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I never needed to update the OpenBoot (OBP) firmware on my old server. Why is Sun System Firmware on CMT servers different?

April 26, 2017CMT firmware needed obp openboot server Sun system

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I never needed to update the OpenBoot (OBP) firmware on my old server. Why is Sun System Firmware on CMT servers different?

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Today’s Sun System Firmware on the Sun CMT line of products using CoolThreads technology, includes the virtualization engine (Hypervisor). After the Solaris OS has booted, the Sun System Firmware is still operating, unlike in the past with OBP, which did little after the OS was booted. The Sun Logical Domains (LDoms) virtualization feature depends on the Hypervisor running in the System Firmware and the LDoms Manager software to operate, in addition to requiring the latest improvements at the Solaris OS level. The virtualization feature sets in Solaris and LDoms are closely tied to the corresponding releases of the Hypervisor in System Firmware. Along with new features you also get bug fixes and performance improvements. If you need to update or patch your Solaris OS, then you should also be upgrading your System Firmware.