Update firmware

Contributors netapp-thomi netapp-ahibbard netapp-aherbin

With System Manager, you can apply a firmware update to supported devices in your cluster, such as disks, disk shelves, the Disk Qualification Package (DQP) the service processor (SP), or the Baseboard Management Controller (BMC).

You can apply firmware updates manually or automatically. Select either procedure:

Update firmware manually

About this task

Beginning with ONTAP 9.9.1, you can receive alerts from Active IQ that inform you when firmware updates are pending on the cluster. Then, you can download the firmware image and upload it using System Manager.

workflow diagram of update firmware task

View firmware update alerts from Active IQ

Beginning with ONTAP 9.9.1, you can receive alerts in System Manager from Active IQ Unified Manager that inform you when firmware updates are pending on the cluster.

Note When working with ONTAP 9.9.1, to receive alerts about firmware updates, you must be registered with Active IQ Unified Manager. Refer to Active IQ Unified Manager documentation resources.
Steps

  1. Go to Dashboard.

    In the Health section, a message displays if there are any recommended firmware updates for the cluster.

  2. Click on the alert message.

    The Firmware Update tab is displayed in the Update page.

Download the cluster firmware

Note For ONTAP 9.8, you must navigate to the NetApp Support Site to download an updated firmware image package.

Beginning with ONTAP 9.9.1, you can use System Manager to download firmware updates from the Update page when you view firmware alerts (see View firmware update alerts from Active IQ.).

Steps

Perform the procedure that is appropriate for the version of ONTAP that is installed on the cluster.

For ONTAP 9.8 and ONTAP 9.9.1, if you are not registered with Active IQ, then perform these steps…​

Beginning with ONTAP 9.9.1, if you are registered with Active IQ, then perform these steps…​

  1. Navigate to the NetApp Support Site.

  2. Log into the NetApp Support Site.

  3. Select the firmware package that you want to use to update your cluster firmware.

  4. Copy the files to an HTTP or FTP server on your network or to a local folder.

  1. On the Update page, for the firmware update that you want to perform, click on the link that says *Download from NetApp Support Site".

    The NetApp Support Site is displayed.

  2. Log into the NetApp Support Site.

  3. Download the firmware image package you want to update with.

  4. Copy the files to an HTTP or FTP server on your network or to a local folder.

Update the cluster firmware

After the firmware package files are downloaded, you can update the cluster firmware.

Steps

  1. In System Manager, click Cluster > Overview.

  2. In the right corner of the Overview pane, click More menu icon and select ONTAP Update.

  3. Click the Firmware Update tab, and then perform one of the following procedures, depending on which version of ONTAP you are using:

ONTAP version

Procedure

ONTAP 9.10.0 or earlier

  1. Select From Server or Local Client

  2. Provide the server URL or the file location.

ONTAP 9.10.1

Note: To schedule fixes and updates to occur automatically and receive recommendations about updating, see Update firmware automatically.

  1. In the list of recommended updates, select the Actions button to perform the following tasks:

    • Update: Install the update.

    • Schedule: Set a schedule for installing the update.

    • Dismiss: Remove the recommendation notice form the list.

    If the update has been schedule, the options of the Actions button are:

    • Update: Install the update now.

    • Edit Schedule: Change the schedule date for the update.

    • Cancel Schedule: Cancel the scheduled date for the update.

  2. If you want to update manually, select the Update Firmware button.
Note You can monitor or verify updates under Firmware Update Summary.

Update firmware automatically

Beginning with ONTAP 9.10.1, you can use System Manager to enable the Automatic Update feature, which allows ONTAP to automatically download and install recommended firmware patches, upgrades, and updates provided by NetApp (the default behavior).

Before you begin

The Automatic Update feature requires AutoSupport connectivity over HTTPS. To troubleshoot connectivity problems, see Troubleshoot AutoSupport message delivery over HTTP or HTTPS.

About this task

Updates include firmware patches, upgrades, and updates for the following categories:

  • Storage firmware: Storage devices, disks, and disk shelves

  • SP/BMC firmware: Service processors and BMC modules

In System Manager, you can change the default behavior per category so that you receive recommendations for updates to firmware, allowing you to decide which ones to install and to set the schedule when you want them to install. You can also turn off the feature.

To schedule updates to occur automatically and to receive recommendations about updating, you perform the following workflow tasks:

Automatic update workflow

Ensure the Automatic Update feature is enabled

In System Manager, to enable the Automatic Update feature, you must accept the terms and conditions specified by NetApp.

Before you begin

The Automatic Update feature requires that AutoSupport is enabled and using the HTTPS protocol.

Steps

  1. In System Manager, click Events.

  2. In the Overview section, under Recommended Actions, click Action next to Enable automatic update.

  3. Click Enable.

    Information is displayed about the Automatic Update feature. It describes the default behavior (automatically download and install updates) and notifies you that you can modify the default behavior. The information also contains terms and conditions to which you must agree if you want to use this feature.

  4. To accept the terms and conditions, and to enable the feature, click the checkbox, then click Save.

Specify default actions for update recommendations

You can set a default action that you want performed for storage firmware updates and SP/BMC firmware updates.

Steps

  1. In System Manager, click Cluster > Settings.

  2. In the Automatic Update section, click kebab icon to view a list of actions.

  3. Click Edit Automatic Update Settings.

  4. Select default actions for both categories of updates.

Manage automatic update recommendations

In System Manager, you can view a list of recommendations and perform actions on each one or on all of them at once.

Steps

  1. Use either method to view the list of recommendations:

    View from the Overview page

    View from the Settings page

    1. Click Cluster > Overview.

    2. In the Overview section, click More kebab icon, then click ONTAP Update.

    3. Select the Firmware Update tab.

    4. On the Firmware Update tab, click More kebab icon, then click View All Automatic Updates.

    1. Click Cluster > Settings.

    2. In the Automatic Update section, click kebab icon, then click View All Automatic Updates.

    The Automatic Update Log displays the recommendations and details about each one, including a description, a category, a scheduled time to install, status, and any errors.

  2. Click kebab icon next to the description to view a list of actions you can perform on the recommendation.

    You can perform one of the following actions, depending on the state of the recommendation:

    If the update is in this state…​

    You can perform…​

    Has not been scheduled

    Update: Starts the updating process.

    Schedule: Lets you set a date for starting the updating process.

    Dismiss: Removes the recommendation from the list.

    Has been scheduled

    Update: Starts the updating process.

    Edit Schedule: Lets you modify the scheduled date for starting the updating process.

    Cancel Schedule: Cancels the scheduled date.

    Has been dismissed

    Undismiss: Returns the recommendation to the list.

    Is being applied or is being downloaded

    Cancel: Cancels the update.