README: 40GB DLT Tape Drive and Library Microcode


Table of Contents

README: 40GB DLT Tape Drive and Library Microcode

  • Drive Microcode Level: 0255(V85)
  • Library Controller Microcode Level: 2.67.0001
  • Date: December 15, 2003
  • 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
  • Notice: Change in Drive Operation
  • Display Microcode Level
  • 7205-440 Vital Product Data
  • 7337-360 Vital Product Data
  • 7337-360 Library Controller Microcode Level
  • 7337-360 Library Tape Drive Microcode Level
  • Microcode Download
  • 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 files:
  • Verifying the Microcode
  • Copying Files
  • For Genucode and the 7205-440
  • For AIX Diagnostics and the 7205-440
  • For Genucode and the 7337-360
  • For AIX Diagnostics and the 7337-360
  • Checking the files
  • Library Controller Microcode Install using Atape
  • IBM 7205-440 and IBM 7337-360 Drive Microcode Install
  • Drive Microcode Install using Genucode
  • Drive Microcode Install using AIX Diagnostics
  • For Systems where TSM/ADSM is using the 40GB DLT Drives or Library
  • Restart TSM or ADSM

  • README: 40GB DLT Tape Drive and Library Microcode

    Drive Microcode Level: 0255(V85)

    Library Controller Microcode Level: 2.67.0001

    Date: December 15, 2003


    General Information

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

    This package is being provided to allow the update of older IBM 40GB 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 at the IBM external web site:
    download.html


    Microcode Install Information:

    To download the microcode to the IBM 7205-440 or the IBM 7337-360 you will need the following:

    This package, the 40GB DLT package, will get you to step where you will need to use GENUCODE or AIX Diagnostics, or Atape(tapeutil) to download the microcode into the tape drive or the Library Controller.

    Note: The Atape program is shipped with the IBM 7337-360. It is also available from:
    ftp://ftp.software.ibm.com/storage/devdrvr/AIX


    Operating System levels supported:

    All supported levels of AIX that these products were 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, or in the case of the IBM 7337-360 no other processes running to the Library. If Tivoli Storage Management(TSM) or ADSM is installed it is best to stop TSM or ADSM before doing the microcode install.


    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.
    If TSM or ADSM is installed there are additional steps that are defined at the end of this README.


    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 40GB DLT tape drive up to the current level which is:
    0255 also know as V85

    7205-440 40GB DLT Tape Drive

    Notice: Change in Drive Operation

    Effective with microcode level 0255(V85) the tape drive operation on tape ejection has changed.

    Background:


    Whenever a DLT8000 drive unloads a tape, it is completely rewound, the "Open Door" LED turns on, and the cartridge sits in a "released" state -- waiting for an operator to open the door and remove the unloaded cartridge.

    But while waiting for the door to be opened, the drive applies tension to the tape. This is needed to avoid dropping the tape leader. When a drive is allowed to sit in this state for an extended period of time, electrical components in the drive (particularly a capacitor in the motor driver circuit) reach elevated temperatures. This shortens drive life, and failure analysis has confirmed that overheated capacitors are a cause of DLT8000 drive failures in customer's tape drives
    This overheated condition causes premature drive failure and is NOT a safety problem.

    Corrective Action:

    New drive firmware has been released to avoid this failure mode. After waiting 9 minutes for an operator to come and open the door, the media is put back into an "unreleased" state. The drive turns-off the "Open Door" LED, spools a few feet of tape back onto the take-up reel in the drive, and drops tape tension down to a minimum level. The drive cannot drop tape tension while the cartridge is unloaded, because a dropped leader may result.
    While sitting for an extended period at minimum tape tension, component temperatures drop dramatically and this drive failure mode is eliminated.

    Resulting Change to Customer:

    This means that whenever a drive has been sitting for more than 9 minutes since the unload command (for example "mt -f /dev/rmt/3 rewoffl" or "tctl -f /dev/rmt0 offline"), the operator will notice that the "Open Door" LED has turned off.
    To unload his media, the operator will now need to execute another unload command, before he is able to open the drive door and physically remove the cartridge. In most cases the best way to do this -- since the operator is standing in front of the drive anyway (to remove a tape cartridge) -- is simply to press the eject button. The tape will be unloaded, and the "Open Door" LED will be lit, almost immediately -- within about 2 seconds.

