Technical White Paper

HP Smart Update solution

Table of contents
Executive Summary ..............................................................................................................................................................2
Understanding the update challenge .................................................................................................................................2
Introduction to the Smart Update solution ........................................................................................................................2
HP Service Pack for ProLiant and Smart Components .....................................................................................................3
HP Service Pack for ProLiant Overview ..........................................................................................................................3
HP Smart Components .....................................................................................................................................................4
Benefits of SPP approach ................................................................................................................................................4
HP operational support for SPP releases ......................................................................................................................4
SPP Supplements and Maintenance Supplement Bundles .........................................................................................4
The HP Software Delivery Repository for Linux ............................................................................................................4
The HP Online Depot for VMware....................................................................................................................................5
HP Smart Update Manager (HP SUM) Overview ................................................................................................................5
HP Smart Update and HP SUM 6 architecture ...............................................................................................................5
Using HP SUM 6 as an deployment utility to perform system maintenance ................................................................7
Using HP SUM 6 as a standalone tool for updating single systems ...........................................................................7
Using HP SUM 6 as an update deployment utility to update multiple systems .......................................................7
HP SIM and HP Smart Update ........................................................................................................................................... 10
HP SIM VCRM ................................................................................................................................................................... 10
HP OneView and Smart Update ........................................................................................................................................ 11
Integration of Smart Update with other management platforms ............................................................................... 12
Integration of Smart Update with Microsoft System Center .................................................................................... 12
Integration with VMware and with vCenter server..................................................................................................... 13
Extending Smart Update to HP Integrity Systems ......................................................................................................... 14
Overall benefits of the HP Smart Update solution......................................................................................................... 15
HP Smart Update solution and HP Intelligent Lifecycle Automation .......................................................................... 16
Resources, contacts, or additional links .......................................................................................................................... 17
HP Smart Update and HP SUM ..................................................................................................................................... 17
HP Service Pack for ProLiant ........................................................................................................................................ 17
Microsoft System Center Insight Control and Smart Update ................................................................................... 17
VMware vCenter ESX Insight Control and Smart Update .......................................................................................... 17
HP Smart Update and HP Integrity Servers ................................................................................................................ 17
Technology papers ........................................................................................................................................................ 17

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Technical white paper | HP Smart Update solution

Executive Summary
The HP Smart Update solution is the next step in the evolution of HP system maintenance technology. It represents a major
step forward in addressing the issues surrounding system maintenance, including:
Lowering the costs of system maintenance
Maintaining consistent software and firmware baselines across servers and non-server IT components
Integrating system maintenance with HP Systems Insight Manager, HP OneView and select other system management
platforms

This white paper provides an overview of the HP Smart Update solution for technical professionals interested in
understanding the Smart Update architecture and components as well as how it is integrated into the various HP system
maintenance tools and management platforms. HP Smart Update solution delivers a scalable solution to system
maintenance across a variety of HP server platforms and related infrastructure. General knowledge of HP ProLiant or HP
Integrity Server architecture as well as HP Systems Insight Manager (HP SIM) is helpful in understanding the HP Smart
Update solution, but not absolutely required.
HP has continued to update and expand the functionality of HP SUM, the update engine and application at the core of the
Smart Update process. HP SUM 6 in addition to other improvements uses a re-designed browser-based user interface
and features the ability to create and manage update Baselines within the HP SUM utility.

Understanding the update challenge

Maintaining and managing system software and firmware has always been a challenging task. The increasing variety of
servers and other IT infrastructure components gives you the flexibility to design powerful and sophisticated application
solutions. With this flexibility comes increasing complexity of system management. IT sprawl further complicates system
management by increasing the sheer number of IT assets that you must maintain and update across your networks.
According to International Data Corporation (IDC), system maintenance and management costs have risen to over 157
billion dollars (USD) annually, causing IT departments to spend as much as 70% of their budgets to support ongoing IT
operations.
HP has created a new architecture to address the challenges of system management and maintenance - the HP Smart
Update solution. Smart Update is not a single monolithic application. It is a new system of interlocking pieces that work
together to make maintenance and management of HP ProLiant, HP BladeSystem, and HP Integrity servers as simple and
as powerful as possible. In developing the Smart Update solution, we are addressing the primary issues IT departments
encounter with system management, including:
Consistent, integrated, and fully-supported update sets (service packs) for system firmware and software
Simple and powerful system update technology that can update systems while they are online and does not require
management agents installed on target systems
Scalable system maintenance updates that can reach thousands of target systems through integration with system
management platforms such as HP SIM and others

HP Smart Update is a re-engineering of the system maintenance process for HP servers and infrastructure that solves these
and other challenges and provides an extensible platform for system maintenance going forward.

