Updating firmware on Dell OEM (71C1T) Mellanox ConnectX-5 516A NIC

Notice: Page may contain affiliate links for which we may earn a small commission through services like Amazon Affiliates or Skimlinks.
H

hmw

Well-Known Member
Apr 29, 2019
660
282
63
Snagged a Dell 71C1T / Mellanox ConnectX-5 from eBay. It came with a real old FW version (16.26.6000) dating back from 2019. Tried to update it and could only find version 16.35.3006 from the Dell site. The Nvidia/Mellanox site doesn't even list it on their portal for OEM firmware. Apparently 16.35.3006 is dated 06/07/2023 so better than some 2019 firmware.

The adapter seems to be a CX516A but don't know if this is a CX516A-CCAT or CX516A-CDAT (seems the only difference between the cards is that -CCAT is PCIe 3.0 and -CDAT is PCIe 4.0). The card is a CX516A-CDAT which one can determine by running mlxlink

Code: 
./mlxlink -d mt4121_pciconf0 --port_type PCIE
PCIe Operational (Enabled) Info
-------------------------------
Depth, pcie index, node            : 0, 0, 0
Link Speed Active (Enabled)        : 16G-Gen 4 (16G-Gen 4)
Link Width Active (Enabled)        : 16X (16X)




The card PSID is DEL0000000004. Ideally would be good to flash this with stock firmware for the CX516A-CDAT but the firmware page lists different firmware for the few CX516A variants.

This is what I get from mlx fw manager

Code: 
./mlxfwmanager
Querying Mellanox devices firmware ...

Device #1:
----------

  Device Type:      ConnectX5
  Part Number:      09FTMY_071C1T_Ax
  Description:      Mellanox ConnectX-5 Ex Dual Port 100 GbE QSFP Network Adapter
  PSID:             DEL0000000004
  PCI Device Name:  mt4121_pciconf0
  Base GUID:      
  Base MAC:        
  Versions:         Current        Available    
     FW             16.35.3006     N/A          
     PXE            3.6.0902       N/A          
     UEFI           14.29.0015     N/A          

  Status:           No matching image found

[root@karaportti:/opt/mellanox/bin]

Has anyone successfully flashed a Dell 71C1T ConnectX card with stock firmware? Do I need to preserve the PSID? Do I need to backup the configuration?
 
Last edited:
J

jpmomo

Well-Known Member
Aug 12, 2018
594
258
63
Let me check my notes. The only cx5 nic that I remember having an issue with was an hpe version. I didn't think I had any issues cross flashing a dell but not 100% sure
 
  • Like
Reactions: hmw
P

pakcikkayo

New Member
May 28, 2018
2
1
3
jpmomo said:
Let me check my notes. The only cx5 nic that I remember having an issue with was an hpe version. I didn't think I had any issues cross flashing a dell but not 100% sure
Click to expand...
Hi @jpmomo, any luck with flashing Dell 71C1T with stock firmware?
 
Last edited:
C

Civiloid

Active Member
Jan 15, 2024
229
174
43
Switzerland
pakcikkayo said:
any luck with flashing Dell 71C1T with stock firmware?
Click to expand...
I had multiple CX5s and I haven't seen any problems cross-flashing them (as far as I understand, they've implemented firmware signing only on later stage of CX5 life and it wasn't really used, but even if I'm wrong, flint_oem can cross-flash such cards)

In worst case, you can follow the procedure on cross-flashing CX6 (search for flint_oem in this post: https://forums.servethehome.com/ind...nectx-4-or-newer-bluefield-tips-tricks.47779/) as that way it works with all vendor cards up to CX6 and Bluefield-2 including.
 
N

nic2025

New Member
Jan 12, 2025
2
0
1
-E- Burning FS4 image failed: Changing PSID is unsupported under controlled FW. You can try to run again with the flag "--no_fw_ctrl"

Image type: FS4
FW Version: 16.32.2004
FW Release Date: 13.1.2022
Part Number: 09FTMY_071C1T_Ax
Description: Mellanox ConnectX-5 Ex Dual Port 100 GbE QSFP Network Adapter

No luck, may need JUMPER
 
A

am45931472

Member
Feb 26, 2019
103
23
18
ok. I officially need help. can someone provide me with the dell firmware for the Dell 71C1T. I dont think they're available for download on dell's website. I've flashed alot of other mellanox cards in the past so I attempted this flash without saving the original firmware and it did not go well. tried flashing firmware for the MCX516A-CDAT from mellanox site. After doing so the card is no longer detected under windows. When i initiate the jump connection on the card at JP2 the card can again be found, and again be flashed but it doesnt matter what firmware I flash on it it just always remains undetected without the jumper set.

I tried the flint_oem command from the "Mellanox ConnectX-4 or newer & Bluefield, Tips & Tricks" and it flashed but still the card is undetected without jumper set.

Doing this in windows 10 powershell not that that should matter


sudo flint_oem -d 09:00.0 -ocr hw set Flash0.WriteProtected=Disabled
sudo flint_oem -d "${PCI_ID}" -i "${NEW_FIRMWARE_BIN}" -ocr --nofs --allow_psid_change --ignore_dev_data --use_image_ps burn
 
C

Civiloid

Active Member
Jan 15, 2024
229
174
43
Switzerland
am45931472 said:
. I dont think they're available for download on dell's website.
Click to expand...
They are. If you download windows firmware update file from here: Firmware für Mellanox ConnectX-5-Ethernetadapter | Treiberdetails | Dell Schweiz

and extract it with 7z, you'll find the firmware in payload subfolder: fw-ConnectX5-rel-16_35_3006-09FTMY_071C1T_Ax-UEFI-14.29.15-FlexBoot-3.6.902.signed.bin

That is for 09FTMY and 071C1T SKUs.


am45931472 said:
After doing so the card is no longer detected under windows.
Click to expand...
You also should restore HWAddress. And I've only tried the method from within Linux, I'm not sure that running that from WIndows 10 Power Shell would do exactly the same and exactly right though.
 
  • Like
Reactions: blunden
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top Bottom