Description

Firmware is essential to the operation of a server. It controls every single hardware component found in the server; from the onboard chipset to the built-in modules, to the add-on adapters and drives, and all the way up to the entire system, including the self-contained management controller.

Updating the firmware and drives on a regular schedule is the recommended best practice for several reasons:

• It achieves the highest-level hardware availability.
• It enables you to proactively apply the latest bug fixes before your systems are affected by them.
• It increases security, compatibility, and system uptime.

This document introduces the methods used to update firmware for Lenovo ThinkAgile Series products. Lenovo provides a series of tools to help you update firmware. This landing page introduces these update tools, and lists the relevant “How to” articles, so you have the resources you need to update firmware on your server. These tools allow you to update firmware versions through a graphical user interface (GUI) or command-line interface (CLI) in different scenarios, both with and without an Internet connection.

Applicable Systems

ThinkAgile Series

Acquiring Firmware and Drivers

1. Visit the Lenovo Data Center Support site.
2. Click the Solutions and Software tile for Lenovo Solutions products or run a search by specifying a server model with machine type: 
   Using Solutions and Software tile
   • For example, to find ThinkAgile HX 650 V3 Integrated System, Type 7D6N:
     Click the Solutions and Software tile -> for Series, select ThinkAgile HX-> for Subseries, select System HX 650 V3  Integrated System -> for Machine Type, select Type 7D6N.   
   Using Search box
   • Enter keywords in the Search box: for example, ThinkAgile HX 650 V3 or simply Type 7D6N.  Search keywords are case-insensitive. 
   • Select ThinkAgile HX 650 V3 Integrated System, Type 7D6N from the drop-down menu.
3. This will take you to the product home page of this server
4. On the server's Product Home page:
   • Click Drivers & Software on the left navigation menu.
   • Note: Best Recipe releases certify firmware and driver packages for existing ThinkAgile VX products:
     • The firmware packages are bundled within xClarity Repository Packs that can be deployed onto systems using vCenter vLCM leveraging xClarity Integrator or xClarity Administrator.
     • The driver packages are bundled within the Lenovo Custom Image and vendor add-ons. In this release, there will be two types of custom images. Custom Images for sustaining products and custom images for new products.
   • You can also search using keywords such as Best Recipes, LXCA, LXCI, and LXCE to find drivers and tools for your ThinkAgile system..  
5. Download software packages for your server.
   • For example Best Recipes for ThinkAgile HX 
     
6. For a step-by-step guide of how to locate and download all available firmware/drivers for your Lenovo DCG products, click this Acquiring Firmware/Drivers link or on the tab by the same name at the top of this page.

Solution

Lenovo provides "Best Recipes" of firmware and drivers that have been tested together as a stack to run on certain products. It is highly recommended that customers use the Best Recipe in full to avoid unforeseen errors.

Note: ThinkAgile CP firmware updates should only be planned or performed when advised by Lenovo Support. Contact Lenovo Support for information about firmware updates for ThinkAgile CP.

Use the following table to quickly access the section that best suits your current environment. Match your level of access with the options in the first column or the links below, and then choose the correct product column for your solution (HX, VX, MX Certified Nodes, SX for Microsoft Azure Stack, and CP) to find links for tools and steps.

Click one of these links to be taken to the corresponding row of the table that will provide further information on how to update your ThinkAgile solution.

1. LXCA Server Access
2. XCC Web Management Interface Access
3. Local Access with a KVM (keyboard and video) but no OS is installed yet
4. XCC Managment IP Access

Lenovo Management Tools

Links to the applicable Lenovo Management Tools for the solution

Note:

• The XCC firmware update option allows users to update the system firmware (UEFI, XCC, LXPM), adapter firmware, and PSU firmware.
• The LXPM firmware update option allows users to update the system firmware (UEFI, XCC, LXPM), Windows driver bundle, and Linux driver bundle.

Additional Information

• Lenovo DCG Firmware Update Page
• ThinkAgile HX - Best Recipes
• ThinkAgile MX - Best Recipes
• ThinkAgile SXM Best Recipes
• ThinkAgile VX - Best Recipes

Related Articles

• How to update the firmware repository of LXCA
• How to update firmware and drivers using the Lenovo XClarity management tools
• How to use the Lenovo XClarity Essentials Bootable Media Creator (BOMC) to update firmware
• How to mount an ISO image locally through LXCC
• How to upgrade firmware using bootable media made by Lenovo XClarity Essentials Bootable Media Creator
• How to use Lenovo XClarity Essentials OneCLI to remotely update your system
• How to use the Lenovo XClarity Essentials UpdateXpress to update your system
• How to create a Lenovo XClarity Essentials Bootable Media Creator image and update firmware for ThinkAgile HX systems