Introduction to the Smart Update solution

The HP Smart Update solution rests on a foundation of three building blocks that work together as well as with other
management tools such as HP SIM - to deliver a new and powerful system management solution for HP servers and
infrastructure.
HP Service Pack for ProLiant (SPP). The successor to ProLiant Support Packs and Firmware DVDs, the SPP consolidates
most HP ProLiant firmware, drivers, and system software into a single deliverable.
HP Smart Components. Self-contained executable modules that are delivered on the SPP. Smart Components contain
individual firmware and software updates as well as the code to install them correctly.
HP Smart Update Manager (HP SUM). The core engine for deploying updates using Smart Components. You can use HP
SUM to deploy updates using its own application interface. System management platforms - including HP SIM, HP
OneView and platforms from supported OS vendors use the HP SUM engine and Smart Components to deliver large-
scale system update capabilities within their management frameworks.

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HP Service Pack for ProLiant and Smart Components

The HP Service Pack for ProLiant (SPP) is the first component of the HP Smart Update solution. The SPP is a single
deliverable that contains all of the updated firmware, drivers, and utilities for all ProLiant servers and BladeSystem
infrastructure including Virtual Connect and BladeSystem enclosures.

HP Service Pack for ProLiant Overview

The SPP represents the evolution of HP system software maintenance. HP is delivering firmware and software updates for
select HP ProLiant servers and BladeSystem infrastructure in a single consolidated deliverable that is released on scheduled
basis.
The SPP replaces the multiple maintenance and update deliverables of the past. It contains the firmware, drivers and utility
updates for Windows Server OSs as well as Linux (Red Hat and SUSE) OS distributions. SPP releases starting with SPP
version 2013.02.0 are phasing in online firmware update Smart Components for servers running the VMware ESXi 5.0 and
vSphere 5.1 and later operating systems.
Figure 1: HP Service Pack for ProLiant

You can download the SPP from hp.com as an ISO image. The ISO image creates a bootable DVD containing the complete
set of HP ProLiant software and firmware for ProLiant servers and BladeSystem infrastructure. The SPP also contains the
latest release of HP SUM, allowing you to use the SPP ISO image to create bootable media for performing local updates on
individual HP servers.
The ISO image contains the complete set of deliverables for all supported ProLiant servers and operating systems. Currently
HP maintains several SPP subsets for download, each containing the appropriate software and firmware Smart Components
for a specific set of ProLiant servers and operating system. In 2014, HP will be phasing out SPP subsets and maintaining a
single SPP download.
The SPP delivers an enhanced and simplified user experience. It delivers Smart Components that are solution-tested as a
whole for up to 6 weeks prior to release. It also provides consolidated documentation including comprehensive release
notes and contents kits for the entire suite of components. SPP downloads and documentation are available from a single
web page: hp.com/go/spp.

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HP Smart Components
HP Smart Components are self-contained executable files that update the firmware and drivers on a server or other target
device. Each Smart Component contains the latest version of the firmware or driver and the code used to install the update
correctly. For most systems and devices, Smart Components perform updates while the server and operating system are
running (online updates).
The catalog of devices that can be updated using Smart Components continues to grow. SPP releases have recently added
Smart Components for online updating of SAS switches and Fibre Channel switches.

Benefits of SPP approach

HP has created SPPs to address one of the most pressing needs in system maintenance providing consistent,
well-defined, comprehensive, and supported update sets for ProLiant firmware, drivers, and systems software. To achieve
these goals, HP has designed the SPP program as follows:
HP releases each SPP as a comprehensive set of software, firmware, and drivers for all HP ProLiant systems and
BladeSystem infrastructure. This eliminates the need to track and manage multiple deliverables when performing
systems updates.
HP tests and qualifies the firmware and software on each SPP release as a fully-supported set. Each SPP is solutions
tested for up to 6 weeks before HP releases it. You can now use an SPP release as a supported baseline for
performing maintenance updates, or use the SPP as a basis for creating custom baselines in HP SIM or using HP SUM.
HP provides a consistent approach to the update process with a predictable release schedule. SPP releases typically
coincide with major ProLiant server releases.

HP implemented this approach to system updates to allow your IT organization to develop systems maintenance strategies
that are both more comprehensive and easier to execute than those that were traditionally employed in a world of constant
component updates.

HP operational support for SPP releases

In addition to testing and qualifying the software and firmware in each SPP as a supported set, HP is taking the additional
step of supporting use of each SPP on ProLiant servers for 1 year from the date of issue. This important support policy
allows you to reduce the frequency of your update cycles. You can stay on an SPP release for a full year without being
required to update your servers and in infrastructure.

