Supermicro SuperServer Xeon D-1500 BIOS 1.1b released, IPMI 3.31 released, heralding the arrival of HTML5 iKVM

Posted by Paul Braren on Aug 8 2016 (updated on Nov 3 2016) in
  • HomeLab
  • HomeServer

    • AUG 15 2016 I'm all set now, networking is fine on the SYS-E200-8D when using BIOS 1.1b and IPMI 3.26. Had to turn off the system for longer after both upgrades were complete for it to suddenly work just fine. Testing of Intel/VMware's suspect 4.4.1 10GbE VIBs is now starting, now that I have a 10GbE switch...

    AUG 13 2016 FYI, BIOS 1.1b does seem to work fine with Windows Server 2016 TP5 networking on the 5018D-FN4T, but on the SYS-E200-8D, BIOS 1.1.b seems to prevent Windows and ESXi networking from working at all. Luckily, my BIOS 1.1a direct download link is still available. I'm testing the back-level procedure on the E200 now...

    AUG 11 2016 - IMPORTANT UPDATE - For VMware ESXi 6.0U2 users, there may be a network issue with BIOS 1.1b, I strongly advice you hold-off on upgrading until this has been resolved. See also Michael K's comment below, and the new video where I demonstrate a workaround for the issue with network enumeration (re-ordering), while acknowledging that I still have 10GbE testing to do.

    AUG 10 2016 - I've now upgraded my systems, and found that the FlexATX SYS-E300-8D accepts the same 3.31 IPMI code, but has a different BIOS than the rest of the SuperServer Mini ITX Xeon D-1500 family. Article below updated accordingly, with video of these 4 system upgrades now added.

    Here's the current Supermicro Xeon D-1500 system line-up in form factors suited for home labs:

    superservers-ready-for-bios-upgrades.JPG
    I'll take one of each, please! First step, update the firmware. Wiredzone does this for Bundle customers.

    TinkerTry'd Supermicro Xeon D-1500 Systems.

    If you click on the BIOS and IPMI links on each system and motherboard page above, you'll get mixed results today:

    SYS-5028D-TN4T
    Mini Tower    		 SYS-5018D-FN4T
    1U    		 SYS-E200-8D
    Mini 1U    		 SYS-E300-8D
    Mini 1U
    BIOS 1.1b 1.1b 1.1b 1.0a
    IPMI 3.26 3.26 3.26 3.31

    What I don't know is whether Supermicro is done with testing across the Xeon D-1500 family of products and has just falled a little behind on cleaning up the web site, or whether they simply haven't yet finished testing. Or maybe the product line's BIOS and IPMI levels won't be unified until the next major release, say BIOS 1.2. Note that the SYS-E300-8D is slightly different animal, with a bigger Flex ATX versus Mini ITX design, and SFP+ instead of RJ45 10GbE. Whatever the reason(s) for the current discrepencies, I'm boldly going ahead with updating to the following levels on all 4 systems very soon:

    Download for Xeon D Supermicro SuperServers

    These have been tested by me with all 4 Mini-ITX Xeon D systems pictured above, but as far as I know, not yet by Supermicro.

    Download for FlexATX SYS-E300-8D

    I'll be peforming the upgrade using this method for the BIOS, and this method for IPMI.

    Disclaimer

    Warning
    If you decide to proceed with this upgrade anyway, and it's not listed on your product page, you are proceeding at your own risk, and you may have issues obtaining support from Supermicro, despite their public tweet about this:

    736316284304949249

    I'm in temporary possession of these 4 form factors through mid-October, as I attempt an all-flash vSAN, prepare for VMworld 2016 Las Vegas, and compare the systems with one-another. Comparisons will be difficult with differing code levels, so I'm going with these BIOS settings, and the default IPMI settings that automatically get set from the upgrade process. Based on some reader feedback, I may also need to look into some alterations of these settings, we'll see.

    Video

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

    Release Notes

    Looking for release notes? For Supermicro, release notes can be a bit tough to come by. I managed to have a copy emailed right to me today, from a TinkerTry reader. These are not confirmed to be official release notes, and aren't found anywhere on Supermicro's site. They are provided to you on an as-is, FYI basis only, with only formatting tweaks made for legibility/mark-down compatibilty:

    BIOS 1.1b Release Notes

    1. Update SMBIOS information according to SMBIOS template ver 0.7
    2. Update RC 2.2
    3. SMBIOS test case 320 failed.
    4. ASPM support setup item doesn't work properly.
    5. Incorrect MAC information shown in IPMI WebUI when all onboard LAN disabled
    6. Update SPS to 03.00.03.025

    BIOS 1.0 through 1.1a Release Notes

    X10SDV-(TLN4)F release note.

