Dell Brocade Adapters - Manual (Page 148)

120 Brocade Adapters Installation and Reference Manual
53-1002144-01
Network boot
4
Updating boot code with BCU commands
Use the following procedure to update boot code using BCU commands.
1. Download the boot code image zip file (brocade_adapter_boot_fw_<version>.zip) from the
Brocade adapters website to a folder on your local drive using the following steps:
a. Go to the adapters website at www.brocade.com/adapters .
b. Navigate to the adapters Downloads page.
c. Select your operating system from the Downloads list to display appropriate download
files.
d. Download the boot code image from the “Boot Code” area.
2. Extract the boot code image file.
3. Enter the following BCU command:
bcu boot --update <ad_id> <image file> -a
where:
<ad_id> ID of the adapter (adapter)
<image file> name of firmware image file
-a Indicates that the boot code should be updated on all installed Brocade
adapters found on the host. Note that the adapter identification (ad_id)
should not be specified if the -a option is specified.
Network boot
The Network or the preboot eXecution environment (PXE) boot feature allows a host to boot its
operating system from a system located somewhere on the Ethernet LAN instead of the host’s local
disk or over the SAN. Booting from a remote LAN location provides the obvious advantage of
recovering quickly from a host or adapter malfunction. With PXE BIOS enabled on the adapter for a
specific port ID (or a VLAN ID for a specified port), replacing an old host with a new one involves
installing the adapter from the old host into the new one with the same configuration, then booting
the new host. The host’s operating system automatically boots from the remote LAN device.
NOTE
Enabling VLAN during network boot requires support from the operating system and has not been
fully validated due to operating system limitations.
Although fast recovery from a malfunction is a big advantage, following are considerations for the
host and adapter, depending on the replacement situation:
• Even though you install a similar host, the new host may require unique System BIOS options
and other settings, or internal IDE drives may need to be disconnected or disabled to initiate a
network boot.
• If replacing the Brocade adapter in a host with a similar Brocade adapter, you will need to
reconfigure the adapter to boot from the appropriate remote boot device.
• If replacing a host with a different model, you may be prompted to install the adapter driver for
the existing adapter.