New Supermicro BIOS 1.1c and IPMI 3.46 for Xeon D SuperServers features HTML5 iKVM

Posted by Paul Braren on Nov 4 2016 (updated on Jan 27 2017) in

Looking to ignore release notes and disclaimers/warnings to get right to the downloads? Jump below. See also video demonstrating of how HTML5/iKVM lets you dump Java, if you can get around the known IPMI 3.46 issues.

Here's the current Supermicro Xeon D-1500 systems with X10SDV motherboards, in form factors suited for home and small business (single PSU), eligible for these new October 2016 BIOS and IPMI releases:

SYS-5028D-TN4T Xeon D-1540/1541/1567 Minitower / X10SDV-TLN4F(-12C) motherboard
SYS-5018D-FN4T Xeon D-1540/1541 1U / X10SDV-8C-TLN4F motherboard
SYS-E200-8D Xeon D-1528 Mini 1U / X10SDV-6C-TLN4F motherboard
SYS-E300-8D Xeon D-1518 Mini 1U / X10SDV-TP8F motherboard

Latest BIOS and IPMI Versions

Jan 27 2017 Update

	SYS-5028D-TN4T Mini Tower Mini ITX	SYS-5018D-FN4T 1U Mini ITX	SYS-E200-8D Mini 1U Mini ITX	SYS-E300-8D Mini 1U Flex ATX
BIOS	Oct 03 2016 / 1.1c	Oct 03 2016 / 1.1c	Oct 03 2016 / 1.1c	Nov 21 2016 / 1.0b
IPMI	Oct 14 2016 / 3.46	Oct 14 2016 / 3.46	Oct 14 2016 / 3.46	Oct 14 2016 / 3.46

I'll take one of each, please! First step, update the BIOS and IPMI firmware to the latest release. For all SuperServer Bundle customers, Wiredzone handles these upgrades for you, along with the DIMM install and 4 hour burn-in test.

If you have:

a Supermicro SuperServer system or motherboard featuring a Xeon D-1500 processor
it has Intel X552/X557 10G ports of the RJ45 type (not SFP+)

then there is a new BIOS and IPMI upgrade you may want to consider, if you also:

want to avoid the (small) potential for a VMware ESXi PSOD KB KB2146388
you want to have both the Java and the new HTML5 version of iKVM, beware, the HTML5 version seems to be no ability to directly mount an ISO yet
are OK with the known issues in IPMI 3.46 I've already identified

Here's Supermicro's Disclaimer:

Please do not download / upgrade the BIOS/Firmware UNLESS your system has a BIOS/firmware-related issue. Flashing the wrong BIOS/firmware can cause irreparable damage to the system.

Here's a copy of TinkerTry's Disclaimer, exactly as posted below every article:

Disclaimer

Emphasis is on home test labs, not production environments. No free technical support is implied or promised, and all best-effort advice volunteered by the author or commenters are on a use-at-your-own risk basis. Properly caring for your data is your responsibility. TinkerTry bears no responsibility for data loss. It is up to you to follow all local laws and software EULAs.

This all boils down to you needing to contact Supermicro's SuperServer Technical Support if something goes wrong, with no guarantees that they can help you if you bricked your system. I would add that you should be sure to run your SuperServer off an uninterruptable power supply during any firmware upgrades, and be sure you use a stable network connection, or a known-good USB flash drive for bootable media.

Backstory

We've waited a long time for a 3.x release of IPMI for the Xeon D, and I gave you a sneak peek here. Now it's finally here, the fully supported GA bits, finally! Even better, for the first time ever, there's now full release notes too:

IPMI 3.46 RELEASE NOTES (Oct 14 2016)

~~> I've asked for a copy, will publish them here if I get them.~~ Got 'em! See:
Supermicro SuperServer Xeon D / X10SDV IPMI Release Notes Changelog

Supermicro SuperServer Xeon D / X10SDV IPMI Release Notes Changelog

Download BIOS and IPMI updates, the easy way

BIOS 1.1c X10SDVF6_A03.zip from:
supermicro.com/support/resources/getfile.aspx?ID=3815
(see also End User License Agreement)
IPMI 3.46 REDFISH_X10_346.zip from:
supermicro.com/support/resources/getfile.aspx?ID=3853
(see also End User License Agreement)

TinkerTry-unified-screenshot-of-BIOS-11c-IPMI346-downloads-Nov-03-2016 — BIOS 1.1c is only for Supermicro Xeon D SuperServers with 10GBase-T [Intel X552/X557 10GbE ports], IPMI 3.46 is for all Xeon D SuperServers

