BIOS Firmware Update ISO for SuperMicro Boards

The use of floppy images for updating Bios images on SuperMicro boards such as the X9SCL or X9SCM are long over.  The images are far too big (8MB).  So the only way to do the bios update is to build a bootable DOS ISO, built with the firmware files.

This is easier said than done ofcourse, but here’s some simple instructions if you’re using windows that you can follow:

Step 1: FDOEMCD

Go here: http://www.fdos.org/bootdisks/
Download a tool called FDOEMCD.builder.zip
Unzip it on your local computer (don’t follow these instructions without unziping)
64-Bit OS users will have additional step to ALSO go to http://smithii.com/cdrtools/ and download cdrtools-latest.zip. Unzip it then copy the mkisofs.exe and cygwin1.dll files from the zip file and put it into the FDOEMCD.builder folder from above (replacing any existing version of these files).

Step 2: BIOS Flash Files

Go here: http://www.supermicro.com/support/bios/  (Or your equivalent for your BIOS), and download the correct version for your motherboard – warning – getting it wrong can permanentely destroy your motherboard – warning – 🙂
Unzip the contents of your bios download into the CDROOT folder.  You should have files such as AFUDOSU.SMC and AMI.bat.  If not then this tutorial isn’t for you (sorry!)

Now because the ISO will be read only, we need to shortcut the AMI.bat file a little bit….
rename AFUDOSU.SMC to AFUDOSU.EXE
create a new batch file called ami2.bat and put the following in it:
afudosu.exe %1 /FDT /MER /OPR

Now start up a dos prompt in windows and go to the corresponding FDOEMCD.builder folder and run makeiso.bat.

You now have fdoem.iso.  This is your bootable ISO with all your files on it (yay!)

Mount it using your favorite IPMI or burn it to CD and use it.  We just mount it using Supermicro’s IPMI.

Once it has booted, just run “ami2.bat x9scm2.608” (or equivalent) and away you go.

A big thanks to the guys that made FDOEMCD Builder.  Without that tool this BIOS update ISO building process would be a lot harder!

POST-INSTALL NOTE: Bios 2.00 which is on the SuperMicro website at this time seems to have a bug on some dual ethernet motherboards.  (such as the X9SCL!).  SuperMicro knows about it and has an app that you can add to the ISO as per the above instructions which can fix the ethernet port.  I don’t want to publicly make available a link to SuperMicro’s patching software but if you’re really desparate like we were then let us know….