SPP Supplements and Maintenance Supplement Bundles

HP enhances the SPP support process by delivering SPP supplements and Hot Fixes as required. Supplement Releases are
special releases done in between scheduled SPP releases, typically to support a new OS version release. Supplement
Releases are fairly infrequent. Hot Fixes are component bug fix updates that are important enough that HP releases them
outside of the normal SPP cycle in order to make them available as quickly as possible.
In 2014, HP is also introducing new Maintenance Supplement Bundles for SPPs. Maintenance Supplement Bundles are not
full SPPs. They are delta releases that will include all SPP updates since the previous SPP release. We have implemented
Maintenance Supplement Bundles to provide predictable supplement releases that are available on a known schedule for
use in sustaining maintenance of your IT environment.
HP maintains all Maintenance Supplement Bundles, Supplement Releases, Hot Fixes, and related release documentation on
the SPP download website at hp.com/go/spp . This provides you with single source for all updated ProLiant firmware and
system software updates.

The HP Software Delivery Repository for Linux

There are different methods for obtaining Linux updates:
If you choose to use HP Smart Update, Linux updates are available as part of the full SPP releases.
If you choose to use a native Linux deployment method such as YUM, signed Linux updates are available through an HP
Software Delivery Repository (SDR) for Linux.

The HP SDR is a YUM repository for HP Linux drivers and management software. It contains all of the software deliverables
that are in each SPP. The SDR is updated at the same time as each SPP release, ensuring that its contents are always up to
date. The SDR allows you to use traditional methods to deploy Linux updates manually using standard open source tools
such as YUM. Currently, the SDR does not contain firmware updates in RPM format, although there are plans to add these in
the future.

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The HP SDR for Linux is located at downloads.linux.hp.com/SDR on the HP website.

The HP Online Depot for VMware

HP also maintains a separate web-based repository that hosts updated software including device drivers and other
software updates for the VMware environment. These components are not currently contained in SPP releases.
The HP Online Depot also known as the vSphere Installation Bundles (VIBs) depot - contains individual bundles and VIBs.
These bundles provide HP value-add software, and all the necessary drivers for ProLiant servers. The HP Online Depot is
VUM compliant and works with VUM to update software and drivers. The HP Online Depot includes the HP ProLiant server
and option firmware and driver support recipe that specifies the versions of firmware and software that are recommended
for use with VMware in conjunction with the SPP.
The HP Online Depot is available at vibsdepot.hp.com.

HP Smart Update Manager (HP SUM) Overview

The HP Smart Update Manager (HP SUM) sits at the heart of the HP Smart Update solution. At its core, HP SUM is an update
engine that delivers the appropriate Smart Component based updates to target systems and manages the execution of
updates to those systems. However, you can also use HP SUM as a utility to perform updates to servers. With the
introduction of HP SUM 6, the capabilities of the HP SUM utility have also been significantly expanded. Depending on your
needs, you can use HP SUM 6 in the following ways:
HP SUM 6 standalone. In this mode you use HP SUM 6 locally, usually by booting the SPP, to configure and update single
standalone servers.
HP SUM 6 as an update deployment tool. In this mode, you use HP SUM 6 as a full-fledged update deployment system
with its own set of system management features, including:
Device discovery for managing and updating multiple servers or devices in the network.
Creation and management of baselines of SPP-based Smart Component update sets
Scheduled deployment of updates
Management and reporting of updates

HP systems management platforms that use the Smart Update solution as their framework for managing systems updates
also use HP SUM. These systems use HP SUM internally as an update engine under their control to manage SPP Smart
Components and to perform updates to managed servers and other nodes.
HP SUM 6 as an update engine integrated into HP SIM. HP SIM 7.0 and later uses HP SUM 6 and its capabilities internally
as part of its own enterprise-level system management capabilities.
HP SUM as part of HP OneView. HP OneView appliance uses the HP SUM engine to manage Smart Components and SPP
baselines for updating its managed nodes.

Earlier versions of HP SUM were tied to the release of each SPP. Beginning with HP SUM 6, the release of newer versions of
HP SUM has been de-coupled from the SPP release schedule. HP SUM is still included with each full SPP release; however
HP may release newer versions of HP SUM between SPP releases. The latest version of HP SUM is available for download at
hp.com/go/hpsum/download.
Many of the functions and benefits that HP SUM 6 provides are the same, regardless of the manner in which you use it. To
appreciate these benefits, it is important to understand the core architecture of the HP Smart Update solution and of HP
SUM 6.

