Permission denied when trying to update Dell R610 bios in XenServer 5.6 R2

The .BIN file is only the BIOS data file.  To apply a BIOS update, you also need either a Windows-compatible BIOS flashing program, or (more commonly) a DOS boot diskette/CD with the DOS BIOS flash program.

Unless there is a compelling reason to install a BIOS update, we generally don't recommend them.  Too many things can go wrong, and it's possible to end up with a brick that has to be shipped back to the manufacturer.  Compelling reasons to install a BIOS update are things like "Failure to see SATA DVD drives corrected" or "Occasional unexpected crashes corrected."  Things like "Added support for new processors" aren't compelling unless you need to install a previously unsupported CPU.

I'm receiving no errors that indicate a need for a BIOS update.

I'm adding a 2nd processor and additional RAM to the machine, and simply asked Dell Tech Support if I needed to do anything before doing the upgrade.  They advised me to "Make sure the BIOS is up to date and then add the hardware."   (The 2nd processor & RAM are identical to what is already in the box, per Dell.)

I'm currently running BIOS 2.0.13, Release Date: 04/06/2010.  Dell's latest for the R610 is 6.0.7, just released on 10/4/2011.

Dell's installation instructions are as follows.  (They don't mention a BIOS flash program.)  

Installation
  1. Read over the release information presented by executing the "./PER610_BIOS_LX_6.0.7.BIN --version" command from the shell.
  2. Download and install any prerequisites identified in the above step before proceeding.
  3. Install any necessary Embedded Systems Management firmware prior to this BIOS update.
  4. Run the update by executing "./PER610_BIOS_LX_6.0.7.BIN" from the shell.
  5. Follow the remaining prompts to perform the update.

Oh, just for the sake of completeness I should add that I get the same "Permission denied" response when I append " --version" as shown in step 1 of the Installation instructions above.

[root@xenserver mnt]# ./filename.bin --version

-bash: /filename.bin: Permission denied

???

Try the standalone executable instead from this page listed as "R610-060007C.exe".  You will need a DOS bootable diskette, either installed or USB, and the server must be reconfigured to boot from floppy or USB floppy.

I'll try that version instead.  As this is a production machine, my next window of opportunity will be later this week (probably Thursday evening).  I'll report back after.

As an aside, I'm debating on whether to forego the BIOS upgrade altogether, and simply drop the CPU and RAM in the box.  Besides the Dell rep's recommendation that "the machine should have the latest BIOS", I can't really see a reason to upgrade.  We are getting no errors, and nothing in any of the BIOS release notes appears to apply to our box or our situation.  If the upgrade goes bad, I'll be left with a big boat anchor and an office full of angry prople.  

If it ain't broke ...

I think the issue is that you are running the .bin file from the mounted CD. Copy the file to the OS drive and try that.

I copied the file to the OS drive and tried running it from there.  Same results ... Permission denied.  

You can try 2 other options.
1. If you have the IDrac Express, use the USC to perform a platform update
2. Boot into Dell's Open Manage Live and run the update within this OS

This apparently is an issue with Xen 5.6

Finally got a chance to take the machine offline and do the hardware upgrade.  Decided to do without the BIOS at this time, absent any errors that need to be addressed by an update.

Dropped the 2nd processor and additional memory into the box (along with a 6th fan, which is required on the R610 when 2 CPUs are used, and was supplied by Dell along with the CPU - don't think I would have gotten this if I'd purchased it from a 3rd party reseller), and the box came up just fine.  

The XenServer OS immediately recognized the new processor and RAM without any changes on my part.  All VMs started normally, and all appears to be good.  Now building new VMs to take advantage of newly available memory.

Will revisit BIOS update only if needed. Staying on ver. 2.0.13 for now.

Thanks to all!

Confirmed my feeling that doing a BIOS update wasn't really necessary, and that the risk outweighed the benefits.

Thanks!