Firmware Updates for Intel® Optane™ Persistent Memory

Documentation

Install & Setup

000032996

06/21/2023

Intel® Optane™ Persistent Memory firmware packages are available at the Intel Software Kits portal. The Intel Software Kits portal requires a non-disclosure agreement (NDA) to access. Your system vendor should access the site for firmware downloads, so check with your system vendor if a firmware update is needed.

Note
Firmware for non-Intel boards is supplied by the motherboard manufacturer, and must be obtained from them. Intel cannot supply firmware updates for non-Intel motherboards.

If you have access to the Intel Software Kits portal, you can find the Intel® Optane™ Persistent Memory firmware packages following these steps:

  1. Go to the Intel Software Kits portal.
  2. Use the left panel to navigate to Memory and Storage > Intel® Optane™ Persistent Memory.
  3. Click any package to see the details and available downloads.
  4. Download the firmware package.

Once you have the firmware package, follow the steps below to perform the firmware update:

  1. Install the Open Source Linux* Management Tool.
  2. Check the current firmware version by running the following command:
    • ipmctl show -dimm -firmware
  3. Extract the firmware binary file (.bin) from the firmware package.
  4. Ensure the firmware image is valid and supported by running the following command:
    • ipmctl load -source <firmware_file.bin> -examine -dimm
  5. Update the firmware by running the following command:
    • ipmctl load -source <firmware_file.bin> -dimm
  6. Verify the staged firmware version is according to the update by running the following command:
    • ipmctl show -dimm -firmware
  7. Power cycle the system.
  8. Confirm the active firmware version is according to the update by running the following command:
    • ipmctl show -dimm -firmware
Considerations when updating the firmware
  • The firmware binary file (.bin) is contained in the firmware package file (.zip).
  • The active firmware version is the current firmware in the device.
  • The staged firmware version is the firmware to be flashed in the device.
  • Firmware updates require a power cycle of the system.
  • If for any reason the firmware update fails to load after the power cycle, the firmware will fall-back to the previous active firmware version.