README: 5GB & 7GB 8mm Microcode
This package is being provided to allow the update of older IBM 5GB & 7GB 8mm Tape Drives to the latest level of microcode that is currently shipping from IBM.
Users are be encouraged to install the latest microcode level
themselves. The microcode and instructions are available
at the IBM web site:
download.html
All levels of AIX that this product was announced on.
The typical time to install this microcode is .3 hrs.
The microcode becomes active when installed and does not require a
system reboot to become active.
Yes, but the tape drive must be available with no tape in the drive, and no other processing running to the tape drive.
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 of microcode
you must use the AIX rmdev and mkdev commands.
In order to complete the microcode download to the tape drive you will need to use the AIX diagnostics.
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 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.
Uses a microcode file with the name of:
IBM-8505.00000001.807A
The current level of microcode is:
807A
| Tape Drive P/N | Tape Drive FRU P/N | Microcode Level | What does this microcode change
|
|---|---|---|---|
| 21F8650 | 17G1715 | 463A | First Microcode level shipped.
|
| 46G2665 | 17G1715 | 46LA | Provides support for updated drive hardware.
|
| 8181044 | 8191945 | 520A | Fixes time out(TAPE_ERR4).
|
| 8191044 | 87G1631 | 6D0A | Fixes cause for TAPE_ERR2(Fault Symptom Code 8C) and a time out.
|
| 8191044 | 87G1687 | 6S0A | Support for new cleaning algorithm.
|
| 8191044 | 21H5151 | 7A0A | Fixes cause for TAPE_ERR2(Fault Symptom Code 8C) and a time out.
|
| 8191044 | 21H5151 | 7J0A | Hardware error detection enhanced.
|
| 8191044 | 59H3159 | 7R0A | Fixes compression error.
|
| 8191044 | 59H3159 | 7Z0A | Fixes cleaning indication.
|
| 8191044 | 59H3159 | 807A | Enhances fixes for causes of "STUCK TAPE" by
exercising the tape drive motors when there are long periods of
inactivity and with no tape in the tape drive.
|
Uses a microcode file with the name of:
IBM-8505.00000001.807A
The current level of microcode is:
807A
| Tape Drive P/N | Tape Drive FRU P/N | Microcode Level | What does this microcode change
|
|---|---|---|---|
| 16G8493 | 16G8492 | 520A | First Microcode level shipped.
|
| 16G8493 | 87G1632 | 6D0A | Fixes cause for TAPE_ERR2(Fault Symptom Code 8C) and a time out.
|
| 16G8493 | 87G1632 | 6S0A | Support for new cleaning algorithm.
|
| 16G8493 | 21H5152 | 7A0A | Fixes cause for TAPE_ERR2(Fault Symptom Code 8C) and a time out.
|
| 16G8493 | 21H5152 | 7J0A | Hardware error detection enhanced.
|
| 16G8493 | 59H3160 | 7R0A | Fixes compression error.
|
| 16G8493 | 59H3160 | 7Z0A | Fixes cleaning indication.
|
| 16G8493 | 59H3160 | 807A | Enhances fixes for causes of "STUCK TAPE" by
exercising the tape drive motors when there are long periods of
inactivity and with no tape in the tape drive.
|
Uses a microcode file with the name of:
IBM-85XL.02028300.807A
The current level of microcode is:
807A
| Tape Drive P/N | Tape Drive FRU P/N | Microcode Level | What does this microcode change
|
|---|---|---|---|
| 8193841 | 8193842 | 6S0A | First Microcode level shipped.
|
| 8193841 | 8193842 | 7J0A | Hardware error detection enhanced.
|
| 8193841 | 59H3161 | 7R0A | Fixes compression error.
|
| 8193841 | 59H3161 | 7Z0A | Fixes cleaning indication.
|
| 8193841 | 59H3161 | 807A | Enhances fixes for causes of "STUCK TAPE" by
exercising the tape drive motors when there are long periods of
inactivity and with no tape in the tape drive.
|
To determine if your machine(s) has one of these level tape
drives, type the command on an AIX prompt:
lscfg -vl rmt* | pg
* The "*" will show the Vital Product Data for
all tape drives that are in the available state.
The response to this will be:
Machine type and model ...... IBM-8505 or IBM-85XL
Device Specific(Z1) ......... 807A
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.
Note: The copy command copies the microcode file to the /etc/microcode directory with the same name when you use the period(.) after the /etc/microcode/.
There are 2 ways to do the microcode download using the AIX diagnostics.
To use the AIX 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.
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)