******************************************************************** * IBM ServeRAID BIOS/Firmware Update Diskette Version 2.70 * ******************************************************************** This README file is for the IBM ServeRAID BIOS/Firmware Update Diskette. It contains the information needed to update the BIOS and firmware on the IBM PC ServeRAID Adapter, the IBM ServeRAID II Ultra SCSI Adapter, and an integrated IBM ServeRAID Controller. Update Diskette Version 2.70 contains BIOS Level 2.70.04 and the following firmware levels: o Firmware Level 2.23S.6 for the ServeRAID Adapter o Firmware Level 2.70.08 for the ServeRAID II Ultra SCSI Adapter o Firmware Level 2.70.08 for the integrated ServeRAID Controller on the system board of IBM PC Server 330 models 8640-PM0,-PB0, -PT0, and -11Y. ______________________________________________________________ CONTENTS ________ 1.0 Updating the BIOS and Firmware 2.0 BIOS Setup 3.0 Changes to the BIOS, Firmware, and Configuration Program 3.10 Changes from Level 2.40.14 to 2.70.08 3.20 Changes from Level 2.40.16 to 2.40.21 3.30 Changes from Level 97326 to Level 2.40.14 3.40 Changes from Level 2.30 to 2.40 3.50 Changes from Level 2.30 to 2.31 3.60 Information about the Level 2.30/2.23s Update 4.0 Enabling the Hot-Swap Rebuild Feature 5.0 Trademarks and Notices ____________________________________________________________ 1.0 Updating the BIOS and Firmware ___________________________________ To update the ServeRAID BIOS and firmware: 1. Insert the IBM ServeRAID BIOS/Firmware Update diskette into the diskette drive; then, turn on the system. If the system is already turned on, press Ctrl+Alt+Del. 2. When the menu appears, select Option 1, "Update BIOS and Firmware". NOTE: This choice updates the BIOS and firmware on all ServeRAID adapters and ServeRAID controllers installed in the server. 3. Follow the instructions that appear on the screen. ____________________________________________________________ 2.0 BIOS Setup ______________ If your server contains multiple ServeRAID adapters or controllers, only enable one copy of the ServeRAID BIOS. If you enable multiple copies of the ServeRAID BIOS, the following message will appear during startup: "Multiple copies of ServeRAID BIOS were detected. One copy of BIOS will control all ServeRAID adapters. Do you want to disable extra copies of BIOS and free system resources (Y/N)?:" To delete extra copies of the ServeRAID BIOS, type "Y" and then press Enter. _____________________________________________________________________ 3.0 Changes to the BIOS, Firmware, and Configuration Utility Program _____________________________________________________________________ 3.10 Changes from Level 2.40.14 to 2.70.08 ------------------------------------------- The 2.40.14 to 2.70.08 Update provides the following new support and functions: o Several performance enhancements that affect all three RAID levels. The greatest performance improvement, however, is seen in RAID level-5 write-back mode. o The AUTOSYNC command has been added to ipssend. The 2.40.14 to 2.70.08 Update also contains the following software enhancements: o Corrected problems in viewing the hard and soft error logs under certain boundary conditions. o Added support to allow you to deselect a drive when using the "Copy Logical Drive" function in the ServeRAID Configuration Utility Program. o Modified the Administration and Monitoring utility program so that it reverts to the stand-alone mode when the cancel button fails in the host dialog box. o Added support to disable the Quick Rebuild feature until the automatic synchronization of the drives completes. 3.20 Changes from Level 2.40.16 to 2.40.21 ------------------------------------------- The 2.40.16 to 2.40.21 Update applies only to the IBM ServeRAID II Ultra SCSI Adapter. This update provides the following new support and functions: o Support for Microsoft Cluster Server, Version 1.00. 3.30 Changes from Level 97326 to Level 2.40.14 ----------------------------------------------- The 2.40.14 Update for the integrated ServeRAID Controller on the IBM PC Server 330 models 8640-PM0,-PB0, and -PT0 provided the following new support and functions: o Automatic Background Synchronization, which removes the need to synchronize a RAID level-5 logical drive before using it. Instead, you can use the drive immediately, while automatically synchronizing the drive in the background. The default setting for this feature is Enabled. o Data Scrubbing, which eliminates the need for you to manually synchronize drives weekly. Instead, you can use this feature to continuously synchronize all RAID level-5 logical drives in the background, without impacting performance. The default setting for this feature is Enabled. o Hot-Swap Rebuild, which in a system where no hot-spare is defined, automatically detects the replacement of a defunct physical drive that is part of a RAID level-1 or RAID level-5 logical drive; then, this feature starts the rebuild of the drive, without requiring your intervention. The default setting for this feature is Disabled. See section 4.0 below for the instructions needed to enable this feature. 