README: 80GB DAT160 Tape Drive Microcode


Table of Contents

README: 80GB DAT160 Tape Drive Microcode

  • Date: May 27, 2008
  • Version: WS11
  • 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
  • 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
  • Updating the microcode in the drive
  • Copy Dsdata and Microcode to appropriate directory
  • To use AIX Diagnostics

  • README: 80GB DAT160 Tape Drive Microcode

    Date: May 27, 2008

    Version: WS11


    General information

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

    This package is being provided to allow the update of older 80GB DAT160 Tape Drive Microcode Tape Drives to the latest level of microcode that is currently shipping from IBM.

    Users are responsible install the latest microcode level.
    The microcode and instructions are available at the IBM external web site:
    http://www14.software.ibm.com/webapp/set2/firmware/gjsn


    Operating System levels supported:

    All levels of AIX that this product was announced on.


    Installation Time:

    The typical time to install this microcode is .2 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.


    Microcode Download information:

    In order to complete the microcode download to the tape drive you will need to use the AIX diagnostics.
    The AIX diagnostic package 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 Diagnostics.


    Additional Cautions

    Remove any tape cartridge from the drive prior to attempting the microcode download.
    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.


    Machines Affected:

    All pSeries systems 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 80GB DAT160 tape drive up to the current level of microcode which is:
    WS11

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

    23R9722 23R9723 WS10 A1700D60 May 6, 2008 First Microcode level shipped.

    23R9722 23R9723 WS11 A1700D60 May 27, 2008 Request cleaning when a bad tape fails to load.
    Improve Reset and Abort handling.
    Fix causes of read and read filemark errors.
    Change to not eject tapes in a drive when microcode download is done. (This will take effect after the microcode is downloaded)


    Display Microcode Level

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

    To display the level of microcode in the 80GB DAT160 tape drive do the following AIX command:

     lscfg -vl rmt0               <--- change the drive number to reflect
                                       the actual rmt address of the 800GB
                                       Half High DAT160 tape drive.
    

    The output of the lscfg command will look like the following with the:

    rmt0  U787A.001.DPM0LVZ-P1-C1-T1-L0-L0  SAS 4mm Tape Drive (80000 MB)
     
            Manufacturer................IBM
            Machine Type and Model......DDS Gen6
            Device Specific.(Z1)........WS11
            Serial Number...............1801GZ..
            Device Specific.(LI)........A1700D60
            Part Number.................23R9722
            FRU Number..................23R9723
            EC Level....................H82479
            Device Specific.(Z0)........0180030283001000
            Device Specific.(Z3)........L1
    


    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:


    Updating the microcode in the drive

    You need to determine how you are going to download the microcode:

    AIX diagnostics naming and supported directory for the microcode and dsdata file.

    Copy Dsdata and Microcode to appropriate directory

    Copy the Dsdata and Microcode files to appropriate directory for use by AIX diagnostics.

    Note: The copy command copies the file to the new directory with the same name when you use the period(.) after new directory name.

    For AIX Diagnostics

    If you downloaded the RPM file and executed it the microcode is in the correct directory with the correct name for AIX diagnostic use.
    If you downloaded the .bin file and executed it then you need to do the following AIX commands:

    cd /tmp/DAT160_web
     
    cp DDS_Gen6.A1700D60.dsdata /etc/microcode/.
     
    cp DDS_Gen6.A1700D60.WS11   /etc/microcode/.
    

    To use AIX Diagnostics

    There are 2 ways to do the microcode download using the AIX diagnostics.

    Using the AIX Diagnostics menu

    To use the AIX Diagnostics menu for microcode download do the following:

    Note: There are differences between AIX levels of AIX Diagnostics. In some cases the step after Task selection is Microcode Tools, or Download Microcode. The following steps are general instructions to download microcode.
    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

    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 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.

    Note: If the microcode download fails install:

     
    diag -c -d rmt0 -T "download" (enter)

    or

    diag -c -d rmt0 -T "download -f" (enter)