Nutanix: Legacy Prism One-Click BMC and BIOS Firmware Upgrade

Before starting

The stored workflow names AHV and ESXi hosts. Check the exact hardware generation, AOS/hypervisor release, package/metadata and upgrade prerequisites. Upgrade BMC first in this legacy procedure, then BIOS, and let the cluster return to full availability before proceeding to another cluster.

This is an older Upgrade Software > Firmware interface. Nutanix’s archived KB3692 explains that one-click support depends on platform/AOS/Foundation and that BIOS/BMC releases beginning in September 2018 moved to manual or LCM workflows depending on environment; the old metadata path must not be assumed available today. Use the matching current support procedure.

Source procedure

1. On a controller VM, run NCC:

nutanix@cvm$ ncc health_checks run_all

Resolve reported non-PASS conditions before continuing, or contact Nutanix Support if they cannot be resolved.

2. Sign in to the cluster’s Prism web console through a node.
3. Open the gear menu and choose Upgrade Software.
4. Choose Firmware > BMC.
5. When an applicable update is offered, select Upgrade Available, then Download.
6. After download, choose Upgrade > Pre-upgrade to run the available checks, or Upgrade > Upgrade Now and confirm Yes. Checks also run during the upgrade; a precheck-only operation is not an upgrade.
7. For the source’s ESXi workflow, supply the correct vCenter IP address and authorized credentials when requested, then choose Upgrade. In the other supported workflow, choose Upgrade as applicable.
8. After successful BMC completion and health verification, repeat the supported process with Firmware > BIOS.

Monitor and verify

The source’s Progress Monitor reports checks/upload/installation progress and updates nodes one at a time. Completion time depends on cluster size, VMs and environment. It notes that an already-installed version may not offer Upgrade. Absence of the button is not itself proof that every prerequisite or supported target is satisfied.

Verify cluster health, firmware versions and BMC reachability after the actual upgrade. Newer LCM procedures may manage dependencies/order differently; do not apply the old BMC-first instruction as a replacement for LCM’s supported dependency plan.

English references: Nutanix KB3692 and the archived Prism5.1 BMC/BIOS procedure. Portal access may require an account.