Starting with Data ONTAP 8.2, a baseline SP firmware image is packaged with the Data ONTAP image. By default, the SP automatic update functionality is enabled. You have the option to manually trigger an SP update.
Data ONTAP 8.2 and later releases include an SP firmware image that is called the baseline image. You do not need to download the baseline SP firmware image separately. If a new version of the SP firmware becomes subsequently available, you have the option to download it from the System Firmware and Diagnostics Download page on the NetApp Support Site and update the SP firmware to the downloaded version without upgrading the Data ONTAP version. For information about manually downloading and updating the SP firmware, see the SP Firmware Download and Installation Instructions on the NetApp Support Site.
Data ONTAP offers the following methods for managing SP firmware updates:
The Data ONTAP upgrade process automatically includes the SP firmware update, provided that the SP firmware version bundled with Data ONTAP is newer than the SP version running on the system.
You have the option to disable the SP automatic update functionality by using the system node service-processor image modify command. However, it is best to leave the functionality enabled. Disabling the functionality can result in suboptimal or nonqualified combinations between the Data ONTAP image and the SP firmware image.
You can specify the following options:
You can update the SP firmware to a downloaded package by specifying the package file name. The system node image package show command displays all package files (including the files for the SP firmware package) that are available on a node.
You can update the SP firmware to the baseline version that is bundled with the currently running version of Data ONTAP.
For information about the system node service-processor image update command, see the man page.
Any existing connection to the SP is terminated when the SP firmware is being updated. This is the case whether the SP firmware update is automatic or manually triggered.