Newer Dell models distribute BIOS update packages using the Dell Update Package (DUP) format. The /e option does not appear to be commonly supported on many DUP BIOS packages.
The options can be invoked with the / character.
| Option | Name | Description | Syntax |
| /? or /h | Help | Displays command line options and help information. | package.exe /? or package.exe /h |
| /c | Check | Determines if the update can be applied to the target system. The /s option is required with this option. | package.exe /s /c /l=c:\pkg.log |
| /e=<path> | Extract | Extracts all files contained in the DUP to the path you specify. If the directory specified in the path does not exist, it is created. The /s option is required with this option. | package.exe /s /e=c:\update package.exe /s /e="c:\update files" |
| /f | Force | Allows downgrade of the software to a previous (older) version. The /s option is required with this option. NOTE: Before downgrading the software to a previous version, see the documentation for the previous version. | package.exe /s /f /l=c:\pkg.log |
| /l=<filename> | Log | Appends logged messages to a specified ASCII file; creates a new file if one does not exist. If the file name contains spaces, use quotation marks around the <filename> value. The /s option is required with this option. | package.exe /s /l=c:\pkg.log package.exe /s /l="c:\Update Log\pkg.log" |
| /r | Reboot | Reboots the system, if required, after performing the update. The reboot does not occur:
Options /e and /c are not valid with this option. | package.exe /s /r /l=c:\pkg.log |
| /s | Silent | Executes the update silently without user intervention. When /s is not specified, the DUP is launched in GUI (interactive) mode. The /s option is required when using the /e, /f, /c, /l, and /u options. NOTE: Using the /s option causes all output to be written to log files. | package.exe /s /l=c:\pkg.log |
| /u=<filename> | Unicode Log | Appends logged messages to a specified Unicode file; creates a new file if one does not exist. If the file name contains spaces, use quotation marks around the <filename> value. The /s option is required with this option. | package.exe /s /u=c:\pkg.log package.exe /s /u="c:\Update Log\pkg.log" |
Examples
To silently update a system and prevent an automatic reboot:
- package.exe /s
To silently update a system and allow an automatic reboot:
- package.exe /s /r
If a BIOS password is set, then the update executable will prompt the user for a password. If running the update executable from the command line, then use the /p parameter to specify the password. Example:
- package.exe /s /p=password
Exit Codes
The most common exit code values when performing BIOS updates are 2 (REBOOT_REQUIRED) and 6 (REBOOTING_SYSTEM). Other values are below.
| Value | Message Name | Display Name | Description |
| 0 | SUCCESSFUL | Success | The update was successful. |
| 1 | UNSUCCESSFUL (FAILURE) | Unsuccessful | An error occurred during the update process; the update was not successful. |
| 2 | REBOOT_REQUIRED | Reboot required | You must restart the system to apply the updates. |
| 3 | DEP_SOFT_ERROR | Soft dependency error | Some possible explanations are:
|
| 4 | DEP_HARD_ERROR | Hard dependency error | The required prerequisite software was not found on your system. The update was unsuccessful because the system did not meet BIOS, driver, or firmware prerequisites for the update to be applied, or because no supported device was found on the target system. The DUP enforces this check and blocks an update from being applied if the prerequisite is not met, preventing the system from reaching an invalid configuration state. The prerequisite can be met by applying another DUP, if available. In this case, the other package should be applied before the current one so that both updates can succeed. A DEP_HARD_ERROR cannot be suppressed by using the /f switch. |
| 5 | QUAL_HARD_ERROR | Qualification error | The DUP is not applicable to the system. Some possible explanations are:
|
| 6 | REBOOTING_SYSTEM | Rebooting system | The system is being rebooted. |
| 7 | ? | ? | ? |
| 8 | ? | ? | ? |
| 9 | RPM_VERIFY_FAILED | RPM verification has failed | The Linux DUP framework uses RPM verification to ensure the security of all DUP dependent Linux utilities. If security is compromised, the framework displays a message and an RPM Verify Legend, and then exits with exit code 9. |
References
- DUP log message reference<ADMIN NOTE: Broken link has been removed from this post by Dell>
- DUP FAQ
- DUP documentation index