README: 35GB DLT Tape Drive and Library Microcode
This package is being provided to allow the update of older
IBM 35GB DLT Tape Drives to the current level of microcode that
is currently shipping from IBM. This microcode update is for
the:
Additionally this package provides the microcode for the IBM 7337-305 and IBM 7337-306 library controller.
Customers are encouraged to install the latest microcode level
themselves. The microcode and instructions are available
at the IBM external web site:
download.html
To download the microcode to the IBM 7205-311 or the IBM 7337-305 you will need the following:
This package, the 35GB DLT package, will get you to step where you will use AIX Diagnostics, or Genucode, or Atape(tapeutil) to download the microcode into the tape drive or the Library Controller.
Note: The Atape program is shipped with the IBM 7337-305 and 306
It is also available from:
ftp://ftp.software.ibm.com/storage/devdrvr/AIX
All supported levels of AIX that these products were announced on.
Yes, but the tape drive must be available with no tape in the drive,
and no other processing running to the tape drive, or in the case of
the IBM 7337-305 or 306 no other processes running to the Library.
If ADSM or Tivoli Storage Management
is installed it is best to stop ADSM before doing the
microcode install.
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.
A reboot is not needed as the microcode is active in the drive when
the
drive completes microcode download.
If the microcode install was done using genucode, you must use the AIX
rmdev and mkdev commands to have the Vital Product Data show the new
microcode level. This is described in Genucode part of the install
process.
If ADSM is installed
there are additional steps that are defined at the end of this
README.
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.
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.
The microcode update will bring the IBM 7205-311 35GB DLT tape drive
up to the current level which is:
296B also know as V107
| Tape Drive P/N | Tape Drive FRU P/N | Microcode Level | What does this microcode change
|
|---|---|---|---|
| 59H3120 | 59H3121 | 1734(V52) | First Microcode level shipped.
|
| 59H3120 | 59H3121 | 2150(V80) | Improved read/write error recovery.
|
| 59H3120 | 59H3121 | 2560(V96) | Improved read error recovery.
Improved media handling during tape load. Improved cleaning indication. Fix cleaning indication when a DLT8000 tape is inserted in the drive.
|
| 59H3120 | 59H3121 | 276A(V106) | Improved processing of "Blank" data cartridges.
|
| 59H3120 | 59H3121 | 296B(V107) | Previous microcode level sometimes
increased the time it takes a tape to become ready. This level
reduces unnecessary tape movement during tape load.
Improves the time it takes for the tape to become ready.
Eliminates the cause for a drive failure to complete an operation due to errors in the drive calibrating to the media. Fix when the tape drive encounters a hard error(I/O Error TAPE_ERR1 in AIX error log), and subsequent command may fail with a SCSI check condition(I/O Error). Improved processing of "Blank" data cartridges.
|
The microcode update will bring the 35GB DLT tape drive library
up to the current level which is:
296B also know as V107
| Tape Drive P/N | Tape Drive FRU P/N | Microcode Level | What does this microcode change
|
|---|---|---|---|
| 59H3557 | 59H3570 | 1734(V52) | First Microcode level shipped.
|
| 59H3557 | 59H3570 | 1B41(V65) | Improved tape handling.
|
| 59H3557 | 59H3570 | 2150(V80) | Improved read/write error recovery.
|
| 59H3557 | 59H3570 | 2560(V96) | Improved read error recovery.
Improved media handling during tape load. Improved cleaning indication. Fix cleaning indication when a DLT8000 tape is inserted in the drive.
|
| 59H3557 | 59H3570 | 276A(V106) | Improved processing of "Blank" data cartridges.
|
| 59H3557 | 59H3570 | 296B(V107) | Previous microcode level sometimes
increased the time it takes a tape to become ready. This level
reduces unnecessary tape movement during tape load.
Improves the time it takes for the tape to become ready.
Eliminates the cause for a drive failure to complete an operation due to errors in the drive calibrating to the media. Fix when the tape drive encounters a hard error(I/O Error TAPE_ERR1 in AIX error log), and subsequent command may fail with a SCSI check condition(I/O Error). Improved processing of "Blank" data cartridges.
|
The microcode update will bring the IBM 7337-305 Library Controller
up to the current level which is:
1.63
| Microcode Level | What does this microcode change
|
|---|---|
| 1.61 | First Microcode level shipped.
|
| 1.63 | Improved timing for tape handling.
|
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 these instructions.
To display the level of microcode in the 7205-311 or the 7337-305
and 306 drive do the following AIX command:
lscfg -vl rmt0 <--- change the drive number to reflect
the actual rmt address of the 35GB
DLT tape drive.
To display the level of microcode in the 7337-305 or 306
press the function keys on the operator panel to put the library in
off-line or diagnostic mode. The operator panel will display the
following:
IBM XXX7 X.XX <--- The X.XX is the Library Controller level.