    Customers are encouraged to update to the microcode level 0255(V85) to improve their drive reliability.


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

    19P2026 19P2042 A17002A3 0235(V53) First Microcode level shipped.

    19P2026 19P2042 A17002A3 0250(V80) Fixes possible microcode download problem when a data cartridge is in the drive.
    Improved error reporting after the tape drive is cleaned.
    Improved error detection.
    Improved blank tape handling.

    19P2026 19P2042 A17002A3 0255(V85) Improves error data maintained in the drives log pages.
    Improved write error recovery.
    Improves drive power handling when the drive is idle with a cartridge loaded in the drive in the rewound condition.
    Maintain un-buffered mode if drive set to un-buffered mode.
    Improved space forward processing after a write failure.

    7337-360 DLT Library


    Table 2. Microcode History
    Tape Drive P/N Tape Drive FRU P/N Load ID Microcode Level What does this microcode change

    19P1627 19P1629 A17002A4 0235(V53) First Microcode level shipped.

    19P1627 19P1629 A17002A4 0250(V80) Fixes possible microcode download problem when a data cartridge is in the drive.
    Improved error reporting after the tape drive is cleaned.
    Improved error detection.
    Improved blank tape handling.

    19P1627 19P1629 A17002A4 0255(V85) Improves error data maintained in the drives log pages.
    Improved write error recovery.
    Improves drive power handling when the drive is idle with a cartridge loaded in the drive in the rewound condition.
    Maintain un-buffered mode if drive set to un-buffered mode.
    Improved space forward processing after a write failure.
    Improved library port command handling for the ring buffer.

    7337-360 Library Controller

    The microcode update will bring the IBM 7337-360 Library Controller up to the current level which is:
    2.67.0001

    Table 3. Microcode History
    Microcode Level What does this microcode change

    2.12.0002 First Microcode level shipped.

    2.67.0001 Fixes some causes of DLT cartridge not loading into the drive.


    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 7205-440 or the 7337-360 drive do the following AIX command:

     lscfg -vl rmt0               <--- change the drive number to reflect
                                       the actual rmt address of the 40GB
                                       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.

    7205-440 Vital Product Data

      DEVICE            LOCATION          DESCRIPTION
     
      rmt1              1P-19-00-5,0      Differential SCSI DLT Tape Drive
                                          (40000 MB)
     
            Manufacturer................QUANTUM
            Machine Type and Model......DLT8000
            Device Specific.(Z1)........0250
            Serial Number...............B02P4343
            Device Specific.(LI)........A17002A3
            Part Number.................19P2026
            FRU Number..................19P2042
            EC Level....................H27532
            Device Specific.(Z0)........0180020283000138
            Device Specific.(Z3)........
    

    Or

    7337-360 Vital Product Data

    DEVICE            LOCATION          DESCRIPTION
     
      rmt1              10-78-00-0,0      Differential SCSI DLT Tape Drive
                                         (40000 MB)
     
           Manufacturer................QUANTUM
           Machine Type and Model......DLT8000
           Device Specific.(Z1)........0250
           Serial Number...............A40P2688
           Device Specific.(LI)........A17002A4
           Part Number.................19P1627
           FRU Number..................19P1629
           EC Level....................H27531
           Device Specific.(Z0)........0180020283000138
           Device Specific.(Z3)........
    

    7337-360 Library Controller Microcode Level

    To display the level of Library Controller microcode in the 7337-360

    Press: more
    Then Press: About
    

    The resulting display will look similar to the following:

    IBM 7337 - 360
    (C) 2000 IBM
    Ser Num: 73370123456
    Version: 2.67.000`
    

    The Version is the microcode level of the library.

    Be sure to put the library back to normal mode after displaying the microcode levels.

    7337-360 Library Tape Drive Microcode Level

    To display the level of tape drive microcode in the 7337-360

    Press: Status
    Then Press: Drives
    

    The resulting display will look similar to the following:

    Drive: 01
    Type: DLT
    Ser Num: 0123456
    Version: 0235
    

    The Version is the microcode level of the tape drive.

    Be sure to put the library back to normal mode after displaying the microcode levels.


