Firmware Image Management

Cisco delivers firmware updates to UCS in bundles.

1. Infrastructure bundle (A)
2. B-series bundle
3. C-series bundle

Infrastructure bundle

This includes:

1. UCSM software
2. Kernel and system firmware for FI
3. I/O module firmware

B-series bundle

This includes

1. CIMC firmware
2. BIOS firmware
3. Adapter firmware
4. Board controller firmware
5. Third-party firmware images required by the new server

4 things need to be checked:

1. Hardware and OS compatibility
2. Cross-version firmware support
3. Upgrade path
4. Any open caveats in the release

Hardware and OS compatibility

You can search on Cisco UCS Hardware Compatibility List using either option: servers / os /products.
You can go to products and search by the vic card we have for example.
This is for OS and server/blade compatibility. Not infrastructure firmware.
Download link for infra: Software Download - Cisco Systems
Download link for blade: Software Download - Cisco Systems
Both are different. So there can be different suggested firmware for both.

Cross-Version Firmware Support

This page has the tool - Cisco UCS Manager Cross Version Firmware Matrix.
Table 11 on Release Notes for Cisco UCS Manager, Release 4.2 - Cisco page for the particular version has details. which infra bundle (A) supports which host version (B or C). Look for your F5 device in the cross-section. If it is listed there then support is there.

Upgrade path

Table 5 on the release page has those details.

Open caveats

Any issues identified in the target release version.

references:

Cisco UCS Manager Firmware Management Guide, Release 4.2 - Manage Firmware through Cisco UCS Manager - Cisco
Software Download - Cisco Systems
https://software.cisco.com/download/home/283612660/type/283655658/release/4.2(3g)
https://ucshcltool.cloudapps.cisco.com/public/https://software.cisco.com/download/home/283853163/type/283655681/release/4.2(3e)

Cisco UCS Manager Upgrade/Downgrade Support Matrix
Cisco UCS Manager Upgrade and Downgrade Support Tool