README: 20GB 4mm Tape Drive Microcode


Table of Contents

README: 20GB 4mm Tape Drive Microcode

  • Version: C209
  • Aug 8, 2007
  • General Information
  • Microcode Download Information
  • Operating System levels supported:
  • Can microcode be installed Concurrently?
  • Is system reboot needed to activate the microcode.
  • Installation Time:
  • Additional Cautions:
  • Machines Affected:
  • Microcode Levels
  • Microcode History
  • Display Microcode Level
  • 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
  • Which Microcode file to Use?
  • You downloaded "RPM" files
  • You downloaded the AIX zip file
  • Drive Microcode Level "C003"
  • Drive Microcode Not Level "C003"
  • Current Drive Microcode Level "C003"
  • Copy files for AIX diagnostics
  • Copy files for Genucode
  • Current Drive Microcode Level not "C003"
  • Copy files for AIX diagnostics
  • Copy files for Genucode
  • How to Use AIX 5.1 Diagnostics Microcode Download

  • README: 20GB 4mm Tape Drive Microcode

    Version: C209

    Aug 8, 2007


    General Information

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

    This package is being provided to allow the update of older IBM 20GB 4mm Tape Drives to the current level of microcode that is currently shipping from IBM.

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


    Microcode Download Information

    In order to complete the microcode download to a 20GB 4mm tape drive you will need use AIX 5.1 diagnostics, or higher, or the Genucode program. The Genucode package is available from the IBM WEB site:
    download.html
    For both the AIX diagnostic package and for the genucode package from the WEB you will need the microcode and dsdata files in this package.

    This package, the 20GB 4mm package, will get you to step where you will need to use AIX diagnostics or Genucode to download the microcode into the tape drive.


    Operating System levels supported:

    All levels of AIX that this product was announced on.


    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. But to have the Vital Product Data show the new level you must use the AIX rmdev and mkdev commands described in Genucode part of the install process.


    Installation Time:

    The typical time to install this microcode is .4 hrs.
    The microcode becomes active when installed and does not require a system reboot to become active.


    Additional Cautions:

    Note: When installing new microcode into drives, with a microcode level below C009 already in the drive, microcode download will show completion before the microcode download is complete. It is necessary to wait until the LEDs on the drive all go off before doing any action with the drive including inserting a tape or powering off the drive after seeing the microcode download complete message.

    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 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.

    IBM 7206-220

    IBM 7212-102

    Internal 20GB 4mm Tape drive


    Microcode Levels

    The microcode update will bring the IBM 20GB 4mm tape drive up to the current level of microcode which is:
    C209

    Microcode History


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

    34L3612 34L3614 C003 00000201 First Microcode level shipped.

    19P0798 19P0802 C009 A1700292 Sets time for cleaning indication to 50 hours.
    Fixes cases of variable block read failure.

    19P0798 19P0802 C109 A1700292 Withdrawn, replaced by C105

    19P0798 19P0802 C105 A1700292 Sets default blocksize of 1024.
    SCSI_ERR3 or SCSI_ERR10 when the tape drive was configuring. These errors did not cause any drive, system , or data problem as these were recovered errors. Only microcode level C109 caused these errors. This is why C109 was replaced with C105.If you are seeing these SCSI errors and the tape drive microcode level is not C109 then there is some other cause for these errors.
    During AIX diagnostics to the tape drive the tape drive would hold the SCSI bus busy during the time the diagnostics were running to the tape drive.

    19P0798 19P0802 C209 A1700292 AIX SCSI Parallel Protocol Request related fixes.
    Removal of the 50 usage limit on DDS2 test tapes.
    Fixed handing of large number of appending of data causing subsequent space commands over the appended data to fail with an indication of media format corrupted(Sense Key 03, ASC/ASCQ 3100).

    Note: The Drive P/N, FRU P/N, and Load ID of the drive are changed by the C009, and higher, levels of microcode.


    Display Microcode Level

    Note: In some cases you may already have the most current level of microcode already installed. The following instructions show you how to check the tape drive microcode level.

    To display the level of microcode in the IBM 7206-220 or the internal 20GB 4mm tape drive do the following AIX command:

     lscfg -vl rmt0               <--- change the drive number to reflect
                                       the actual rmt address of the 20GB
                                       4mm tape drive.
    

