README: 160GB DLT Tape Drive and Library Microcode


Table of Contents

README: 160GB DLT Tape Drive and Library Microcode

  • Drive Microcode Level: 5656(V86)
  • Date: April 11, 2005
  • General Information
  • Microcode Install Information:
  • Operating System levels supported:
  • Installation Time:
  • Can microcode be installed concurrently?
  • Is system reboot needed to activate the microcode.
  • Additional Cautions:
  • Machines Affected:
  • Microcode History
  • Display Microcode Level
  • 7205-550 Vital Product Data
  • Putting the microcode on the system
  • From the IBM WEB site via the user downloading the files.
  • From a CD-ROM.
  • Packaged Microcode Files
  • AIX bin file
  • RPM file
  • Verifying the Microcode
  • Updating the microcode in the drive
  • Copy Dsdata and Microcode to appropriate directory
  • To use AIX Diagnostics
  • To use Genucode

  • README: 160GB DLT Tape Drive and Library Microcode

    Drive Microcode Level: 5656(V86)

    Date: April 11, 2005


    General Information

    ****** PLEASE READ THIS ENTIRE NOTICE *********

    This package is being provided to allow the update of older IBM 160GB DLT Tape Drives to the current level of microcode that is currently shipping from IBM. This microcode update is for the:

    Customers are encouraged to install the latest microcode level themselves. The microcode and instructions are available for the customer at the IBM external web site:
    download.html


    Microcode Install Information:

    To download the microcode to the IBM 7205-550 you will need the following:

    This package, the 160GB DLT package, will get you to step where you will need to use AIX Diagnostics or Genucode.


    Operating System levels supported:

    All levels of AIX that this product was announced on.


    Installation Time:

    The typical time to install this microcode is .5 hrs.
    The microcode becomes active when installed and does not require a system reboot to become active.


    Can microcode be installed concurrently?

    Yes, but the tape drive must be available with no tape in the drive, and no other processing running to the tape drive.


    Is system reboot needed to activate the microcode.

    A reboot is not needed as the microcode is active in the drive when the drive completes microcode download. If Genucode was used to download the microcode to the tape drive it will be necessary to use the AIX commands rmdev and mkdev to have the Vital Product Data show the new level of microcode. The use of rmdev and mkdev are described in Genucode part of the install process.


    Additional Cautions:

    Do not power off the tape drive during microcode download as this may damage the tape drive microcode requiring the tape drive to be replaced.
    Remove any tape cartridge from the drive prior to attempting the microcode download.


    Machines Affected:

    All IBM eServer pSeries and RS/6000 machines this product was announce on. In general if the tape drive configures and is available with the VPD showing the Machine Type and microcode level as described in this README the machine is one affected.


    Microcode History

    The microcode update will bring the IBM 160GB DLT tape drive up to the current level which is:
    5656 also know as V86

    IBM 7205-550 160GB DLT Tape Drive


    Table 1. Microcode History
    Tape Drive P/N Tape Drive FRU P/N Load ID Microcode Level What does this microcode change

    18P7082 18P7083 A17002A9 3A3A(V58) First Microcode level shipped.

    18P7082 18P7083 A17002A9 5656(V86) Improved handling of the tape drives leader to reduce chances of s a leader being dropped during loading or unloading of a tape.
    Fix to eject expired cleaning cartridge.
    Improved read margins that improves a users ability to read a marginal tape.
    Improved error recovery.
    The cleaning required LED will go off without the need to clean the drive if the next tape inserted into the drive goes through a successful re-calibration.
    Cleaning LED will be illuminated for some errors where previously the Cleaning LED was not illuminated on space or locate commands. This is done to have the user clean the tape drive head when needed.
    Improve retries on tape unload.
    Time since drive last cleaned now reported in minutes, previously reported in hours.
    Reduce audible noise for some drives that occurred for several seconds following power on.


