README: 60GB 8mm Tape Drive Microcode


Table of Contents

README: 60GB 8mm Tape Drive Microcode

  • Date: April 16, 2004
  • Version: 07wR
  • General information
  • Operating System levels supported:
  • Installation Time:
  • Can microcode be installed Concurrently?
  • Is system reboot needed to activate the microcode
  • Microcode Download information:
  • Additional Cautions
  • Machines Affected:
  • Microcode History
  • Display Microcode Level
  • Multiple Microcode Downloads Required
  • 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
  • Decide Method of Updating the Microcode
  • Installing Microcode Files with AIX Diagnostics
  • Copying Microcode files
  • Installing Both Microcode Files with AIX Diagnostics
  • Installing the Mammoth2 Microcode with AIX Diagnostics
  • Installing Microcode Files with Genucode
  • Installing Both Microcode Files with Genucode
  • Installing the Mammoth2 Microcode File only with Genucode
  • How to Use AIX 5.1 Diagnostics Microcode Download

  • README: 60GB 8mm Tape Drive Microcode

    Date: April 16, 2004

    Version: 07wR


    General information

    ******* Please read this entire notice *********

    This package is being provided to allow the update of older IBM 60GB 8mm Tape Drives to the latest 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


    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. But to have the Vital Product Data show the new level you must use the AIX rmdev and mkdev commands.


    Microcode Download information:

    In order to complete the microcode download to the tape drive you will need to use the AIX 5.1 diagnostics and higher, or the Genucode program. If the system does not have the AIX 5.1, or later, diagnostics you will need to get the Genucode package from the WEB.
    For both the AIX diagnostic package or for Genucode you will need the microcode and dsdata files in this package.
    This tape drive package will get you to step where you will need to use the AIX 5.1 and higher Diagnostics or Genucode to download the microcode into the tape drive.


    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 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 60GB 8mm tape drive up to the current level which is:
    07wR

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

    19P0692 19P0708 02pR A1700295 First Microcode level shipped.

    19P0692 19P0708 02sR A1700295 Fixes failure on diagnostics when diagnostics was run multiple times.
    Changes the time for the "Clean Soon" message and the Cleaning Amber LED coming on from 140 tape motion hours to 100.
    Adds message to messages displayed "Worn Tape"(a tape that exceeds 20,000 passes over any one spot on the tape).

    19P0692 19P0708 03cR A1700295 Fixes one cause of Tape_Err2(Fault Symptom Code 8C) Machine type changes from IBM-60GB to Mammoth2

    19P0692 19P0708 03nR A1700295 Fixes one cause of Tape_Err2(Fault Symptom Code 8C).

    19P0692 19P0708 03rR A1700295 Improves Mammoth2(60GB 8mm) read time of Mammoth1(20GB 8mm) written tapes.

    19P0692 19P0708 03sR A1700295 Fixes one cause of Tape_Err2(Fault Symptom Code 8C).
    Fixes AIX diagnostics indicating a drive failure when the tape drive was tested under AIX diagnostics and the diagnostic test was done without using the test tape.

    19P0692 19P0708 07nR A1700295 Time between cleanings now 30 tape motion hours.
    Drive will now eject tape if the tape path internally in the drive exceeds 47 degrees C. The drive will display a message indicating "OVER TEMP".
    Improved reading of Mammoth 1 written tapes.
    Fixes several causes of Tape_Err2(Fault Symptom Code 8C).

    19P0692 19P0708 07pR A1700295 Change some Mammoth1 media errors sense data to properly indicate a media error (sense key 03) instead of a hardware error(sense key 04).
    Improved rejection of unsupported tape cartridges(VXA).
    Improved end of tape handling on 22m Mammoth1 tape cartridges.