HP Smart Update and HP SUM 6 architecture

The HP SUM engine is at the center HP Smart Update solution, as shown in Figure 2. This core architecture, combined with
the HP SUM engine itself, delivers many of the benefits associated with Smart Update technology. Many of these features
and benefits are present whether you are using HP SUM as a deployment system by itself or within a system management
platform such as HP SIM.

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Figure 2. Smart Update core process using HP SUM 6

Agentless Updating with dependency checking

Unlike other update systems, HP SUM is able to perform Agentless system updates. This means that HP SUM can perform
software and firmware updates to target servers and devices without requiring that those devices already have
permanently installed System Management agents running on them. HP SUM 6 accomplishes this task by downloading and
executing a process using the SUM 6 update engine on each target device being updated. This process receives the
appropriate Smart Components that HP SUM delivers to the server, unpacks them, and allows them to perform the update
for their particular system component. After the HP SUM 6 engine has completed the full set of updates, it terminates this
process and removes itself from the target system.
HP SUM 6 also has built-in dependency checking. When updating target systems, HP SUM will update the various system
components in the proper order to ensure proper system operation following the updates. Dependency checking is
particularly important when HP SUM is updating interrelated devices such as an HP ProLiant BladeSystem environment. A
BladeSystem enclosure may require firmware updates to each of the following:
Individual ProLiant BladeSystem servers and their network adapters
Virtual Connect modules
The Onboard Administrator for the BladeSystem enclosure

The sequencing of these updates is extremely important. HP SUM performs dependency checking to ensure that it always
performs updates in the correct order.

Online updating of software and firmware

Traditionally, updating system software and firmware has required taking servers offline removing them from service and
re-booting them into an environment where firmware updates are performed (offline updating). Fortunately, the HP Smart
Update solution using HP SUM 6 and Smart Components can perform online updating of servers. With online updating,
the update process delivers and stages server updates including software and all major firmware while the server is up
and the operating system is running. This eliminates the need to take servers offline during the update process and ensures
that firmware and software updates to the servers become active following a single reboot.

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Associated targets discovery

During the target discovery process, HP SUM 6 will also find any additional devices that are associated with a given target
and can add them to updates list if desired. As an example, a ProLiant BladeSystem server may have several additional
nodes associated with it, including Virtual Connect modules and the BladeSystem enclosure itself with its Onboard
Administrator.

Using HP SUM 6 as an deployment utility to perform system maintenance

As mentioned earlier, HP SUM 6 is a very powerful and flexible tool that you can use in different modes of operation for
system maintenance. Each operational mode has its own characteristics and usage model. In all modes of operation,
HP SUM 6 provides the many of the same functional benefits.
In addition to other changes, HP SUM 6 as an application has a redesigned browser-based graphical user interface. This new
user interface provides a new look and feel that HP has designed to be consistent with our other management tools and
that is well-suited to implementing the new features in the program.

Using HP SUM 6 as a standalone tool for updating single systems

You can use HP SUM 6 to update software and firmware on individual systems. There are several different ways to use SUM
in this manner:
Booting a server from a DVD created from an SPP ISO image. In this mode, you can use HP SUM 6 to perform offline
updates to various system firmwares. Because the server is not running its native operating system, you cannot
perform any software updates.
Running HP SUM on an online server. You can locally run HP SUM 6 and perform system updates directly on a Windows or
Linux-based server that is online. In this mode, you can perform online updates to both firmware and system software.
As always, most of these updates take effect after you reboot.
Offline updates through Intelligent Provisioning. On HP ProLiant Gen8 servers and later, you can use the System
Maintenance function of Intelligent Provisioning to perform offline updates to system firmware. Intelligent Provisioning
uses a built-in mini-version of HP SUM to perform system updates using Smart Components and Smart Update
technology.

Using HP SUM 6 as an update deployment utility to update multiple systems

You can use HP SUM 6 as a full-fledged update deployment utility, running in either a Linux or Windows environments. In
this mode, HP SUM remotely manages and maintains software updates for multiple servers and devices. HP SUM 6 features
numerous enhancements that make it both a more versatile and a more powerful tool for performing multiple system
updates. Figure 3 is an overview of the new HP SUM 6 workflow when using SUM as an update deployment tool.

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Figure 3: HP SUM 6 update deployment workflow

Using Baselines in HP SUM 6

When using HP SUM 6as an update deployment utility, you have the ability to create and maintain baselines of update
components. These Baselines replace the concept of repositories used in HP SUM 5. In the most typical case, a baseline
consists of the set of Smart Components from a particular SPP release. Additionally, HP SUM 6 includes enhanced
capabilities for creating and managing baselines, including the following:
Ability to create and store multiple named baselines.
Creation and management of multiple custom baselines from within HP SUM 6
Ability to generate a bootable ISO image from a baseline. The ISO can be used to perform local updates to systems.
Tracking of which baseline is currently applied to each node

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Figure 4 shows a typical screen from the Custom Baseline creation process in HP SUM 6.