BIOS 1.1c Upgrade Procedure

There is a way to upgrade the BIOS over IPMI that I describe here, but it may require waiting for a trial license key for Supermicro Update Manager. So instead, I present to you the old school safest way to upgrade your BIOS(s), anytime:

make sure your SuperServer is on UPS-protected power
power on or reboot your SuperServer, then enter the BIOS setup by pressing Del when prompted
document all your BIOS settings that aren't default, in case they're lost, see also Recommended BIOS Settings for Supermicro SuperServer SYS-5028D-TN4T
make you have (temporarily) turned UEFI ON
make you have (temporarily) turned CSM ON (Compatibility Support Mode) to On, see details here
create a bootable USB flash drive on another Windows workstation using Rufus
extract all X10SDVF6_A03.zip files to the root directory of the USB drive, which includes the BIOS image itself named X10SDVF6.A03
properly eject the USB drive using the Windows Taskbar Safely Remove... icon.
insert the USB drive into any available USB port on your SuperServer
power up or reboot, and get ready to press that F11 key to choose alternative boot device, then choose the USB drive from the list
Using either a locally attached keyboard and mouse, or over iKVM, at the DOS command line, type:
FLASH X10SDVF6
wait until it's done, takes about 5 minutes
unplug the power cord from the SuperServer for about 15 seconds
remove the USB flash drive
plug the power cord back in to your SuperServer
power on your SuperServer
press Del to enter the BIOS setup again, switch back to UEFI mode, and turn CSM back to off, if you prefer, see differences between UEFI and BIOS
reboot, make sure your default boot device come up, you're done!

How to upgrade to Supermicro Xeon D SuperServer BIOS 1.1c using Rufus & bootable DOS USB drive

IPMI 3.46 Upgrade Procedure

on another PC, use a browser and type in the IP address of your BMC/IPMI/iKVM management interface in the URL area
login, default is ADMIN/ADMIN
under Maintenance, IPMI Configuration, you may wish to use the Save IPMI Configuration feature to save a config file for possible restore later, since you are about to loose all of your IPMI configuration settings
under Maintenance, Firmware Update, select the Enter Update Mode button and follow the instructions, using the IPMI file downloaded (in this example, it's REDFISH_X10_346.bin), but make sure to Un-check Both Boxes when prompted to preserve your configuration, as seen pictured at right. If you don't, you may get voltage alerts or critical sensor error / 5V Dual warnings in VMware ESXi, or other problems, which folks resolved by reflashing to the same level again, making sure to uncheck the boxes this time.
wait until it's done with the IPMI upgrade, takes about 5 minutes, when done, it will prompt you to wait another minute, one the IPMI Web Interface starts to respond to login again, you can continue
unplug the power cord from the SuperServer for at least 15 seconds (optional but recommended, more difficult if you're remote, I realize)
plug the power cord back in to your SuperServer
power on your SuperServer, wait a minute for IPMI to boot up
on another PC, use a browser and type in the IP address of your BMC/IPMI/iKVM management interface in the URL area
optional - under Maintenance, IPMI Configuration, you may wish to use the Reload IPMI Configuration feature to choose your saved file, and restore it

Video - IPMI Upgrade

This shows you the upgrade procedures using earlier releases, but the techniques are the identical.

Supermicro SuperServer Xeon D-1500 BIOS 1.1b and IPMI 3.31 Upgradeapolooza. Recorded on August 9, 2016.

Video - IPMI 3.46 Features and Known Issues

This shows you around the features of the 3.46 IPMI version.

Supermicro SuperServer SYS-E200-8D iKVM/HTML5 testing of IPMI 3.46

Video - New iKVM/HTML5 removes your need for Java

With Supermicro iKVM/HTML5 Remote Console, avoid Java by booting from a network share ISO

Optional - Download BIOS and IPMI updates, the Supermicro ways

Method 1 - Start with the Product Page

You are actually supposed to first find the product for your Embedded/IoT Solution here:

supermicro.com/products/embedded/embedded_server.cfm

or your X10 IPC & Embedded motherboard here:

supermicro.com/products/embedded/embedded_motherboard.cfm

then Ctrl+F to seek out those BIOS and IPMI download links, which will make you read this End User License Agreement before allowing you to download.

Method 2 - Start with the Support page

Another way is at supermicro.com, jump into Support > BIOS & IPMI Downloads > Intel here:

supermicro.com/ResourceApps/BIOS_IPMI_Intel.html

In the box where it says Enter Model Search Text, type X10SDV then click Search, it should look a lot like this:

Notice it mentions the series of Xeon D systems and motherboards that this BIOS 1.1c applies to:

Intel® Xeon® processor D-1518/1528/1520/1521/1540/1541; Single socket FCBGA 1667

Intel® Xeon® processor D-1537/1557/1587, Single socket FCBGA 1667; 8/12/16-Core, 16/24/32 Threads, 35/45/65W

Jan 27 2017 Update

It would appear that owners of the SYS-E300-8D with the Flex ATX motherboard would want to upgrade from 1.0a to 1.0b, especially if they experienced this (rare) PSOD issue that was fixed with 1.1c for the other Xeon D SuperServers.