HP (Hewlett-Packard) 686234S01 Server User Manual


 
Software and configuration utilities 77
NOTE: The server ships with the same version programmed on each side of the ROM.
Safety and security benefits
When you flash the system ROM, ROMPaq writes over the backup ROM and saves the current ROM as a
backup, enabling you to switch easily to the alternate ROM version if the new ROM becomes corrupted for
any reason. This feature protects the existing ROM version, even if you experience a power failure while
flashing the ROM.
Keeping the system current
Drivers
IMPORTANT: Always perform a backup before installing or updating device drivers.
The server includes new hardware that may not have driver support on all OS installation media.
If you are installing an Intelligent Provisioning-supported OS, use Intelligent Provisioning (on page 69) and its
Configure and Install feature to install the OS and latest supported drivers.
If you do not use Intelligent Provisioning to install an OS, drivers for some of the new hardware are required.
These drivers, as well as other option drivers, ROM images, and value-add software can be downloaded as
part of an SPP.
If you are installing drivers from SPP, be sure that you are using the latest SPP version that your server
supports. To verify that your server is using the latest supported version and for more information about SPP,
see the HP website (http://www.hp.com/go/spp/download).
To locate the drivers for a particular server, go to the HP website (http://www.hp.com/go/hpsc) and click
on Drivers, Software & Firmware. Then, enter your product name in the Find an HP product field and click
Go.
Software and firmware
Software and firmware should be updated before using the server for the first time, unless any installed
software or components require an older version. For system software and firmware updates, download the
SPP ("HP Service Pack for ProLiant" on page 72) from the HP website (http://www.hp.com/go/spp).
Version control
The VCRM and VCA are web-enabled Insight Management Agents tools that HP SIM uses to schedule
software update tasks to the entire enterprise.
VCRM manages the repository for SPP. Administrators can view the SPP contents or configure VCRM to
automatically update the repository with internet downloads of the latest software and firmware from
HP.
VCA compares installed software versions on the node with updates available in the VCRM managed
repository. Administrators configure VCA to point to a repository managed by VCRM.