Scripting Server BIOS Updates with IBM ASU (Guide)

Updating firmware on a host of servers is often a logistical nightmare when the process is not automated. The IBMA® Advanced Settings Utility (ASU) for the Thinksystem is a software application that serves two purposes in IDC. Once you move beyond configuring servers, there is still a lot to do: cleaning up your systems and control of their state; managing your networking system as a whole, not simply one box at a time.

What is the IBM Advanced Settings Utility (ASU)?

The IBM ASU is a tool that is designed to connect the IMM2 management processors that are embedded on System x servers and will work server-side without user intervention. The main benefit of this is the ability to tweak firmware settings across a multitude of operating systems, such as Windows, Linux and VMware ESXi, without having to reboot into F1 setup.

Although most administrators simply use it for one-time changes, its real strength is in batch mode. This functionality permits you to script many setting changes and apply them all at once, a must for large enterprise environments.

Features and Capabilities

The ASU is flexible and can be used to update the system firmware (BIOS code, Remote Supervisor Adapter firmware, Baseboard Management Controller (BMC) firmware). These are the essential features and how they make scripting indispensable.

• Batch operations: The "batch" command is able to drop several processes into a queue and let you run them all in one script, no matter what your host OS scripting can manage.
• Remote Disk Command Line Interface (RDCLI): Provided with ASU version 3.60, mounts or disconnects ISO images or CD/DVD drives from the remote IMM system. This is necessary for BIOS updating, for example: You can remotely mount a bootable firmware image.
• Connection: It allows local connection by Keyboard Controller Style (KCS) and remote connection over LAN.

Key ASU Command Reference

To help you get started with scripting, here are the essential commands you will utilize:

Understanding the Application Control Engine (ACE) Module

When it comes to managing your enterprise infrastructure, firmware is only half the battle; both what you do with traffic on your network and how you go about such business matter. In multilayer environments, you can encounter an Application Control Engine (ACE) module.

The Application Control Engine (ACE) module is a next-generation load balancer, designed to speed applications and provide essential security in a Data center environment, such as the Internet. As ASU manages the server hardware configuration, applications are optimised to run efficiently on this hardware by tools such as ACE, ensuring that the flight-trained applications are also running as close as possible to the end user.

Benefits of Using IBM ASU for Updates

Scripting your BIOS updates and settings configurations with ASU provides three distinct advantages:

1. Automation and Consistency: Scripts ensure that every server is configured exactly the same way. You eliminate the "fat finger" errors associated with manual F1 setup entry.
2. Remote Administration: Through the RDCLI and out-of-band (OOB) management features, you can update firmware and change boot orders from your desk. You do not need to physically visit the data center.
3. Enhanced Stability: By using the batch mode, you can validate your setting files on a test server before rolling them out to production, ensuring a stable update process.

Best Practices for Scripting Firmware

To maintain a healthy server environment, follow these guidelines when using ASU:

• Document Everything: Always keep a log of the changes applied via script.

Copyright © 2025 California Business Journal. All Rights Reserved.

For California Business Journal Disclaimers, go to /terms-conditions/.