Figure 4: Creating a Custom Baseline in HP SUM 6

Managing Nodes in HP SUM 6

The HP SUM 6 deployment utility has its own built-in target discovery and management system. Using HP SUM 6, you can
discover nodes (formerly target devices) using the following methods:
Entering IP and credentials for a single server, iLO or BladeSystem enclosure Onboard Administrator (OA)
Adding nodes within an IP Address range

When using HP SUM 6 as update deployment solution, you can perform system updates to multiple nodes at one time. As
part of the newer architecture, HP SUM 6 has limited scalability in the current release. HP recommends performing updates
to a maximum of 10 nodes per update task. HP SUM scalability is being significantly increased in future releases.

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Security when using HP SUM for update deployment

When you use the HP SUM as a deployment application to perform updates, it must be able to authenticate as a user with
administrative rights to every server on the target list. You must supply HP SUM 6 with the authentication credentials for all
of the selected nodes before performing the update process.
Linux customers can also take advantage of sudo and su capabilities to allow HP SUM to gain the level of access to the
target servers required for performing online updates and still provide authorization tracking. With HP SUM 6.3, sudo/SU
authentication capabilities have also been added for HP Integrity servers running the HP-UX operating system.

HP SUM Update Reporting and Management

Used as its own update deployment solution, HP SUM also features the following update scheduling and reporting
functions:
The ability to modify update selections, force updates, select reboot options and change the hardware that will be
updated
Generation of reports of updates to be applied
Staging of updates with a delayed or automated reboot
Generation of update logs (with return codes) for review

Architectural improvements in HP SUM 6

HP has designed SUM 6 to deliver greater flexibility and control than before. In addition to using a browser-based graphical
interface, HP SUM 6 has been re-engineered with native 64-bit versions that use multi-threaded program flow. SUM 6 is
now capable of executing simultaneous firmware and software deployment for multiple remote nodes in both GUI and
CLI/scripted modes.

Additional improvements in HP SUM 6

In addition to the significant changes already discussed, HP SUM 6 also includes the following additional improvements:
Scripting and CLI improvements. HP SUM 6 features a new interactive Command Line Interface (CLI) that allows you to
execute SUM commands on demand from the command line in either Linux or Windows. Additionally, there is a richer
set of commands and parameters to address the new HP SUM 6 capabilities. HP SUM 6 can also use the legacy SUM 5
CLI command set when it is invoked using the /s silent mode parameter.
Initial Support for iLO Federation. HP SUM 6.3 allows you to add an iLO Federation group to its list of nodes by specifying
an iLO/server that is a member of an iLO Federation group. SUM sees each group as a single node and is currently
capable of discovering and displaying information on the servers in the group. HP SUM 6 is not capable of deploying
updates to iLO Federation groups. This capability is reserved for a future release.

HP SIM and HP Smart Update

HP SIM is HPs flagship systems management platform. HP SIM allows you to Inventory and manage up to 5000 servers and
up to 10,000 total devices in the network. Additionally, HP SIM has supported version control and system updating - using
the Version Control Repository Manager (VCRM) to store and manage software and firmware updates and the Version
Control Agent (VCA) to provide and agent-based solution for updating the managed servers.
HP SIM now leverages the new HP Smart Update solution and HP SUM to provide a more powerful and comprehensive
system update solution than before. You can import HP SPPs and the new Smart Components into HP SIMs VCRM. HP SIM
also incorporates the HP SUM engine, which executes the individual system update processes.

HP SIM VCRM
The HP SIM VCRM provides a method for adding, storing and managing software/firmware baselines used in updating
systems and devices managed by HP SIM. The VCRM is capable of uploading, storing and managing the SPPs that are part of
the Smart Update system. Each new SPP release can be added to the VCRM and can serve as a complete software and
firmware baseline for system updates. Compared to HP SUM used as a deployment application, VCRM provides a full set of
capabilities for more easily creating and managing custom baselines for update deployment.

Systems updates using HP SUM 6 or VCA

HP SIM fully integrates the HP SUM 6 update engine into its architecture. Using HP SIM, you can perform updates of your
managed systems while taking full advantage of the capabilities that Smart Update and HP SUM 6 deliver.
Agentless system updating using HP SUM 6
Online updates of systems using HP Smart Components
Installation of updates in the correct order based on dependencies and inter-device requirements

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As Figure 5 shows, HP SIM with the HP SUM engine delivers the benefits of HP SIM and Smart Update together. You can take
advantage of all of HP SIMs reporting and baselining capabilities while being able to deploy updates to as many as 10,000
host targets including up to 5,000 servers.
Figure 5: HP SIM Integration with HP SUM 6

HP SIM has continued to allow systems updates using the VCA during the transition to the Smart Update agentless update
model. SIM 7.3.1, however, is the last release that will include updates using VCA.

