About ASU patch files

This topic explains how to use the ASU patch files, which contain the ASU configuration information. Patch files are not required for IMM-based servers.

Before you can perform ASU operations that are targeted to the selected device, you must provide configuration information to the ASUfor the baseboard management controller, BIOS, and Remote Supervisor Adapter II. This configuration information is contained in separate patches.

The patches for the baseboard management controller and Remote Supervisor Adapter II are included with the ASU. Depending on the server model and BIOS level, a BIOS code patch might be required. For the systems that do not require a BIOS patch file, the BIOS patch is embedded in the BIOS ROM. If the BIOS patch is required, you must download the BIOS patch (definition file) from the Lenovo web site and add it to the ASU (only if you are required to perform an ASU command by using the BIOS settings).

To determine whether the BIOS patch is already available for the ASU, enter the ASUpatchlist command to display the current available patches. If the ASU determines that a BIOS patch file is embedded in the BIOS, it displays the BIOS patch files that are available.

The following example shows the ASU output that is generated when the patchlist command determines that no BIOS patch files are available:

Patch 1: <XX[00->99] (BMC)>
Patch 2: <XX[00->99] (RSA)>

The following example shows the ASU output that is generated when the patchlist command determines that a BIOS patch file is available:

Patch 1: <XX[00->99] (BMC)>
Patch 2: <XX[00->99] (RSA)>
Patch 3: <DO[14->14] (BIOS)>

If the BIOS patch is not listed, you must add the patch before you can change or view BIOS settings. You can add the patch from the ASU.

The following illustration shows how to add and remove patches in the ASU binary code. For each BIOS code and firmware type, the internal locations of the settings vary. A patch informs the ASU where the settings are located for a single BIOS code version.

If a BIOS patch is needed and is not listed when you use the patchlist command, download the selected BIOS definition file (patch file) from the Lenovo web site and add the patch by using the ASU.

When you run the ASU, it automatically scans the patches that are available and determines if the applicable patch exists for the setting that you want. If an applicable patch exists, the ASU applies the setting. If the patch does not exist, the ASU displays an error.

A patch that is added remains until you run the patchremove command on that patch.

Notes

  1. You cannot remove the BIOS patches that are embedded in the BIOS ROM by running the patchremove command.
  2. Only one patch is supported for any major version of BIOS. For example, if there are BIOS versions 19A and 19B, only one patch is supported for both.