Poweredge C6400 change from C6420 to c6525

Hello, I found that adopting PE C6525 Sleds while reusing the existing PE C6400 Chassis to replace C6420 Sleds requires some steps and this is done via the service manpower. An upgrade combination is needed I can suggest contacting your local support and sales team. APOS FAN Customer Kit and Service Manpower to do Chassis Manager F/W Upgrade,  Sticky Bit change, and NON-AVC Fan swapping. 

Regards,

Hi Erman,

Thanks for providing information.

This must be something new as I have previously changed one of these chassis without problem using Racadm and the cm.sc files.

What do you mean by service manpower?
Is this something that could be resolved via a login with a Dell Tech to remove the sticky bit?

Please advise.

Hi, I found an internal article about it and it mentioned this process being done with a service technician. That's what I meant by service manpower.

Hi, i got the same problem. Tried flashing the firmware from the new node via RACADM withput any success. Tried different jumper positions and flashed the firmware again but with the same outcome.
While changing the jumper positions i found the serial connection on the CM board. After a few tries with different baud rates, i got the serial connection working (115200 baud) . When i plug in the newer node i get a message complaining about the sled planner type code being wrong. If i'm not mistaking i need to change it from 0x1C (old nodes) to 0x56 (new nodes). If i run "getChasIds" i get "CHASSIS ID from hidden configuration : 0x1c " so i probably need to change this also to 0x56 ? Is there a way to do this throug the serial connection ?

Hi TimothyMcGeek

I got same problem. Have you found a way to configure node 6525 on the C6400 chassis yet ?
Looking forward from you. Thanks !

Hi DELL-Erman O !

Can you provide sticky bit for node C6525 ?
Thank and best regards !

https://www.dell.com/support/home/en-us/drivers/driversdetails?driverid=338fp

Hello, for now I'd ask you to bring the firmware up to date.

Also would this help?

https://www.reddit.com/r/homelab/comments/1eblpkl/dell_c6400_and_c6525_sleds/?rdt=46554

Respectfully,

Hi DELL-Young E 
I tried with all firmware version (1.45, 2.37, 2.40, 2.62, 3.71) but still no luck.
Do you have other solution ?
Thank and best regards !

Hi DELL-Charles R

Can you provide documentation or instructions so I can do it myself.
Thanks you.

We have the same issue, one of our chassis just needed updating and it now works fine with the C6525s, the other one doesn't even after many tries with different firmware.

We have the same output on the serial, CHASSIS ID from hidden configuration : 0x1C on the one that doesn't work and 0x56 on the one that does.

It's very frustrating as both have exactly the same spec and were on the same firmware to start with, even the service tags are in a similar range.

I just finished Update firmware for C6400 Chassis Manager Module. Here are my steps:

Requirements:

- You need a sled node with working iDRAC. Make sure you can login into iDRAC Web GUI and enable IPMI. In the iDRAC web interface, navigate to iDRAC Settings > Connectivity > Network > IPMI Settings and select Enable IPMI over LAN from the dropdown

Steps:

1. Install software (I'm using Windows => link for Windows)

Install IPMITOOL https://github.com/ipmitool/ipmitool/releases

Install Dell DRAC Tools: https://www.dell.com/support/home/en-us/drivers/driversdetails?driverid=9dd9y

2. Download firmware for Chassis Manager

https://www.dell.com/support/product-details/en-us/product/poweredge-c6400/drivers

Version 2.70:

https://dl.dell.com/FOLDER06590162M/1/V270-2020-09-14-External.zip?uid=cbef9d37-c888-4a93-74f6-cea8810fbb08&fn=V270-2020-09-14-External.zip

Latest V3.71:

https://dl.dell.com/FOLDER10153260M/1/V371-2023-06-07-External.zip?uid=a1f96244-cc7d-480a-98b3-335058535c4d&fn=V371-2023-06-07-External.zip

4. Unzip the firmware file to have the cm.sc firmware file

5. Use ipmitool to check the FW version of the CM (You can Ask AI to translate the hex bytes to Dec version)

ipmitool -I lanplus -H <iDRAC IP> -U root -P <PASSWORD> raw 0x30 0x12

IANA PEN registry open failed: No such file or directory

01 ca 1b 02 46 01 00 00 00 02 02 00 01 2d 37 ff

ff 08 c2 00 00 00 08 01 08 10 64 23 fa 01

Major version: byte 4 => 02 Hex = 02 Dec
Minor version: byte 5 => 46 Hex = 70 Dec
Version = 2.70.x

6. Use DRAC Tool to install the firmware. You should try 2.x version first and then 3.x later

racadm -r <iDARC IP> -u root -p <PASSWORD> update -f cm.sc

Security Alert: Certificate is invalid - Certificate is not signed by Trusted Third Party
Continuing execution. Use -S option for racadm to stop execution on certificate-related errors.
The Copying Operation has begun,
This might take several minutes to complete, depending on the network.
Do not interrupt the operation.
RAC1066: Firmware update for cm.sc initiated successfully.

Wait for the process to complete and reboot the CM.

Use step #5 to check the new version of the firmware

Quick question, how do I change the sticky bit. This is the message I get.  

Hello,

Maybe someone has done this without contacting support can give their experience.

From the forum side I can only recommend contact Support directly (Service Manpower is technician required)

I have found this information, from the KB article #000063872 that Erman referenced.

https://www.dell.com/support/kbdoc/en-us/000063872

See if you can pull it up. You may need to log in and if that fails then it's an Internal KB.

Pertinent information I see:

Upgrade parts:

1)         APOS FAN Customer Kit

2)         Service Manpower to do Chassis Manager F/W Upgrade, Sticky Bit change, and NON-AVC Fan swapping

*The KB does not provide how that is done, only that it requires technician.