Smart Update security in HP SIM

As with any management system, HP SIM is responsible for handling the security and authentication to the target servers
and devices during the update process. In this case, HP SIM actually uses two different authentication methods one for
servers running the VCA, and another for updates performed using HP SUM.
VCA Updates HP SIM continues to use the trust model for security when performing updates through the VCA. Target
ProLiant servers must have an established trust relationship with the HP SIM server.
HP SUM 6 Updates Agentless updates to servers using HP SUM require the HP SUM 6 update process to authenticate to
the server with Administrator level credentials. HP SUM 6 can authenticate to the server using stored sign-in
credentials for each server kept in HP SIM, or require you to manually enter a single set of Administrator credentials
before performing an update process.

HP OneView and Smart Update

HP OneView - HPs newest Infrastructure Management platform uses the Smart Update solution infrastructure, including
SPP Smart Components and the HP SUM update engine, to deliver offline firmware updates for HP ProLiant servers. The HP
OneView appliance uses HP SUM to manage Smart Components and SPPs as baselines for updating nodes. OneView allows
you to associate a designated SPP release as the baseline for each node that it manages and to use that SPP baseline when
performing updates.
HP OneView currently provides Smart Updates of firmware for HP devices such as ProLiant servers (Gen8), iLO management
processors, Onboard Administrator (OA) and HP Virtual Connect. Information on specific device support is available in the
OneView QuickSpecs at hp.com/go/oneview.

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Integration of Smart Update with other management platforms

To deliver the benefits of the Smart Update solution as widely as possible, HP has also integrated it with other systems
management platforms. Currently, HP provides integration with both Microsoft System Center and VMware vCenter through
the licensed HP Insight Control plug-ins for those systems.

Integration of Smart Update with Microsoft System Center

HP Insight Control for Microsoft System Center provides integration of ProLiant and BladeSystem management into the
Microsoft System Center platform. In Systems Center, management of systems and updates is performed by the System
Center Configuration Manager (SCCM) and System Center Virtual Machine Manager (SCVMM). HP Insight Control integration
with SCCM and SCVMM allows you to manage and update ProLiant systems from within these environments using Smart
Update technology.

System Center Configuration Manager and HP ProLiant Updates catalogs

SCCM and SCVMM use their own infrastructure for storing and managing system update sets. For SCCM and SCVMM, HP has
created the HP ProLiant Updates Catalog. Each version of the catalog contains updates that are in essence an SPP release
that has been re-formatted to work within the Microsoft System Center architecture. HP ProLiant Updates Catalog replaces
the older HP Server Updates Catalog that was centered on the PSP-based update system that SPPs have supplanted.
Within the System Center architecture, you bring HP ProLiant Updates Catalog into System Center using the Microsoft
System Center Updates Publisher application, which imports them from an HP-maintained FTP site. Before using the HP
ProLiant Updates Catalog to perform system updates, you must first re-export it to SCCM or SCVMM. Figure 6 shows a
slightly simplified version of this process as part of the overall Smart Update process in Microsoft System Center.

Figure 6: Smart Update within Microsoft System Center

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System Updates using System Center Configuration Manager

Using SCCM, you perform updates against collections of target systems. These systems are inventoried using SCCMs own
discovery process. SCCM manages and performs system updates using the Configuration Management Agent that it installs
on every managed target. Unlike HP SIM, the update process is executed by delivering the appropriate Smart Components
as well as the HP SUM engine to each target system. HP SUM then executes locally on each target, using the Smart
Components to perform all necessary updates (Figure 5). This overall design delivers the basic benefits of Smart Update
SPP based online system updates using HP SUM within the Microsoft System Center framework.
Insight Control integration with Microsoft System Center delivers the benefits of Smart Update to the System Center
management platform. Within this framework, SCCM provides the Smart Update functionality with the following limitations:
SCCM only manages servers that are running Microsoft Windows Server Operating Systems.
SCCMs and SCVMMs system update architecture does not currently include managing/updating the Onboard
Administrator or Virtual Connect switches that are part of the ProLiant BladeSystem infrastructure.
SCCM and SCVMM will only perform updates against the entire HP ProLiant Updates Catalog. You cannot create or
execute updates against a custom baseline in this mode of operation.