    CPU Microcode | Option ROM/EFI driver | Intel RC/TXT/ME

    CPUID FAMILY | Aspeed VBIOS : 0.98.03 | RC Package :2.1.0
    50661 Broadwell DE V1 :F1000008 | Aspeed Graphics Driver : 0.98.03 | SPS : 03.00.03.023
    50662 Broadwell DE V1 :0000000F | Intel Giga PXE : 1.5.13 | BIOS ACM : 20150917 (1.2.2)
    50663 Broadwell DE V2 :0700000A | Intel iSCSI(i350) : 2.8.16 | SINIT ACM : 20150917 (1.2.2)
    50664 Broadwell DE Y0 :0F000009 | Intel Giga UEFI driver : 6.7.01 |
    | Intel RSTe SATA UEFI driver : 4.3.0.1018 |
    | Intel RSTe SATA RAID Option ROM : 4.3.0.1018 |
    | Intel Boot Agent XE : 2.3.45 [V1]|
    | Intel 10G UEFI Driver : 4.9.09 [V1]|

    BIOS feature | Support

    OOB Flash BIOS | Y
    OOB Update Setting | Y
    OOB Change SMBIOS | Y
    InBand Flash BIOS | Y
    InBand Update Setting | Y
    InBand Change SMBIOS | Y
    InBand SMI E7h supported | Y

    BIOS : X10SDVF6.505 Release Date : 05/05/2016
    BIOS revision: 1.1a BIOS Engineer : Wenhung Huang
    IPMI revision: 333
    BIOS Checksum: D063B22Bh
    BIOS Change:

    1. Restore the RTC date to build date when CMOS is cleared.
      Description : None.
      Validation :

      1. Clear CMOS.
      2. Check if the system date has been restored to BIOS build date.

    2. Fix Samsung NVMe device cannot install EFI OS.
      Description : Cannot install EFI OS with Samsung NVMe device.
      Validation : Install EFI OS and make sure boot to OS successfully.

    3. Add IPMI VLAN support
      Description :
      Validation :

      • Check if IPMI > BMC Network Configuration > VLAN can work properly.

    4. System always stop with "Press F1 to Resume..." message when "Wait For "F1" If Error".
      Description :
      Validation :

      • Connect HDD with SMART Error.
      • Check if system stops with message "Press F1 to Resume..."
      • Disable "Wait For "F1" If Error"
      • Check if system keep POST after prompted the error.

    5. Update TCG 2.0 module label08
      Description : Integrate from Grantley #3991 for other bug fixed.
      Validation :

      • Check if Windows 10 can enable the Bitlock properly.
      • Check if TXT function can enable properly.

    6. SRIOV cannot be enabled correctly in Windows 2012 HyperV
      Description : Expose ASPM to fully support SR-IOV
      Validation :

      • Check if SR-IOV can be enabled properly in Windows 2012 HyperV

    7. Fixed system reboot when enter some LSI card (AOC-S3108L-H8iR) setup screen problem.
      Description : system reboot when enter some LSI card (AOC-S3108L-H8iR) setup screen.
      Validation : Plugged AOC-S3108L-H8iR into PCIe slot and check if be able to enter OPROM setup screen.

    8. Update RC 2.1.0 and microcode M1050663_0700000A, M1050664_0F000009
      Description : Intel RC update.
      Validation : None.

    9. D-1587 CPU string is incorrect.
      Description : Production SoC only.
      Validation :
      • Check if the CPU string is correct in BIOS Setup and Windows system information.

    BIOS : X10SDVF6.302 Release Date : 03/02/2016
    BIOS revision: 1.1 BIOS Engineer : Wenhung Huang
    IPMI revision: 2.26
    BIOS Checksum: 6E2A4E57h
    BIOS Change:

    1. Update ACM 1.2.2
      Description : None.
      Validation :

      • Use production version SoC (The MSR 0xC80 bit0 should be "0")
      • Check if TXT "getsec -l sen" can execute without problem.

    2. Fixed system hang when trigger SERR/PERR.
      Description : System hang when trigger SERR/PERR.
      Validation :

      1. Enable "PCI PERR/SERR Support" and "PCI-Ex Error Enable" in Setup.
      2. Make sure system doesn't hang when trigger SERR and PERR.
      3. Check if SERR and PERR event log exist in Setup and IPMI Web.

