README: 7207-012 1.2GB 1/4" Tape Drive Microcode

Table of Contents

README: 7207-012 1.2GB 1/4" Tape Drive Microcode

README: 7207-012 1.2GB 1/4" Tape Drive Microcode

Version: I09.32 and I09:32

Date: December 23, 2002

General information

Subject: IBM 7207-012 1.2GB 1/4" Tape Drive Microcode

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

This package is being provided to allow the update of older IBM 7207-012 1.2GB 1/4" Tape Drives to the latest level of microcode that is currently shipping from IBM.

Customer install

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

Notice:

This is a re-release of the microcode. The microcode is the same as released in February 1997.

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.

Additional Cautions

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

Table 1. Microcode History

Tape Drive P/N	Tape Drive FRU P/N	Microcode Level	What does this microcode change
46G2688	46G2689	I04:38	First Microcode level shipped.
16G8598	21H5155	I07:03	Microcode changes to support changes in the drive hardware.
16G8598	21H5155	I07:24	Fixes possible tape drive memory error.
16G8598	21H5155	I09.23 or I09:23	Dry cleaning cartridge support enhanced. Enhanced Read/Write error handling.
16G8598	21H5155	I09.32 or I09:32	Further enhanced Read/Write error handling of marginal tapes.

Determine the Current Microcode level

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 output of the command have the combined Z1 and Z2 fields showing the microcode level of the drive.

  DEVICE            LOCATION          DESCRIPTION
 
  rmt1              00-00-01-5,0      1.2 GB 1/4-Inch Tape Drive
 
        Manufacturer................TANDBERG
        Machine Type and Model...... IBM 4100
        Part Number.................46G2703
        EC Level....................896742
        Device Specific.(Z0)........018002022E000008
        Device Specific.(Z1)........I09.
or
        Device Specific.(Z1)........I09:
        Device Specific.(Z2)........32

Download the Microcode from the IBM Web site

Download the microcode file to the system you are going to install the microcode on.

• Download the microcode, in binary, to the /tmp directory as the instructions assume this is the directory the microcode was downloaded to.
• Make the download file executable by doing the following AIX commands:
  cd /tmp
  chmod +x 7207012.bin
• Execute the binary file which will create the directory:
  7207012_web
• Change to the directory just built:
  cd 7207012_web
• The directory will contain the following files:
  • 7207-012.README
  • IBM-4100.A0B00E10.0724
• AIX diagnostics requires the microcode file to be in the /etc/microcode directory. You must copy the file from the /tmp/7207012_web directory to the /etc/microcode directory using the AIX command:
  cp IBM-4100.A0B00E10.0724 /etc/microcode/IBM-4100.A0B00E10.0724

Installing the microcode in the tape drive

Note: Previously installed microcode not on the system

The AIX diagnostics will look for earlier versions of microcode on the device you chose for the install. When you see the message from the AIX diagnostics about download microcode without the previous level present reply to the prompt to continue with the install even though the previous level of microcode is not available on the system.

To start the install enter the following AIX command:
diag

Select Service Aids
Select Microcode Download
Follow the instructions.

Vital Product Data(VPD)

To have the tape drive VPD data show the current level of microcode just installed in the drive do the following AIX commands:
rmdev -l rmtx <--where x is the drive number
mkdev -l rmtx <--where x is the drive number