Integration with VMware and with vCenter server

HP SUM 6 can be used as an application to perform online firmware updates to ProLiant servers running the VMware ESXi
5.0 or vSphere 5.1 and later operating systems. Additionally, Smart Update capabilities can be integrated into VMware
vCenter using the HP Insight Control extension for VMware vCenter server. Integration with vCenter delivers HP hardware
management capabilities to virtualization administrators, enabling comprehensive deployment, provisioning, monitoring,
remote control and power optimization directly from the vCenter console.

Using HP SUM to update ProLiant servers running VMware and vSphere

HP SUM can be used as an application to perform online firmware updates to ProLiant servers running the VMware ESXi 5.0
or vSphere 5.1 and later operating systems. However, you must have the full HP Insight Management WBEM providers for
VMware permanently installed on the target servers to be able to perform online updates. VMware-based target systems
use these providers to perform online updates with HP Smart Components.
Currently, HP provides the following firmware Smart Components for online updating of HP systems running VMware
operating systems.
System BIOS for HP ProLiant G7 and Gen8 servers
HP Integrated Lights-Out 3 and 4
HP SmartArray controllers P2xx, P4xx, and P8xx
Select hard disk drives (HDDs) when connected to the SmartArray controllers listed above

HP is also continuing to expand the number of Smart Components for HP ProLiant servers running VMware. These
components for online updating of VMware-based servers are available through the HP Online Depot for VMware at
vibsdepot.hp.com and on the latest full SPP releases.

Integration with VMware vCenter

HP Insight Control for VMware vCenter server integrates ProLiant and BladeSystem management into the VMware vCenter
management platform. With Insight Control installed, you can manage HP servers running the VMware operating system
directly from vCenter using the vSphere client application. vCenter with HP Insight Control also features online updating of
HP ProLiant servers using HP Smart Components.
Earlier versions of Insight Control for VMware vCenter provided online updates to HP ProLiant servers through a mostly
manual process, requiring you to retrieve Smart Components from a repository and apply them individually to target
servers and devices. With the new Insight Control for vCenter 7. 3, HP has now designed a system that uses HP SUM 6 to
manage and automate system updates for VMware-based servers. As shown in Figure 7, Insight Control can now call an
installed instance of HP SUM 6 to apply defined SUM Baselines of Smart Components to VMware-based servers. Insight
Control also takes advantage of HP SUMs advanced update management capabilities to perform dependency checking
when executing updates to VMware-based servers. The vCenter process still requires the use of the HP ESXi CIM providers
on the managed systems in order to perform the updates.

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Figure 7: Smart Update with VMware vCenter

Extending Smart Update to HP Integrity Systems

HP has extended support for Smart Update technology to include managing firmware updates to HP Integrity servers using
HP Integrity Firmware Bundles. Integrity Firmware Bundles follow the same model as HP SPPs, and contain firmware Smart
Components for upgrading all of the following:
HP Integrity rx2800 i2 and i4 servers
HP Integrity BL860c/BL870c/BL890c i2 and i4 servers
HP Integrity Superdome 2 servers
HP c-Class enclosures, including Onboard Administrator and Virtual Connect

Integrity Firmware Bundles also include HP SUM, which you can use as the deployment engine for performing updates. This
delivers the benefits of Smart Update, including:
Online updating of server firmware and associated infrastructure firmware
Intelligent firmware installation with appropriate dependency checking, including mixed firmware identification on
multi-blade servers and flexible Superdome 2 firmware updates
Deployment of updates using HP SUM directly or through HP SUM integration with HP SIM.

HP SUM 6.3 has added several new capabilities for HP Integrity servers and the HP-UX operating system:
Ability to use Sudo/SU for HP SUM 6 to authenticate to Integrity systems when performing updates.
Domain level update capability for HP Integrity i4 blade servers.
Complex and partition level update capability for HP Integrity Superdome 2 servers.

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Overall benefits of the HP Smart Update solution

HPs goal in creating the HP Smart Update solution has been to design a system maintenance environment that is simple
and powerful while also being extremely scalable extending update capability to thousands of servers at one time. The
Smart Update solution is really a collection of new deliverables, system update technologies and integrated software that
achieves this goal.
The SPP delivers the first part of the Smart Update promise of simplicity. By combining system updates for ProLiant servers
and infrastructure into a single deliverable released on a scheduled basis, the SPP sets a new standard for defining a
consolidated approach to update delivery. Each download and its related documentation are readily available at
hp.com/go/spp. Just as importantly, SPPs are designed to help you simplify your lifecycle management requirements. HP
has tested and will support each set of SPP updates as baseline set for one year.
HP SUM 6 and HP Smart Components make the Smart Update solution a powerful system update platform. HP SUM 6
delivers agentless update capability and expands update capabilities to include HP BladeSystem infrastructure components
and HP ProLiant Integrity servers. HP SUMs associated target discovery ability - combined with its dependency checking -
delivers a more robust system update process. HPs Smart Components allow HP SUM to provide online updating of most
system firmware and software. Figure 8 illustrates how the Smart Update solution streamlines the system update process.
Figure 8. Simplifying and automating system updates using the Smart Update solution

