Has anyone else given up on firmware patching for HPE Proliant servers since Amplifier was discontinued? I've used Amplifier without any issues for years to patch my ESXi hosts, but after switching to HPE OneView, I faced constant problems with patching not completing fully—two firmware updates just wouldn't apply. I tried using the built-in SUM tool within the SPP zip file to get those patches done, but then encountered more issues with other servers where some firmware wouldn't update, even breaking the iLO on one server. Now all my servers are 18 months behind on firmware, and I'm getting frustrated since Amplifier is no longer an option. I have kept the iLO updated via the HPE Restful tool, but I'm considering switching to Dell for easier patch management, as I've had good experiences with them before.
3 Answers
Many people are in the same boat after Amplifier’s demise. OneView seems good on paper, but trying to update through it and SUM has been hit or miss. From our experience, it's less painful to just keep iLO updated, use SPP for critical updates only, and do the updates offline. Dell does make things easier with iDRAC; if you're near EOL and frustrated, switching could make sense.
I can relate! My experience with Dell's OpenManage was way better, and I’m strongly considering going back to them for firmware management.
If you're sticking with HPE for a while longer, I recommend keeping iLO updated using the REST tool and manually patching just the critical stuff from the SPP. I get that it’s been frustrating, but the Dell patching process is definitely smoother if you’re considering a switch.
I know the struggle of finding those individual firmware packages. The names seem to change too, making it hard to locate them on the HPE site!
I've also found that OneView or SUM scans provide a list, but then finding the actual files can be a hassle because of those name discrepancies.
The best approach is to boot from the SPP media for patching. It's generally more reliable than trying to do it from within the OS. However, I get that this means downtime for your server.
That’s tough! For remote servers, downtime can be a headache. Dell’s iDRAC is great for online updates, which makes things easier.
I’m in a similar situation with high latency. Downloading the SPP ISO from my laptop isn’t practical either, so I feel your pain! Keeping iLO updated seems like the best option right now.
You’re right on point! I tried using SUM, but some of my servers faced firmware update issues that led to weird results. Eventually, I stopped updating anything except the iLO, which is frustrating!