HP BIOS Tools

With the HP BIOS Tools OS 12 app, you can manage and update the BIOS, BIOS settings, and BIOS password of supported Hewlett-Packard (HP) devices using the IGEL Universal Management Suite (UMS).

You can use profiles and specific device commands to handle any number of devices.

BIOS Updates at Your Own Risk

IGEL is offering and supporting the BIOS Update mechanism - BIOS updates are performed at your own risk!

The BIOS update mechanism is functional even with Secure Boot enabled and when a BIOS password is set.

Supported Devices

The HP BIOS Tools app is supported for the following HP models:

• t540

• Pro t550

• t640

• Elite t655

• t740

• Elite t755

• Elite mt645 G7 (HP BIOS Tools 2.0.0 or higher)

• Elite mt645 G8 (HP BIOS Tools 2.0.0 or higher)

• Pro mt440 G3 (HP BIOS Tools 2.0.0 or higher)

Apps That Are Installed with HP BIOS Tools 2.0.0

When HP BIOS Tools 2.0.0 is installed, the following apps are also installed automatically:

• Optional Kernel Modules for IGEL OS 12 Systems (optional_kernel_modules)

• The Base System will be updated to IGEL OS Base System 12.5.0 if not already done

Requirements

• UMS 12.01 or higher

• Supported devices with IGEL OS Base System 12.01.100 or higher

The IGEL OS Base System needs to be installed directly on the device. The HP BIOS Tools app is unsupported if the IGEL OS boots from a UD Pocket.

• A Windows machine for creating the password file

Creating a Profile

If you have not done so already, create a profile for your app.

1. In the UMS Web App, go to APPS and search for “BIOS” to find the HP BIOS Tools app.

   

   

   
   

2. Click Create New Profile.

   

   
   

3. Define a name for your profile.

   

   We will use this profile for every use case of the HP BIOS Tools app.
   

Assigning the Profile to Your Devices

1. In the field Assign device, enter the name of the device or device directory for which you want to use the HP BIOS Tools app.

   

   
   

2. Select Assign and apply changes on reboot.

   

Setting up the File Source

Since not only updating the BIOS but also its configuration is done using files, we need to set up a file source that is reachable by all devices.

The creation of the files is described in the relevant sections. The procedures described here are the same for all files in question, that is:

• BIOS update file

• BIOS settings file

• BIOS password file

Security Note

If you use password files, ensure the password file is not accessible longer than necessary. 

Using an External Source (HTTP/HTTPS)

If you want to deploy the BIOS update file, the BIOS settings file, and the password file from an external source, you can set up an HTTP/HTTPS server.

You can secure the file access using a username and password. To achieve this, you must configure your devices to provide a username and password:

→ In your HP BIOS Tools profile, edit Apps > HP BIOS Tools > Password as follows:

• Download username: Username required for downloading

• Download password: Password required for downloading

  

Using a Local Storage Device (USB)

For more information on how to use a storage device with IGEL OS, see Storage Hotplug in IGEL OS 12.

Using UMS File Transfer

The following example shows how to use the UMS file transfer facility for file deployment. In this example, a BIOS update file is provided; the procedure is the same for settings and password files.

1. In the UMS Web App, go to Configuration Objects, select the icon for files, and then the icon for uploads.

   

   

   
   

2. Choose the file on your system via drag & drop or via Browse files….

   

   
   

3. In the field Device file location, define the local path in which the file will be stored on the device, e.g. /tmp/. Afterward, click Finish upload.

   

   
   

4. Assign the file to your devices by assigning it to the profile we have created beforehand.

   

   

If Your BIOS is Password-Protected: Provide a BIOS Password File to Make Changes

If your BIOS is protected by a password, a valid password file must be provided to allow any kind of changes to the BIOS. For this purpose, you must create a password file and make it available to the device.

As a precondition, you must know the BIOS password of your devices, of course.

1. On a Windows machine, download the password tool from https://ftp.ext.hp.com/pub/caps-softpaq/cmit/HPQPswd.htmland install it.
   
   

2. Create a password file with the known password and make it available as described under Setting up the File Source.
   
   

3. In the BIOS Tools profile, go to Apps > HP BIOS Tools > Password and enter the file path.

   

Updating the BIOS

Some target devices might power off instead of rebooting. This effect has been observed with the following models:

• Elite mt645 G7

• Elite mt645 G8

Getting the BIOS Update File from HP

1. Open https://support.hp.com/, select your device, click Software, Drivers, and Firmware, and follow the steps.
   
   

2. Download the file (example: sp126570.exe) and unzip it. 
   
   

3. In the directories created by unzipping, look for a file with the ending .bin, for instance, M44_0103.bin, and store it in a location that is reachable from your UMS machine.

Making the BIOS Update File Available

→ Make the BIOS update file available to your devices; see Setting up the File Source.

Configuring the Devices for the BIOS Update

You can replace the current BIOS with a higher version, but not the same version. Therefore, restoring the original BIOS that had been installed on the device before is not possible.

Moreover, it is not possible to downgrade the BIOS.

→ In the BIOS Tools profile, go to Apps > HP BIOS Tools > Update, make the following edits, and save your settings.

• BIOS update file: Local path or URL of the BIOS update file

Triggering the BIOS Update

1. In the UMS, select the relevant devices (or directory), open the context menu, and select Specific Device Command.

   

   
   

2. Select BIOS - Trigger update and click Execute.

   

   The target devices receive a reboot command; a corresponding message is displayed.