    19P0692 19P0708 07uR A1700295 Changed some sense data error reporting on Read/Write errors to more correctly report the type of failure.
    Use "Active Negation" when the tape drive operates in Single Ended(SE) mode. This may reduce the chance of SCSI errors on very active SCSI busses.
    Corrected some causes of Fault Symptom Code(FSC) "8C", Controller firmware logic error, involving SmartClean.

    19P0692 19P0708 07wR A1700295 Improves the tape buffer handling when data is in the compressed mode. A reliability improvement when data compression is enabled (changes to the code decrease the number of start/stops resulting in less stress on the reel servo mechanism and on tape).


    Display Microcode Level

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

    To display the level of microcode in the 60GB 8mm tape drive do the following AIX command:

     lscfg -vl rmt0               <--- change the drive number to reflect
                                       the actual rmt address of the 60GB
                                       8mm tape drive.
    

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

      DEVICE            LOCATION          DESCRIPTION
     
      rmt0              00-00-01-0,0      Differential SCSI 8mm Tape Drive
                                          (60000 MB)
     
            Manufacturer................EXABYTE
            Machine Type and Model......IBM-60GB
            Device Specific.(Z1)........02pR
            Serial Number...............62019643
            Device Specific.(LI)........A1700295
            Part Number.................19P0692
            FRU Number..................19P0708
            EC Level....................H27309
            Device Specific.(Z0)........0180020283000030
            Device Specific.(Z3)........
     
      OR
     
      rmt0              00-00-01-0,0      Differential SCSI 8mm Tape Drive
                                          (60000 MB)
     
            Manufacturer................EXABYTE
            Machine Type and Model......Mammoth2
            Device Specific.(Z1)........07wR
            Serial Number...............62019643
            Device Specific.(LI)........A1700295
            Part Number.................19P0692
            FRU Number..................19P0708
            EC Level....................H27309
            Device Specific.(Z0)........0180020283000030
            Device Specific.(Z3)........
    


    Multiple Microcode Downloads Required

    The Machine Type and Model change from IBM-60GB to Mammoth2 starting with the 03cR level of microcode.

            Machine Type and Model......Mammoth2
    

    If the Machine Type and Model do not show Mammoth2 it will be necessary to do two(2) microcode downloads to the tape drive. This is necessary because AIX Diagnostics and Genucode check the Machine Type and Model as part of the verification for microcode download to the tape drive.

    To determine which microcode file must be installed do the following:

    Issue the AIX command:
    lscfg -vl rmt0

            Manufacturer................EXABYTE
            Machine Type and Model......IBM-60GB
            Device Specific.(Z1)........02pR
            Serial Number...............62019643
            Device Specific.(LI)........A1700295
            Part Number.................19P0692
            FRU Number..................19P0708
            EC Level....................H27309
            Device Specific.(Z0)........0180020283000030
            Device Specific.(Z3)........
    

    If the Machine Type and Model has IBM-60GB then it is necessary to install both:

    If the Machine Type and Model has Mammoth2 then it is only necessary to install only:


    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:


    Decide Method of Updating the Microcode

    Installing Microcode Files with AIX Diagnostics

    To update the microcode using the AIX diagnostics it is necessary to copy the files to the /etc/microcode directory as AIX diagnostics only looks for microcode in the /etc/microcode directory.

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

    Copying Microcode files

    Installing Both Microcode Files with AIX Diagnostics

    To install both microcode files use the following instructions:

    Installing the Mammoth2 Microcode with AIX Diagnostics

    If the tape drive Machine Type and Model already is Mammoth2 then it is necessary to install only the new Mammoth 2 microcode file.


    Installing Microcode Files with Genucode

    Installing Both Microcode Files with Genucode

    The dsdata file for the IBM-60GB and Mammoth2 microcode files are unique to each microcode file, it is necessary to copy the particular microcode file and its associated dsdata file to the /tmp directory just prior to running genucode for that microcode file.

    Installing the Mammoth2 Microcode File only with Genucode

    If the tape drive Machine Type and Model already is Mammoth2 then it is only necessary to install the new microcode file.


    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)