    3. Adjust detection M.2 device function.
      Description : Modify conditional expression to detect M.2 device.
      Validation : Add M.2 device and make sure it can be detect in boot order.

    4. Support display BMC IP when available.
      Description : None.
      Validation :

      1. Connect the ethernet to BMC
      2. Check if BMC IP prompted on screen.

    5. Update microcode M1050664_0F000006, M1050662_0000000F, M1050663_07000009
      Description : None.
      Validation : None

    6. Update RC 2.0.0
      Description : None.
      Validation :

      1. Perform S4/C burn stress test on both V1/V2 SoC.

    7. Add Setup item to skip BIOS to IPMI command during POST.
      Description : Embedded specific function per PM request
      Validation :

      1. Check if the Setup item works properly.

    8. Update SPS kit to 03.00.03.020
      Description : None
      Validation : None

    9. There's no SERR/PERR after boot into windows.
      Description : None.
      Validation :
      1. Plug ASC-29320LPE.
      2. Boot to Windows
      3. Write 01/04 to the register offset 0x43 of ASC-2932 controller.
      4. Check if there's SERR/PERR log present at IPMI event log/Setup event log.

    BIOS : X10SDVF6.107 Release Date : 01/07/2016
    BIOS revision: 1.0c BIOS Engineer : Wenhung Huang
    IPMI revision: 2.26
    BIOS Checksum: D0146D7Ch
    BIOS Change:

    1. Update TCG 2.0 module.
      Description : To support both TPM 1.2/2.0
      Validation :
      a. Check if "Advanced > Trust Computing" exists when TPM 1.2 attached.
      b. Check if TPM state can be changed by BIOS Setup
      c. Check if OS "TPM Administrator" can change the TPM State properly.
      d. Check if BitLocker can work properly.
      e. Check if "Advanced > Trust Computing" exists when TPM 2.0 attached.
      f. check step (b) ~ (d) with TPM 2.0.

    2. Fix system will hang 0x92 after modify some LAN items.
      Description : System will hang 0x92 when set onboard LAN OPROM to EFI and network stack to enabled.
      Validation : Check system is boot up normally after change some LAN items.

    3. Always expose SR-IOV Setup item
      Description : The item is hidden since the onboard 10G sighting in V1 stepping but it's still support by onboard 1G and add-on card.
      Validation :

      1. Boot to Setup.
      2. Check if "Advanced > PCIe/PCI/PnP Configuration > SR-IOV Support" exists.

    4. Update RC 1.9.5
      Description : RC for V2 stepping support.
      Validation : N/A

    5. Update microcode m1050663_07000005,m1050664_0f000004
      Description : CPU microcode for V2 stepping support.
      Validation : N/A

    6. Update BIOS/SINIT ACM.
      Description : TXT ACM for V2 stepping support.
      Validation :

      1. Enable TXT support.
      2. Check if "getsec -l SEN" can execute properly.

    7. Remove prefix "6:" from ME version.
      Description : None
      Validation : Check if Setup ME version shown properly.

    8. Add second entry of SMBIOS type 39 to support redundant power.
      Description : None
      Validation :

      1. Check if there are two SMBIOS type 39 entries.
      2. Check if the power supply information correct.
    9. System hang at POST 0x00 during C burn with V1 SoC
      Description : None
      Validation :
      1. Perform C burn test for both V1 and V2 MBD

    BIOS : X10SDVF5.909 Release Date : 09/09/2015
    BIOS revision: 1.0b BIOS Engineer : Wenhung Huang
    IPMI revision: 1.93
    BIOS Checksum: 67BE9EDDh
    BIOS Change:

    1. There's no HDD information in Setup when set SATA to RAID mode.
      Description: Bug fixed.
      Validation:
      Boot Setup and set SATA mode to RAID
      Save and exit.
      Boot to Setup and check if the SATA HDD information shown.

    2. Above 4G decoding support.
      Description: Function implement.
      Validation:
      Boot to Setup.
      Set Advance > PCIe/PCI/PnP Configuration > Above 4G Decoding to Enabled.
      Attached add-on card with above 4G decode.
      Boot to OS and check the add-on card resource arrangement.

    3. M.2 NVMe support.
      Description: Function implement.
      Validation:
      Connect M.2 NVMe.
      Check if BIOS can recognize and boot to the device.

    4. Add SATA Frozen Setup item.
      Description: Function implement.
      Validation:
      Boot to Setup.
      Check if Advance>SATA Configuration>SATA Frozen present and default disabled.
      Boot to Linux
      Use "hdparm" to dump HDD information and HDD should not be frozen.
      Reset the system and boot to Setup.
      Set SATA Frozen to enable then save and exit.
      Boot to Linux
      Check if HDD is frozen.

