My old T610 need some TLC [H]
So i took it home then stripped down the hardware and cleaned out all the dust bunnies before reassembling everything back into a clean unit. Looked almost new but most imporantly it booted as expected.
I then installed more RAM, which after some to-ing and fro-ing, the system booted as one would expect with the new RAM being reflected within BIOS.
I also installed Windows server 2008 R2 by booting to a USB stick containing an OS install image and so got up and running without major drama. I then installed the Dell Chipset drivers followed by letting Windows Update do its thing. Lots of downloads later (and a some unexpected expense due to being on wireless internet) i'm patched and up to date.
Unfortunately i do have one 'unknown device' that may be associated with a 'Kernal-PnP Event ID 219 warning, failure name: \DRIVER\WUDFRd, data name: WpdBusEnumRoot\UMB\2&37c186d&0&STORAGE#VOLUME#_??_USBSTOR#DISK&VEN_HS-SD#MMC&REV_1.91#9&3af77b55&0&000000264001&0&#'. I'm not certain but this issue could be associated with my Dell U2711 USB hub, or it may not. But are Kernal-PnP warnings something i need to be concerned about NOW or can i safely ignore it for the moment and update my firmware?
As to firmware, my T610 is currently in the following state (after updating PERC6 & HDD's):
Dell Server BIOS 11G: 6.1.0
Lifecycle Controller: 1.5.0.671
iDRAC Firmware: 1.80 (build 17)
OS driver pack: 6.5.0.12
Broadcom NetExtreme II firmware: 6.2.12
Dell 32bit diagnostics: 5154A0
PSU firmware: 08.13.00
Perc6/i firmware: 6.3.3-0002 (latest)
HDD firmware: ES68 (latest)
But i have read on some posts on this forum that that BIOS should be updated first followed by IDRAC. I've also read that IDRAC and LCC should be updated in lockstep. Unfortunately the BIOS and IDRAC release notes don't mention such prerequisits (post IDRAC 1.85). Odd also that the LCC release notes v 1.7.5 mention prerequisits for USC 1.6.5, iDRAC6 1.97 and BIOS versions for some systems but nada for T610 (even though this was downloaded from T610 page!).
So the Dell documentation does not seem to be linked well with prerequisits well specified so it's as clear as mud how one updates and doesn't end up with a borked system. Admittedly, i am now confused.
So where does one find the prerequisits specific to the allowable steps for each firmware component and what dependancies they have on other firmware components? Without such, how can anyone apply BIG updates and ensure they don't end up with an expensive brick?
How should i move forward with firmware updates?
As for the elephant in the room, i've read that some T110's have lost the ability to disable embedded video function within BIOS. This was not documented within the release notes. As i have a grahics card in my T610 server, is there any known issues with a loss of the 'disable embedded video' function within BIOS?
Also, as i previosuly had a client OS installed, management tools were not able to be installed. Now that i am trying a server trial OS, what Dell software should one install to allow local administartion (keeping in mind that i've only one server and not 100 scattered across the globe)?
This will be a .W.IP. as i've still to upgrade to 2x 6 core xeons and then tackle quieting down the fans..
Cheers [:)]