Finally, HP integration of Smart Update technology with HP SIM, HP OneView, Microsoft System Center and VMware vCenter
delivers on the promise of scalability and flexibility. Using HP SIM, you can scale system update deployments to as many as
10,000 total targets. Integration of Smart Update technologies with Insight Control gives you the flexibility to use Smart
Update with other Management systems.
All of the advances that HP has incorporated into the Smart Update solution are specifically designed to make the system
update process faster and more reliable than ever before. Testing shows that the HP Smart Update solution significantly
increases the efficiency of systems maintenance, delivering the following benefits:
A threefold increase in the speed of systems updates process
A 93% decrease in total systems downtime during the update process as result of its online update capabilities
A 69% decrease in operator time required during systems updates

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Technical white paper | HP Smart Update solution

HP Smart Update solution and HP Intelligent Lifecycle Automation

The HP Smart Update solution is one part of HPs larger effort to provide a total solution for managing the server lifecycle.
This overall solution is known as Intelligent Lifecycle Automation. In addition to HP Smart Update, HP Intelligent Lifecycle
Automation includes HP Intelligent Provisioning and HP Active Health System technologies (Figure 9).

Figure 9. HP Intelligent Lifecycle Automation

HP Intelligent Provisioning is the next generation server provisioning solution from HP, and is delivered beginning with
ProLiant Gen8 servers. With Intelligent Provisioning, everything that you need to setup and configure your system is
delivered on the server embedded in a flash chip that is bootable during server power-on. This includes a comprehensive
system configuration and installation process that replaces the SmartStart CDs from previous generations of ProLiant
servers. It also includes all of the latest system software needed to complete a server deployment for a given OS. Intelligent
Provisioning makes server deployment up to three times faster than before. Further information on HP Intelligent
Provisioning is available at hp.com/go/intelligentprovisioning.
The Active Health System is an essential component of the HP iLO Management Engine in ProLiant servers. It provides
embedded monitoring of ProLiant server health by continuously monitoring and logging information on over 1600 system
parameters. The Active Health System also logs all configuration changes to the system. Active Health System enables you
to significantly speed up problem analysis and resolution on ProLiant servers. You can find more information on HP Active
Health System at hp.com/go/activehealth.
The HP Smart Update solution delivers the final component of Intelligent Lifecycle Automation, allowing you to efficiently
manage the updating of HP ProLiant servers and BladeSystem infrastructure throughout their deployment lifecycle.
Intelligent Lifecycle Automation uses these three key technologies to deliver on HPs goal of making ProLiant server lifecycle
management simpler and more efficient than ever before.

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Technical white paper | HP Smart Update solution

Resources, contacts, or additional links

HP Smart Update and HP SUM
HP Smart Update main page
hp.com/go/SmartUpdate

HP Service Pack for ProLiant

HP Service Pack for ProLiant main page
hp.com/go/spp

Microsoft System Center Insight Control and Smart Update

Insight Control for System Center main page
hp.com/go/icsc
Insight Control for Microsoft System Center Integration white paper
hp.com/bc/docs/support/SupportManual/c03020752/c03020752.pdf
HP ProLiant Update Catalogs User Guide
hp.com/portal/site/hpsc/public/kb/docDisplay/?docId=emr_na-c03381541

VMware vCenter ESX Insight Control and Smart Update

Insight Control for VMware vCenter main page
hp.com/go/icvcenter
Deploying and updating VMware vSphere 5.0 on HP ProLiant Servers Integration Note
hp.com/bc/docs/support/SupportManual/c03285134/c03285134.pdf
HP VMware Software Delivery Repository
vibsdepot.hp.com

HP Smart Update and HP Integrity Servers

HP Integrity Servers and HP 9000 Servers Firmware Update Options
hp.com/bc/docs/support/SupportManual/c02845885/c02845885.pdf
Using HP Smart Update Manager with HP Integrity Servers: Capabilities, Best Practices, and Troubleshooting
hp.com/bc/docs/support/SupportManual/c03572337/c03572337.pdf

Technology papers
ProLiant technology papers
hp.com/servers/technology

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Copyright 2013 - 2014 Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P. The information contained herein is subject to change without notice. The only
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