Updating the BIOS on Intel® Server Board M50CYP Family - kcox-ByteSpeed/Test_Intel_Documentation GitHub Wiki
This tutorial provides step-by-step instructions to update the BIOS and firmware of the
Intel® Server Board M50CYP Family
using the uEFI System Update Package (SUP). The procedure described here applies to versionR01.01.0009
and will generally work for later versions. Read documentation on Intel's site to ensure you meet the prerequisites and follow the instructions carefully to avoid any issues during the update process.
Here is a video featuring the steps outlined below. Note: The video may not match actual version numbers and is meant to be a general outline. More specific details can be found below. Click the image to watch the video on YouTube:
Note: This update procedure will work for any Intel Server boards (version numbers will vary).
-
Hardware Requirements:
- Intel® Server Board
M50CYP Family
- A USB flash drive (formatted to
FAT32
)
- Intel® Server Board
-
Current System Software Stack:
- System BIOS:
R01.01.0008
- ME Firmware:
04.04.04.301
- BMC Firmware:
2.91.8a19dcde
- FRUSDR:
0.46
- Pmem:
2.2.0.1553
- CPLD:
v4P9
- System BIOS:
Ensure that your current system software stack matches these versions before proceeding. Failure to meet these requirements may result in an unsuccessful update. Refer to Intel's site for recommended software versions for updates beyond
R01.01.0009
.
- Software Downloads:
- Download the BIOS and Firmware Update Package: M50CYP_EFI_BIOSR01.01.0009_X.zip from the Intel website
Verify the integrity of the downloaded file using the SHA256 checksum on the site
-
Update Order: It is recommended to first update to firmware version
R01.01.0008
before proceeding toR01.01.0009
-
Optional Recovery Parameters: Use the
-recovery
parameter when updating certain firmware components, especially when dealing with specific System Volume Numbers (SVN) - Downgrade Restrictions: Downgrading BIOS or BMC firmware is generally not recommended and may require special procedures, including setting the PCH or BMC SVN Bypass jumper
- Do Not Interrupt: Interrupting the update process can render your system inoperable
- Do Not Downgrade: Avoid downgrading the system software as it may also cause system failure
- Prepare the USB Flash Drive
- Unzip the contents of the downloaded update package
- Copy all files to the root directory of a USB flash drive formatted with the
FAT32
file system - Insert the USB flash drive into any available USB port on the back of the server
- Boot into UEFI Shell
- Reboot the server and rapidly pressing F6 during POST to access the Boot Menu
- Select UEFI Internal Shell
Alternatively, enter the Boot Menu through the BIOS by rapidly pressing F2 during POST. Then select Boot Manager.
-
Execute the Update
- The update process will typically start automatically by executing the Startup.nsh script located on your USB drive
- If the Startup.nsh script does not start automatically: Source
- Use the command
map -b
to list all of the drives connected to the system - Review the output list and locate the drive that matches the size and model of your USB disk
- For servers running Windows, type
fs0:
at the prompt. For VMWare/ESXi servers, select the removable media device (e.g.,blk1:
) - Run
ls
to display the files in the mounted drive. You should see the contents of the USB drive, including theStartup.nsh
script - Run the command
Startup.nsh
to manually start the update process
- Use the command
- The update process will begin automatically.
- Partway through, you will be prompted to select an option (1-5). Choose 3, then press N for the following questions
- Do not interrupt or power off the system once the update process begins. The screen will remain off, and the ID LED will turn solid blue during the update
- The system will reboot automatically after the update is complete, which may take approximately 20 minutes
- Remove the USB after the update is complete
-
Reset BIOS settings
- Boot into the BIOS by rapidly pressing F2 during the boot sequence
- Navigate to
Main
and press enter- Ensure
Quiet Boot
is set toDisabled
- Press esc
- Ensure
- Navigate to
Advanced
>Processor Configuration
- Ensure
Intel Virtualization Technology
(Intel VT) isenabled
- Ensure
- Check any other custom BIOS settings
If running VMWare disable
Memory Mapped I/O above 4GB
underAdvanced > PCI Configuration
- Press F10 to save changes and exit after verifying the update (see step 5 below)
Following these instructions will help ensure a successful BIOS and firmware update on the Intel® Server Board M50CYP Family. Always refer to the included release notes for detailed information on any known issues and additional guidance.
- Post-Update Verification
Version numbers for all components can be found on the download page under
Detailed Description
-
After the update and reboot, press F2 during POST to access the BIOS Setup Utility
-
Verify the BIOS revision matches the updated version at the top of the BIOS home screen
-
Navigate to
SERVER MANAGEMENT > SYSTEM INFORMATION
to verify the BMC, ME, SDR, and CPLD firmware revisions -
Press F10 to save changes and exit
Alternatively:
- View version numbers through the
Integrated BMC Web Console
if you set up remote management through the BMC - Or Boot into the EFI shell and run
sysfwupdt.efi -i
to verify the active firmware versions
- View version numbers through the
-
- Custom BIOS Update: If updating to a custom BIOS file (
R01010008_CAPSULE_ITK.cap
), first run the standard update procedure using Startup.nsh. After completion, flash the custom BIOS using theUpdBIOS_CYP_CAP.nsh
script. - Re-flashing Specific Components: After the initial update, individual components can be updated using specific scripts like
UpdBIOS_CYP.nsh
,UpdCPLD_CYP.nsh
, etc. Ensure the system has been initially updated before using these standalone scripts.
- Intel Download Center
- BIOS and Firmware Update Instructions
- EFI Shell USB Boot Guide
- Checking a File's Hash
Revision | Date | Comments | Author |
---|---|---|---|
1.0 | 08/13/2024 | Initial release | Keegan Cox |
1.1 | 08/14/2024 | Added media and proofed process | Keegan Cox |
1.2 | 08/14/2024 | Revised process accounting for SDR and FRU update | Keegan Cox |
1.3 | 08/16/2024 | Updated instructions for specific OS and added details | Keegan Cox |
1.3 | 08/23/2024 | Reviewed by Matt | Keegan Cox |