    The output of the lscfg command will look like the following with the "Device Specific.(Z1)" showing the microcode level:

     rmt0              00-00-01-3,0      SCSI 4mm Tape Drive (20480 MB)
     
            Manufacturer................HP
            Machine Type and Model......IBM-C568303030!D
            Device Specific.(Z1)........C003
            Serial Number...............30074119
            Device Specific.(LI)........00000201
            Part Number.................34L3612
            FRU Number..................34L3614
            EC Level....................F24282
            Device Specific.(Z0)........0180020283000038
            Device Specific.(Z3)........L1
    
    OR
     rmt0              00-00-01-3,0      SCSI 4mm Tape Drive (20480 MB)
     
            Manufacturer................HP
            Machine Type and Model......IBM-C568303030!D
            Device Specific.(Z1)........C105
            Serial Number...............30074119
            Device Specific.(LI)........A1700292
            Part Number.................19P0798
            FRU Number..................19P0802
            EC Level....................H27417
            Device Specific.(Z0)........0180020283000038
            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

    Change to the directory where the microcode was just placed.
    cd /tmp/20GB4mm_web
    or
    cd /etc/microcode

    To insure the file was downloaded without error use the AIX command sum to get the checksum of the microcode file:
    sum IBM-C568*

    Compare the sum you got with the sum of the file here, if they do not match recheck your steps in creating the file on the system:
    10342 335 IBM-C568303030.C209.00000201
    10342 335 IBM-C568303030.C209.A1700292
    or
    10342 335 IBM-C568303030.00000201.C209
    10342 335 IBM-C568303030.A1700292.C209


    Which Microcode file to Use?

    You downloaded "RPM" files

    If you downloaded the RPM file to the system and expanded it AIX diagnostics will use the appropriate file for updating the drive. Go to the step in this documentation
    "How to Use AIX 5.1 Diagnostics Microcode Download".

    You downloaded the AIX zip file

    If you downloaded the zip file you will need to determine which microcode file to use and copy the file with the appropriate name to the appropriate directory. Depending on the microcode level already in the tape drive you will need to determine which microcode file to use.

    Drive Microcode Level "C003"

    If the current level of microcode in the drive is "C003" then you will use the microcode file:
    IBM-C568303030.C209.00000201
    and
    dsdata.C003

    You will need to copy these files to the appropriate directory with the appropriate naming conventions. The details of how to do this are explained later in these instructions.

    Drive Microcode Not Level "C003"

    If the current level of drive microcode is not "C003" level of microcode you will use the microcode file:
    IBM-C568303030.C209.A1700292
    and
    dsdata.current

    You will need to copy these files to the appropriate directory with the appropriate naming conventions. The details of how to do this are explained later in these instructions.


    Current Drive Microcode Level "C003"

    If the current level of microcode in the drive is not "C003" then go to the step: Drive Microcode Level not "C003"

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

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

    Once you have determined which program you are going to use, AIX diagnostics or Genucode, you will need to copy the appropriate files from the /tmp directory to the appropriate directory:

    Copy files for AIX diagnostics


    cd /tmp/20GB4mm_web
    cp IBM-C568303030.C209.00000201 /etc/microcode/IBM-C568303030.00000201.C209
    cp dsdata.C003 /etc/microcode/IBM-C568303030.00000201.dsdata

    Run AIX Diagnostics

    For instructions on using the AIX Diagnostics microcode download capability refer to the section of this document titled
    "How to Use AIX 5.1 Diagnostics Microcode Download".

    Copy files for Genucode


    cd /tmp/20GB4mm_web
    cp IBM-C568303030.C209.00000201 /tmp/IBM-C568303030.C209.00000201
    cp dsdata.C003 /tmp/dsdata

    Run 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.


    Current Drive Microcode Level not "C003"

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

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

    Once you have determined which program you are going to use, AIX diagnostics or Genucode, you will need to copy the appropriate files from the /tmp directory to the appropriate directory:

    Copy files for AIX diagnostics


    cd /tmp/20GB4mm_web
    cp IBM-C568303030.C209.A1700292 /etc/microcode/IBM-C568303030.A1700292.C209
    cp dsdata.current /etc/microcode/IBM-C568303030.A1700292.dsdata

    Run AIX Diagnostics

    For instructions on using the AIX Diagnostics microcode download capability refer to the section of this document titled "How to Use AIX 5.1 Diagnostics Microcode Download".

    Copy files for Genucode


    cd /tmp/20GB4mm_web
    cp IBM-C568303030.C209.A1700292 /tmp/IBM-C568303030.C209.A1700292
    cp dsdata.current /tmp/dsdata

    Run 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.


    How to Use AIX 5.1 Diagnostics Microcode Download

    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)