers! You have got to eliminate your reliance on floppy-based tools for firmware upgrades. Many if not most servers these days come shipped without floppy drives, and USB drives can't always be easily booted from -- especially from Linux-based O/S's. You must start reconfiguring your firmware upgrade tools to use bootable-CD ISO files or we administrators are going to revolt!

Our problem today was with a QLogic HBA. But have you had problems with other hardware devices and firmware upgrades? Let us know in the comments below...

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Posted by Greg Shields on March 1, 2007 12:30 AM |

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Greg Shields' Bio:

Greg Shields, is an independent author, instructor, and IT consultant based in Denver, Colorado, and a co-founder of Concentrated Technology. With nearly 15 years of experience in information technology, Greg has developed extensive experience in systems administration, engineering, and architecture specializing in Microsoft systems management, remote application, and virtualization technologies. Greg is a Contributing Editor for Redmond Magazine, MCPmag.com, and Virtualization Review Magazine and is the author of five books, including Windows Server 2008:  What’s New / What’s Changed. Greg is also a highly sought-after instructor and speaker, speaking regularly at conferences like TechMentor Events, and producing computer-based training curriculum for CBT Nuggets.  Greg is a recipient of Microsoft "Most Valuable Professional" award with a specialization in Windows Terminal Services.