DIAGNOSTIC OFFLINE
A. DLT7000 VNN-T1<--- The VNN is drive microcode level.
B. DLT7000 VNN-T2
Be sure to put the library back to normal mode after displaying the microcode levels.
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.
When the user downloads the microcode files from the IBM web site the packaged microcode files will be put into the /tmp directory.
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.
To insure the microcode downloaded correctly to the system
do the following AIX commands:
cd /tmp/35GBDLT_web
sum IBM-7*
Or
sum DLT7*
The output of the command will be the checksum and it must match the
following, if it does not match then redo the download and file
extraction.
58507 648 IBM-7205.296B.A0B00E24
And
64220 1 IBM-7205.A0B00E24.dsdata
Or
40017 648 DLT7000.296B.A0B00E24
And
51713 1 DLT7000.A0B00E24.dsdata
And
31546 348 DLT7000.Controller.163
You will now need to copy from the new directory to the appropriate
directory with the appropriate names.
For AIX Diagnostics the microcode files need to be put into the
/etc/microcode directory.
For Genucode or Atape the microcode files need to be put into the
/tmp directory.
AIX Diagnostics: cp IBM-7205.A0B00E24.dsdata /etc/microcode/IBM-7205.A0B00E24.dsdata cp IBM-7205.296B.A0B00E24 /etc/microcode/IBM-7205.A0B00E24.296B Genucode: cp IBM-7205.A0B00E24.dsdata /tmp/dsdata cp IBM-7205.296B.A0B00E24 /tmp/IBM-7205.296B.A0B00E24
AIX Diagnostics and ATAPE: cp DLT7000.A0B00E24.dsdata /etc/microcode/DLT7000.A0B00E24.dsdata cp DLT7000.296B.A0B00E24 /etc/microcode/DLT7000.A0B00E24.296B cp DLT7000.Controller.163 /tmp/DLT7000.Controller.163 Genucode and ATAPE: cp DLT7000.A0B00E24.dsdata /tmp/dsdata cp DLT7000.296B.A0B00E24 /tmp/DLT7000.296B.A0B00E24 cp DLT7000.Controller.163 /tmp/DLT7000.Controller.163
Note:
If the tape drive or controller you are updating is used by ADSM or Tivoli Storage Manager you will need to read the section of these instructions "For Systems where ADSM is using the 35GB DLT Drives or Library" for special instructions for these applications. Read these instructions before using downloading the microcode to the drive(s) or controller.
AIX Diagnostics requires the microcode and dsdata file to be in the /etc/microcode directory with specific names different from Genucode.
AIX Diagnostics offers 2 ways to install the tape drive microcode:
To install the tape drive microcode using the AIX diagnostics 5.1
or higher do the following:
diag
Press: Enter
Then select: Task Selection
Then select: Download Microcode
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.
To install the tape drive microcode using the AIX diagnostics 5.1
or higher 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)
You now need to use the instructions in the Genucode package to complete the microcode install.
If you are updating the microcode in the IBM
7337-305 and 306 Library controller
you will need to determine if the Atape device driver is installed.
If the Atape device driver is not installed you must install the Atape
driver prior to attempting the update of the microcode in the Library
Controller in the IBM 7337-305 and 306 using Atape.
To determine if the Atape device driver is installed do the following
AIX command:
lslpp -l Atape.driver
This will show the level of the Atape driver if it is installed.
If Atape is installed you now need to issue the tapeutil command to
download the microcode to the controller:
tapeutil
Follow the tapeutil prompts to complete the Library Controller microcode install.
ADSM requires that after microcode download to the tape drive or Library Controller that the tape drive and Library Controller be logically removed from the system and then added back into the system. The reason that they have to be removed and added back is that the finger print(Vital Product Data) of the tape drive or medium changer was changed by upgrading the microcode.
If ADSM or Tivoli Storage Manager is installed do not start them until the following steps are performed:
smc0 Available 04-01-00-6,0 IBM 7337 Tape Medium Changer rmt0 Available 04-01-00-4,0 Differential SCSI DLT Tape Drive mt0 Available 04-01-00-4,0 Tivoli Storage Manager rmt1 Available 04-01-00-5,0 Differential SCSI DLT Tape Drive mt1 Available 04-01-00-5,0 Tivoli Storage Manager Tape Drive lb0 Available 04-01-00-6,0 Tivoli Storage Manager Library scsi0 Available 04-A0 Wide SCSI I/O Controller scsi1 Available 04-B0 Wide SCSI I/O Controller scsi2 Available 04-01 Wide SCSI I/O Controller
After doing the microcode update and any mkdev's or cfgmgr you should
restart ADSM or Tivoli Storage Management. Then for ADSM from a ADSM
command prompt:
update library <library name> device= /dev/lvX
update drive <library name> <drive name> device= /dev/mtX
Where X is the number of the drive.
Do these commands for each library and each drive.