Apple has released a new firmware update for users of its rack-mount line of server computers. As you would imagine, the Apple Xserve EFI Firmware Update 1.1 is recommended for all Xserve users. It improves the performance and reliability of Xserve computers, according to the Mac makers.

Apple's Support page lists the following for Xserve EFI Firmware Update 1.1:

This update fixes several issues to improve

the stability of Xserve computers.

To complete the firmware update process, perform the following steps:

1) Locate Xserve EFI Firmware Update.app in /Applications/Utilities and double click on it.
2) Follow the onscreen instructions.

A "headless" update can be performed by visiting this address.

If you've successfully applied the firmware to your Mac, Apple says your Boot ROM Version should be XS21.006C.B06. You can confirm the version of the Boot ROM installed on your computer using System Profiler. However, if you are unsure whether your computer needs a particular update, simply download and open the update installer. The installer will alert you if the firmware update is already installed or not needed. Pictured left is an example of that (click to enlarge).

Apple Xserve EFI Firmware Update 1.1 supports: Dansk, Deutsch, English, Español, Finnish, Français, Italiano, Japanese, Korean, Nederlands, Norwegian, Portuguese, Simplified Chinese, Svensk and Traditional Chinese.

The Apple Xserve EFI Firmware Update 1.1 weighs in at 1.6MB. You can perform the update either by using Software Update (Apple Menu --> Software Update), or by downloading it right from HERE. The same installation instructions apply for both means of updating. Requirements call for an Xserve (Late 2006).

The Xserve can be used for a variety of applications, including file server, web server or even high-performance computing applications using clustering - a dedicated cluster Xserve, the Xserve Cluster Node, without a video card and optical drives, was available at one point. Xserve's companion external RAID array, Xserve RAID, can be connected to it via Fibre Channel, should additional hard disk space be needed.