The timespan before the BIOS logo and the progress bar is shown might be significantly longer than usual. Please ensure that the device remains powered on until the update process is finished.

Changing the BIOS Settings

Defining the Paths for Exchanging the BIOS Settings Files

First, we will define a local directory path in which the HP BIOS Tools app will store the current BIOS settings as a file and a local directory path in which the edited settings file will be stored so the app can apply them to the device's BIOS.

→ In the BIOS Tools profile, go to Apps > HP BIOS Tools > Settings, make the following edits, and save your settings.

• Set BIOS settings file: Path where the file with the changed settings will be stored.

• Get BIOS settings file: Path to the file with the current settings. The filename will be bios_settings_<unit_id>

  

Getting the BIOS Settings

1. In the UMS, select the relevant devices (or directory), open the context menu, and select Specific Device Commands.

   

   
   

2. Select BIOS - Get settings and click Execute.

   

Editing the BIOS Settings File

1. Look up your device in the UMS structure tree, open the context menu, and select Other commands > Device File -> UMS.

   

   
   

2. Under Device file location, provide the local path to which the settings file has been stored.

   

   
   

3. Define the path on the UMS machine under which the settings file should be stored so you can retrieve and edit it.

   

   A file chooser opens.

   

   
   

4. Set the following parameters and click Save. 

   • Look in: The file path on the UMS machine under which the settings file should be stored, e.g. ums_filetransfer.

   • File Name: The file name under which the settings file should be stored.

     

     
     

5. Click Device File -> UMS to transfer the file from the device to the UMS machine.

   

   
   

6. Download and install the HP BIOS Configuration Utility. For information on the download source and the use of the utility, see https://ftp.ext.hp.com/pub/caps-softpaq/cmit/whitepapers/BIOS_Configuration_Utility_User_Guide.pdf.
   
   

7. Edit the configuration file as desired.

Regarding the configuration file, please note the following:

• It is recommended to use a text editor under Unix/Linux for editing. This ensures that the correct line feeds are used and that the characters are encoded correctly (UTF-8).

• Make sure that the BIOS settings file is formatted properly and that the REPSET format is respected. For further information, see https://ftp.ext.hp.com/pub/caps-softpaq/cmit/whitepapers/BIOS_Configuration_Utility_User_Guide.pdf

It is sufficient to specify only those BIOS setting you want to change so that your edited file contains snippets instead of all possible settings.

8. Save the settings file. Make the edited file available as described under Setting up the File Source.

Deploying the Changed Settings on the Device

1. In the UMS, select the relevant devices (or directory), open the context menu, and select Specific Device Command.

   

2. Select BIOS - Set settings and click Execute.

   

Setting a BIOS Password to Protect Your BIOS

If your BIOS is not protected by a password yet and you want to secure it with a BIOS password, proceed as follows.

1. On a Windows machine, download the password tool from https://ftp.ext.hp.com/pub/caps-softpaq/cmit/HPQPswd.html and install it.
   
   

2. Create a password file with the new password and make it available as described under Setting up the File Source.
   
   

3. In the BIOS Tools profile, go to Apps > HP BIOS Tools > Password and enter the file path.

   

4. In the UMS, select the relevant devices (or directory), open the context menu, and select Specific Device Commands.

   

5. Select BIOS - Set password and click Execute.

   

Changing the BIOS Password

If your devices already have a BIOS password and you want to change it, proceed as follows.

1. On a Windows machine, download the password tool from https://ftp.ext.hp.com/pub/caps-softpaq/cmit/HPQPswd.html and install it.
   
   

2. Create a password file with the current password and make it available as described under Setting up the File Source.
   
   

3. Create a password file with the new password and make it available as described under Setting up the File Source.
   
   

4. In the BIOS Tools profile, go to Apps > HP BIOS Tools > Password, make the following edits, and save your settings.

   • BIOS password file: File path of the new password file

   • Old BIOS password file: File path of the current password file

     

     
     

5. In the UMS, select the relevant devices (or directory), open the context menu, and select Specific Device Command.

   

   
   

6. Select BIOS - Set password and click Execute.

   

Resetting the BIOS Password (Removing Password Protection)

If your devices have a BIOS password and you want to reset it so that the BIOS will be accessible without a password, proceed as follows.

1. On a Windows machine, download the password tool from https://ftp.ext.hp.com/pub/caps-softpaq/cmit/HPQPswd.html and install it.
   
   

2. Create a password file with the old password and make it available as described under Setting up the File Source.
   
   

3. In the BIOS Tools profile, go to Apps > HP BIOS Tools > Password, make the following edits, and save your settings.

   • BIOS password file: Enter RESET_PASSWORD

   • OLD BIOS password file:

     

     
     

4. In the UMS, select the relevant devices (or directory), open the context menu, and select Specific Device Commands.

   

   
   

5. Select BIOS - Set password and click Execute.

   

Command Line Interface (CLI) for the BIOS Tools

To test the BIOS update on a single device, you can use the command line tool as an alternative to the Specific Device Commands from the UMS.

As a prerequisite, the steps described under Setting up the File Source and the relevant settings in the profile must be completed.  

When the command has been executed, a dialog informs you that a reboot is required. You can choose between two options:

• Perform the reboot and update right away

• Postpone the update to the next reboot

Usage

bios-tools [OPTIONS] COMMAND [ARGS]...

Options

Commands