3.40 Changes from Level 2.30 to 2.40 ------------------------------------- The 2.30 to 2.40 Update applied only to the ServeRAID II Ultra SCSI Adapter. This update provided the following new support and functions: o Support for IBM Netfinity Cluster Pack by Vinca with Novell Netware 4.11, part number 01K8018. o Support for formatting drives that are in the Standby (SBY) or Empty (EMP) states. Previous releases of the Configuration Utility Program required that the drives be in the Ready (RDY) state. o Automatic synchronization of newly created RAID level-5 logical drives. This enhancement eliminates the need for you to manually synchronize drives. o Automatic restart of RAID level-5 and RAID level-1 logical-drive rebuild operations after a power failure or an unexpected power off. o Battery-backup cache is now automatically enabled for all logical drives configured in the write-back mode. The 2.30 to 2.40 Update also provides the following software enhancements: o A new method of checking for adequate drive size before starting the rebuild operation. This new method returns an error message faster than previous versions. o A new method of queuing hot-spare-rebuild operations if multiple, concurrent drive failures occur in different arrays on the same ServeRAID adapter or controller. o When the system is configured for the Unattended Mode, the ServeRAID BIOS now allows access to the CTRL-I function during system startup. o Modifications for the ServeRAID BIOS and the ASPI device driver to work with the expanded memory manager for the 80386 (EMM386) o Modifications to the Configuration Utility Program to no longer accept physical drive state changes from Defunct (DDD) to Online (ONL) for RAID level-5 logical drives in the critical state. When a RAID level-5 logical drive is critical, you must rebuild it for the logical drive to change from DDD to ONL. o When multiple drive failures occur within the same array, the hot-swap rebuild operation will no longer start automatically. If multiple drives fail within the same array, you now must start the rebuild process manually. o Added support to disable the integrated ServeRAID controller on the PC Server 330 models 8640-PM0, -PB0, and -PT0. o Added error-recovery enhancements for drive errors found while reading or writing drive configurations. 3.50 Changes from Level 2.30 to 2.31 ------------------------------------- The 2.30 to 2.31 Update applied only to the integrated ServeRAID controller on PC Server 330 models 8640-PM0, -PB0, and -PT0. This firmware update corrected a problem that was found during product-evaluation tests. The problem symptoms included operating-system hangs, errors opening files, or other file errors. ATTENTION: If you have a PC Server 330 model 8640-PM0, -PB0, or -PT0 and you are using the integrated ServeRAID controller, install the 2.31 or 2.70.08 Firmware Update immediately. For more information about the 2.31 update, call the IBM HelpCenter at 1-800-772-2227 and reference ECA015. 3.60 Information about the Level 2.30/2.23s Update --------------------------------------------------- The 2.30/2.23s Update applies to both the ServeRAID and ServeRAID II adapters. This update included the following new feature: o Hot-Swap Rebuild, which in a system where no hot-spare is defined, automatically detects the replacement of a defunct physical drive that is part of a RAID level-1 or RAID level-5 logical drive; then, this feature starts the rebuild of the drive, without requiring your intervention. The default setting for this feature is Disabled. See section 4.0 below for the instructions needed to enable this feature. __________________________________________ 4.0 Enabling the Hot-Swap Rebuild Feature __________________________________________ To enable the hot-swap rebuild feature: 1. Start the ServeRAID Configuration Diskette. 2. Select "7. Advanced Functions" from the Main Menu. 3. Select "8. Display/Choose Adapter Parms" from the next menu. 4. Select "6. Enable/Disable Hot Swap Rebuild" from the next menu. 5. Select "1. Enable Hot Swap Rebuild" from the next menu. ____________________________________________________________________ 5.0 Trademarks and Notices _________________________ The following terms are trademarks of the IBM Corporation in the United States or other countries or both: IBM HelpCenter Netfinity ServeRAID Microsoft is a registered trademark of Microsoft Corporation. Other company, product, and service names may be trademarks or service marks of others. THIS DOCUMENT IS PROVIDED "AS IS" WITHOUT WARRANTY OF ANY KIND. IBM DISCLAIMS ALL WARRANTIES, WHETHER EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING WITHOUT LIMITATION, THE IMPLIED WARRANTIES OF FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE AND MERCHANTABILITY WITH RESPECT TO THE INFORMATION IN THIS DOCUMENT. BY FURNISHING THIS DOCUMENT, IBM GRANTS NO LICENSES TO ANY PATENTS OR COPYRIGHTS. Note to U.S. Government Users -- Documentation related to restricted rights -- Use, duplication or disclosure is subject to restrictions set forth in GSA ADP Schedule Contract with IBM Corp.