    Display Microcode Level

    Note: In some cases you may already have this microcode update already installed. Instructions in the package will show you how to check your system to see if it requires the updated microcode to be installed. This can be checked by doing the AIX command listed in these instructions.

    To display the level of microcode in the 7205-550 tape drive do the following AIX command:

     lscfg -vl rmt0               <--- change the drive number to reflect
                                       the actual rmt address of the 160GB
                                       DLT tape drive.
    

    The output of the lscfg command will look similar to the following where the Device Specific.(Z1)........ indicates the current microcode level in the tape drive.

    7205-550 Vital Product Data

      DEVICE            LOCATION          DESCRIPTION
     
    rmt0              17-09-00-4,0      SCSI DLT Tape Drive (160000 MB)
     
            Manufacturer................QUANTUM
            Machine Type and Model......SDLT320
            Device Specific.(Z1)........5656
            Serial Number...............C05Y0059
            Device Specific.(LI)........A17002A9
            Part Number.................18P7082
            FRU Number..................18P7083
            EC Level....................H80320
            Device Specific.(Z0)........0180020283000138
            Device Specific.(Z3)........L1
    


    Putting the microcode on the system

    There are 2 ways a user can get the microcode files. Each of these will put the microcode on the user's system but the user may have to move the files to appropriate directory for system use.

    From the IBM WEB site via the user downloading the files.

    When the user downloads the microcode files from the IBM web site the packaged microcode files will be put into the /tmp directory.

    From a CD-ROM.

    Note: AIX commands and file names are case sensitive.
    If the users AIX permission does not allow the copy to the above stated directory or file then the user will be prompted for a new location.


    Packaged Microcode Files

    AIX bin file

    RPM file


    Verifying the Microcode

    To insure the file was downloaded without error do the following:


    Updating the microcode in the drive

    You need to determine how you are going to download the microcode:

    AIX diagnostics and Genucode use different naming conventions for the naming and supported directory for the microcode and dsdata file.

    Copy Dsdata and Microcode to appropriate directory

    Copy the Dsdata and Microcode files to appropriate directory for use by either AIX diagnostics or Genucode.

    Note: The copy command copies the file to the new directory with the same name when you use the period(.) after new directory name.

    For AIX Diagnostics

    If you downloaded the RPM file and executed it the microcode is in the correct directory with the correct name for AIX diagnostic use.
    If you downloaded the .bin file and executed it then you need to do the following AIX commands:
    cd /tmp/160GBDLT_WEB
    cp SDLT320.A17002A9.5656 /etc/microcode/.
    cp SDLT320.A17002A9.dsdata /etc/microcode/.

    For Genucode

    Do the following AIX commands:
    cd /tmp/160GBDLT_WEB
    cp dsdata /tmp/.
    cp SDLT320.5656.A17002A9 /tmp/.

    To use AIX Diagnostics

    There are 2 ways to do the microcode download using the AIX diagnostics.

    Using the AIX Diagnostics menu

    To use the AIX 5.1 diagnostics menu for microcode download do the following:  
    diag (enter)  
    Task Selection (enter)  
    Download Microcode (enter)

    Select the drive you wish to download microcode to and follow the system instructions.

    Note: When the system asks where the microcode file is to be found select /etc/microcode, not diskette.

    Using the AIX Diagnostics via command line input.

    The command line to download microcode will use the highest level of microcode in the /etc/microcode directory for the device selected. To use the AIX 5.1 diagnostics command line input for microcode download do the following:

    Note: If the previous level of microcode is not in the /etc/microcode directory you will need to use the -f option(force) as the diagnostics expect the previous level to be present in the /etc/microcode directory.  
    diag -c -d rmt0 -T "download" (enter)

    or

    diag -c -d rmt0 -T "download -f" (enter)


    Once you have completed the diagnostic commands the drive will be at the current microcode level and the microcode update is complete.

    To use Genucode

    You now need to use the instructions in the Genucode package to complete the install of the microcode.
    Once you have completed the instructions in the genucode package the drive will be at the current microcode level and the microcode update is complete.