    5. Hide the SR-IOV Setup item for V1 stepping.
      Description: Patch for Intel sighting #b287152: "Single Root- IO Virtualization feature in not enabled on the integrated 10G LAN controller"
      Validation:
      Boot to Setup
      Check if the CPU Version in Advance > CPU Configuration
      Check the "SR-IOV" item should not present at Advance > PCIe/PCI/PnP Configuration if CPU is D-1520/D-1540.

    6. System hang at POST screen 0x00 with X10SDV-8C-TLN4F
      Description: Rollback RC to 1.00..
      Validation:
      Run Cburn test/S4 stress test with X10SDV-8C-TLN4F.

    7. Force TPM enable after cleared by AMISCE.
      Description: Function implement.
      Validation:
      Use AMIBCP to enable the Advance > Trusted Computing > Enable TPM After cleared.
      Boot to shell
      Use AMISCE to change the Pending Operation to TPM Clear
      Check the TPM state should be Enabled after status change complete.
      Manual change the state and the state should change correct after reset.

    8. SCELNX support.
      Description: Function implement.
      Validation:
      Check if BIOS setting/password can export and import by SCELXN.

    9. Add second SMBIOS type 39 entry to support redundant power.
      Description: Function implement.
      Validation:
      1. Check if there are two SMBIOS type 39 entries present.
      2. Check if the power supply information correct.

    BIOS : X10SDVF5.527 Release Date : 05/27/2015
    BIOS revision: 1.0a BIOS Engineer : Wenhung Huang
    IPMI revision: 1.93
    BIOS Checksum: 2BC76942
    BIOS Change:

    1. SMLink 1 function failed.
      Description: BMC failed to issue command to ME through SMLink 1.
      Validation: Check command "Get ME Timestamp" - "ipmitool -H -U ADMIN -P ADMIN -b 0 -t 0x2c raw 0xa 0x48" works.

    2. Update TXT module to v1.0.2
      Description: Module update.
      Validation: Perform Intel TXT provision test.

    3. SATA RAID mode support
      Description: Integrated SATA RAID option/UEFI driver.
      Validation: Check if SATA RAID function works properly.

    4. Force to recovery mode if FV_MAIN is crash.
      Description: [BugFixed] system doesn't enter recovery when FV_MAIN is crash.
      Validation: 1. Use AFUDOS to update BIOS and remove AC power while programming FV_MAIN.

      1. Check if System enter Recovery automatically.

    5. Performance enhancement for FFS check.
      Description: POST time reduce.
      Validation: Check if system stops at POST code 0x4F over 10 second.

    6. Issue#61771 iSCSI Attempt missing after reboot
      Description: Bug fixed.
      Validation: 1. Add two iSCSI attempt.

      1. Save and restart system
      2. Check if the two attempt exist.

    7. SUM jumperless support.
      Description: Bug fixed.
      Validation: Check if SUM can update the FDT with jumperless.

    8. 10G PXE/UEFI driver support.
      Description: Driver update.
      Validation: Check if 10G PXE works properly in both Legacy/UEFI.

    BIOS : X10SDVF5.420 Release Date : 04/20/2015
    BIOS revision: 1.0 BIOS Engineer : Wenhung Huang
    IPMI revision: 1.93
    BIOS Checksum: 4743B80C
    BIOS Change:

    1. Initial version.

    See also at TinkerTry

    TinkerTry - PCs, EVs, home tech, efficiency and more, including virtualization. My opinions here, not my employer's.

    Paul Braren, MCSE in 1998, VCP #2681 in 2005, vExpert 2014 to 2024, Veeam Vanguard Emeritus, 2015 to 2019.

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    After 6 successful years testing then shipping well over 1,000 Xeon D Bundles, Wiredzone had to stop selling them in mid-2021 due to cost, supply, and logistics challenges. So far, Xeon D-1700/2700 (Ice Lake D) was a minor refresh for 2023, with Xeon D-1800/2800 (Granite Rapids D) refresh looking a little better for 2024. More cores, but still just PCIe Gen4 and DDR4. Looking ahead, I'm glad it's Pat Gelsinger at Intel's helm. I'm also grateful to have had the honor of working at VMware when Pat was the CIO there. I'll leave it at that, given the whole Broadcom thing.

    Easily update VMware ESXi at TinkerTry.com/easy-update-to-latest-esxi