    Microcode Download

    Note: Sometimes at the completion of the download of the microcode to the tape drive the user may be told the microcode failed to download even when it successfully completed download. We are working to correct this problem but for now if you get a message that the microcode failed to download do the following:


    Power the drive or library back on and check the drives microcode level by doing the following AIX commands:
    rmdev -l rmt0
    mkdev -l rmt0
    lscfg -vl rmt0
    This will show the drives microcode level. If the current level is not shown in the drive retry the microcode download.


    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 files:


    Verifying the Microcode

    To insure the file was downloaded without error do the following AIX commands:
    cd /tmp/40GBDLT_web
    or
    cd /etc/microcode
    or
    cd /tmp

    Use the AIX command sum to get the checksum of the microcode files:
    sum DLT*

    Compare the sum you get with the sum of the file here, if they do not match recheck your steps in creating the file on the System:

    62995  1160 DLT8000.0255.A17002A3
     
    59480     1 DLT8000.0255.A17002A3.dsdata
     
    08587  1160 DLT8000.0255.A17002A4
     
    26713     1 DLT8000.0255.A17002A4.dsdata
     
    62995  1160 DLT8000.A17002A3.0255
     
    59480     1 DLT8000.A17002A3.dsdata
     
    08587  1160 DLT8000.A17002A4.0255
     
    26713     1 DLT8000.A17002A4.dsdata
     
    24403  1409 DLT8000.Controller.2.67.0001
    


    Copying Files

    If you downloaded and executed the RPM file the microcode files are in the correct directory with the correct name for AIX diagnostics to use.

    If you downloaded and executed the bin file the microcode files need to be copied to specific AIX directories. The files you copy and to what directory you copy them to will depend on what tool you are going to use to download microcode to the drive or controller with:

    The naming conventions used for the microcode and dsdata file are not the same for Genucode and the AIX diagnostics. It is necessary to copy the specific file to the specific directory depending on which program you choose to use for microcode download.

    Change to the /tmp/40GBDLT_web directory by doing the following AIX command:
    cd /tmp/40GBDLT_web

    Use the AIX command cp to copy the files to the required directory.

    The /. (slash dot) in the following commands uses the input name for the output name of the file.

    For Genucode and the 7205-440

    cp DLT8000.0255.A17002A3 /tmp/.
    cp DLT8000.0255.A17002A3.dsdata /tmp/dsdata

    For AIX Diagnostics and the 7205-440

    cp DLT8000.A17002A3.0255 /etc/microcode/.
    cp DLT8000.A17002A3.dsdata /etc/microcode/.

    For Genucode and the 7337-360

    cp DLT8000.0255.A17002A4 /tmp/.
    cp DLT8000.0255.A17002A4.dsdata /tmp/dsdata

    For AIX Diagnostics and the 7337-360

    cp DLT8000.A17002A4.0255 /etc/microcode/.
    cp DLT8000.A17002A4.dsdata /etc/microcode/.

    Checking the files

    Once you have done the copying of the files you will have the following depending if you selected a IBM 7205-440 or IBM 7337-360 or 7337-360 Controller.

    For the 7205-440:

    For the 7337-360:

    For the 7337-360 Controller:

    For use with ATAPE download of controller microcode:


    Library Controller Microcode Install using Atape

    If you are updating the microcode in the IBM 7337-360 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 7337-360 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.


    IBM 7205-440 and IBM 7337-360 Drive Microcode Install

    Note: If TSM or ADSM are installed refer to the section "For Systems where TSM/ADSM is using the 40GB DLT Drives or Library" before doing the microcode download.

    Drive Microcode Install using Genucode

    You now need to use the instructions in the GENUCODE package to complete the microcode install.

    Drive Microcode Install using AIX Diagnostics

    The restore you did previously restored the linked files to the /etc/microcode directory where the AIX diagnostics requires the files to be.

    The diag command requires that you have root authority.

    AIX Diagnostics offers 2 ways to install the tape drive microcode:

    Using AIX Diagnostics standard interface

    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.

    Using AIX Diagnostics command line input

    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)

    or

    diag -c -d rmt0 -T "download -f" (enter)
    Where the rmt is the tape drive you wish to download the microcode to.


    For Systems where TSM/ADSM is using the 40GB DLT Drives or Library

    TSM and ADSM require 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 TSM or ADSM is installed do not start them until the following steps are performed:

    Restart TSM or ADSM

    After doing the microcode update and any mkdev's or cfgmgr you should restart TSM or ADSM. 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.