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Video: Data Center Expert | How do I mass upgrade APC and NetBotz appliance firmware?

Issue
Process for mass upgrading firmware on APC NMCs and NetBotz appliances using StruxureWare Data Center Expert.

Product Line
StruxureWare Data Center Expert (DCE)

- Basic Appliance (AP9465)
- Standard Appliance (AP9470)
- Enterprise Appliance (AP9475)
- Virtual Appliance (AP94VMACT)

StruxureWare Central (SWC)
InfraStruXure Central (ISXC)

Environment
StruxureWare Data Center Expert (all versions)
StruxureWare Central (all versions)
InfraStruXure Central (all versions)
APC Network Management Card (NMC)

Resolution:

1) Open the DCE desktop client and navigate to: The updates menu > Apply Firmware Updates.

2) Select Check Updates to pull in the most recent firmware updates from updates.apc.com.
NOTE: Proceed to the troubleshooting section below if you receive an error message stating "Unable to access the APC update server."

3) Select (check-boxes) the upgrades that you wish to perform. You can select the root firmware trees, which selects all devices that require that firmware, or select individual device updates.
NOTE: When checking a device, ensure to look at the Update Description field to see what was updated on the firmware.
NOTE: Ensure that within the Device File Transfer Settings the administrator credentials of the devices are listed with the correct protocol, port, and IP Range settings.

4) Select Apply to start the firmware upgrade process.

5) A firmware update status pane will show and will provide different status messages depending on the phase of the upgrade currently being performed.

NOTE: It is only possible to upgrade firmware versions. You can not use DCE to push an older firmware version to a device.

NOTE: The Device Firmware Catalog File does not include an upgrade BOOTMON file for Network Management Card 2 firmware. It only contains upgraded operating systems and applications. If technical assistance advises a BOOTMON upgrade, a manual firmware upgrade will be required with the respective device firmware upgrade utility or manually via FTP.

Troubleshooting

"Unable to access the APC update server."

Data Center Expert reaches out to updates.apc.com to obtain the latest available firmware. Using HTTPS to navigate to the URL (http and then FTP on older versions) to download the catalog file. In most cases, the reason that DCE does not have the firmware available is because one or both protocols are being blocked. Generally, opening or adding an exception to a firewall rule that allows DCE to reach the updates.apc.com web servers corrects the issue. See the steps below for manually adding the device firmware catalog file into Data Center Expert.

Manually Adding the Device Firmware Catalog File into Data Center Expert

Data Center Expert | Manually loading APC and NetBotz device firmware for firmware upgrades

Available firmware updates disappear in DCE when checking for updates

If DCE is scheduled to check for updates, and the appliance is unable to reach updates.apc.com, any updates that were showing within the list may be removed. Before scheduling update checks, ensure that your DCE appliance is able to reach updates.apc.com by clicking on the check updates button. If the available updates disappear, follow the steps above for manually adding the device firmware catalog file.