daknetworks.com

1-How to update the disks in the VRTX.
https://www.dell.com/support/kbdoc/en-us/000134181/dell-poweredge-how-to-update-disks-on-a-vrtx#:~:text=%20Article%20Content%20%201%20Connect%20the%20Chassis,the%20Keyboard%20section%20to%20filter%20the...%20See%20More.

2-Disk Firmware
https://www.dell.com/support/home/en-us/drivers/DriversDetails?driverID=4P9DW

3-How to upgrade the switch firmware.
https://www.dell.com/support/kbdoc/en-us/000193156/how-to-upgrade-the-firmware-on-a-dell-vrtx-network-1gbe-r2401-switch

4-How to update the CMC of a Dell PowerEdge VRTX
https://www.dell.com/support/kbdoc/en-us/000144612/how-to-update-the-cmc-of-a-dell-poweredge-vrtx#:~:text=1%20Log%20into%20the%20CMC%20IP%20with%20the,updated%2C%20starting%20from%20the%20active%20to%20the%20standby

5-CMC firmware 3.41
https://dl.dell.com/FOLDER09210287M/1/vrtx_cmc.bin

6-Lastly Dell ESXi ISO ESXi 7.0 U3 Build 20842708 Release Date 2023-02-17
https://customerconnect.vmware.com/downloads/details?downloadGroup=OEM-ESXI70U3-DELLEMC&productId=974

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TnWyuyxuk5k&t=2s
https://www.dell.com/support/kbdoc/en-us/000176963/dell-emc-customized-image-of-vmware-esxi-availability-and-download-instructions

==========================================
-find service tag number.
-had TOSHIBA - KPM5XVUG480G.
-wanted to update the disk firmware, cmc, idrac.
-all of these can be done without an production interruption.
-use support site to download the following:
--disk firmware
--cmc bin file
--idrac
-login to the cmc.
-click STORAGE (on the left-hand side).
-click UPDATE (at the top).
-click CHOOSE-FILE.
-select SAS-Drive_Firmware_4P9DW_WN64_B026_A00.EXE (yes, the entire EXE file; no do not extract; yes, the x64 if possible).
-click UPDATE.
-it will go through disk by disk (all x16 disks) and update the firmware.
-again, this will not interrupt any system in production.

-click CHASSIS-OVERVIEW.
-click UPDATE.
-find CMC Firmware (towards the top).
-find cmc-active & cmc-standby.
-checkmark the cmc-standby.
-click APPLY-CMC-UPDATE.
-click CHOOSE-FILE.
-select "vrtx_cmc.bin" (be sure the version is correct as it is not included in the file name; mine was 3.41.200).
-click BEGIN-FIRMWARE-UPDATE.
-it will go through and update the firmware.
-again, this will not interrupt any system in production.
-be patient.
-it will eventually show as updated with the correct version number (start continuous ping to cmc ip address; it will stop responding and then start responding again).
-start the same process for the cmc-active (you do not need to manually switch over; this will happen automatically).
-the same process will complete and both will have the same version.

-login to the idrac.
-click MAINTENANCE.
-click SYSTEM-UPDATE.
-click CHOOSE-FILE.
-select iDRAC-with-Lifecycle-Controller_Firmware_T9J9H_WN64_6.10.30.20_A00.EXE (yes, the entire EXE file; no do not extract; yes, the x64 if possible).
-click UPLOAD.
-checkmark the new idrac firmware.
-click INSTALL.
-the idrac will update and reboot the bmc without interfering with the live production system.

-login to the idrac.
-click MAINTENANCE.
-click SYSTEM-UPDATE.
-click CHOOSE-FILE.
-select the firmware for the nic-X550; Network_Firmware_F52F0_WN64_21.5.9_A02.EXE (yes, the entire EXE file; no do not extract; yes, the x64 if possible).
-click UPLOAD.
-checkmark the new network firmware.
-click INSTALL UPON NEXT REBOOT.

-go to https://customerconnect.vmware.com/
-download the esxi custom image for Dell systems.
-the Dell custom iso has the drivers slipstreamed for use with the vrtx. Without this, you risk the system not being able to recognize some of the hardware.
-use the idrac to bring up the virtual console.
-click VIRTUAL-MEDIA.
-click CONNECT-VIRTUAL-MEDIA.
-find MAP CD/DVD.
-click CHOOSE-FILE.
-select the VMware-VMvisor-Installer-7.0.0.update03-20842708.x86_64-Dell_Customized-A10.iso
-click MAP-DEVICE.
-click CLOSE.
-click BOOT.
-click VIRTUAL CD/DVD/ISO.
-click YES.
-this will tell it to boot from the ISO as a one-time-process.
-go to the VCENTER.
-move all vms to other hosts.
-put in maintenance mode.
-right-click > power > reboot.
-watch virual console.
-be patient.
-it will reboot and begin to update network firmware.
-once idrac is updated, it will boot the ESXI iso.

-you will see the Welcome to the VMWARE ESXI installation.
-click ENTER.
-press F11 to accept EULA.
-select disk to install. Usually, this is the LOCAL drive.
-press ENTER to continue.
-it will find the existing installation.
-it will automatically select UPGRADE ESXI, PRESERVE VMFS DATASTORE.
-press ENTER to continue.
-press F11 to confirm & upgrade.
-the upgrade will continue to 100%.

-click ENTER (to reboot; it will automatically reboot to the local drive and not use the ISO).
-click VIRTUAL-MEDIA.
-click DISCONNECT-VIRTUAL-MEDIA.
-click YES > CLOSE.
-the reboot will load the new version of ESXI.
-it may take longer than usual; this is normal.
-once up, go to VCENTER and take out of maintenance-mode.
-you are finished. The entire cluster updated firmware, drivers and ESXI os without any production downtime.