IBM eServer
Microcode survey and update tools
for p5, pSeries, RS/6000, OpenPower and i5 systems
IBM provides service tools that can assist you in determining microcode levels and updating systems with the latest available microcode. This document describes those tools, along with tables to help you decide which tool to use. After you read the descriptions of the tools, you can use the tables to determine which tool to use in your environment.
 Microcode packages not detectable by Inventory Scout and MDS
  How to determine which tool to use
 Microcode Discovery Service (Web-based and CD-ROM based)
  Microcode Update Tool (WebSM)
  Microcode Update Files and Discovery Tool CD-ROM
 Microcode packages not detectable by Inventory Scout and MDS
Following is a list of microcode packages that the Microcode Discovery Service is unable to match with a device. Please note that these are undetectable microcode packages. Even if your system is in this list you can still run the Microcode Discovery Tool on that system to detect the microcode packages for other devices.
Please check to see if any of the packages below are installed in your system(s). If it appears that your device is listed, you will need to manually copy and install the files to your system:
System Microcode Description
7025-F40
7026-H10
7043-140
7043-240
7247-821/822/823 ThinkPad-820
6040-821/822/823 ThinkPad-820
7249-851 ThinkPad-850
6042-851 ThinkPad-850
7596-001 AIX Server Module
Service Processor Microcode
7024-E30
7025-F30
7025-F40
7026-H10
Adapter Microcode
10/100 Mbps Ethernet PCI Adapter II(FC 4962)
Auto Token-Ring LAN Streamer MC 32 (FC 2972)
SysKonnect SK-NET-FDDI-PCI (FC 2741,2742,2743)
SSA MCA Enhanced RAID Adapter (FC 6219)
SSA MCA RAID Adapter (FC 6217)
SSA PCI Enhanced RAID Adapter (FC 6215,6219)
SSA PCI RAID Adapter (FC 6218)
SSA MCA 4-Port Adapter (FC 6214)
SSA Enhanced Microchannel Adapter (FC 6216)
DASD Microcode
SSA Disk Drive (DGHC)
SSA Disk Drive (DRHC)
SSA Disk Drive (DRVC)
SSA Disk Drive ST37340
SSA Disk Drive ST31830
SSA Disk Drive ST33660
SSA Disk Drive (UCPR)
Tape Drive Microcode
8mm Tape Library (7334-410)
VXA 80GB Tape Drive (7206-VX2)
Other Code
CD-ROM Drive 32X
 How to determine which tool to use
Use the information in the following tables to determine which tools to use in your environment. If you have a graphics display WITH a browser, refer to the first table. If you have a graphics display WITHOUT a browser or a text-only display, refer to the second table.
 If you have a graphics display WITH a browser
 And  And you have AIX  Use
Internet 5100-4 ML or
5200-2 ML or later		 Microcode Update Tool to acquire microcode level information and update files from the Internet
  V4 at 4.1.5 or later
V5.1 at less than
  AIX 5100-4 ML
V5.2 at less than
  AIX 5200-2 ML		 Microcode Discovery Service from the internet
  Below oslevel 4.1.5 "Manually copy microcode files" and installation from diskette or Microcode Update Files and Discovery Tool CD-ROM
No internet 5100-06 ML or
5200-02 ML or later		 Microcode Update Tool to acquire microcode level information and update files from the Microcode Update Files and Discovery Tool CD-ROM
  V5.2 at less than
 AIX 5200-02 ML
V4 at 4.1.5 or later
V5.1 at less than
 AIX 5100-04 ML
V5.2 at less than
 AIX 5200-02 ML		 Microcode Discovery Service from the Microcode Update Files and Discovery Tool CD-ROM using the Java applet format.
  below 4.1.5 "Manually copy microcode files" and installation from diskette or the Microcode Update Files and Discovery Tool CD-ROM

 If you have a graphic display WITHOUT a browser or a text-only display
 And you have AIX  Use
4.3.3 or later Microcode Discovery Service from Microcode Update Files and Discovery Tool CD-ROM, using the AIX command-line format
Below 4.3.3 "Manually copy microcode files" and installation from diskette or the Microcode Update Files and Discovery Tool CD-ROM
 Microcode Discovery Service (MDS)
Microcode Discovery Service (MDS) is provided as both an Internet and a CD-ROM based service. MDS captures your machine data in order to:
  • Determine the microcode levels installed on your system
  • Compare the levels on your system with the latest levels available from IBM
  • Generate a comparison report listing microcode subsystems that may need to be updated
The Internet MDS service compares the microcode levels to those on the Download microcode web page. The report generated by this service provides a link to retrieve the latest levels from the Download microcode web page. The CD-based service on the Microcode Update Files and Discovery Tool CD-ROM compares levels to the microcode on that CD-ROM. The CD-based report provides a link to retrieve microcode from that same CD-ROM.
For some older microcode, you may be directed to contact your Service Representative for assistance in obtaining the microcode update.
To use Microcode Discovery Service, a service tool called Inventory Scout must be installed on your system. Inventory Scout runs on AIX Version 4.1.5 and higher. The software can be downloaded from the Web or installed from the AIX 4.3.3 or higher product update media.
For more information visit the Internet or CD-based microcode discovery service.
 Microcode Update Tool
The Microcode Update Tool performs the following tasks:
  • Surveys the microcode levels installed on your system
  • Compares these levels with the latest levels available from either the Internet or from the Microcode Update files and Discovery Tool CD-ROM.
  • Retrieves the microcode from any of the following: the Internet; the Microcode Update files and Discovery Tool CD-ROM; or an FTP server on your network, to which the microcode files have been copied.
  • For systems announced after December 2001, this tool also updates the microcode on your system to the latest level.
For some older microcode, you may be directed to contact your Service Representative for assistance in obtaining the microcode update
The Microcode Update Tool is available with AIX 5100-4 ML and higher and AIX 5200-2ML and higher. It is a WebSM graphical interface to Inventory Scout Version 2. The tool uses Inventory Scout Version 2 to provide full microcode management capability, including microcode installation. To access the WebSM interface:
  1. Install the invscout.websm fileset.
  2. Run the following command:
    websm /usr/bin/wsm
  3. Select the WebSM Microcode Updates icon, and then follow the instructions on the interface.
 Microcode Update Files and Discovery Tool CD-ROM
For systems not connected to the Internet, a CD-ROM called Microcode Update Files and Discovery Tool is available containing
  • Microcode for all IBM-supported systems and devices
  • Microcode Discovery Service
The levels of microcode that are on the CD-ROM are the latest levels available on the date that the CD is created.
There are two ways to access the microcode update files on this CD:
  • Use the Microcode Update Tool (WebSM), which provides full microcode management capability, including installation, and can access the update files on the CD instead of accessing them on the Internet.
  • Use the Microcode Discovery Service application on the CD to determine the microcode levels installed on your system and compare these levels with the latest levels available on the CD. The Microcode Discovery Service will then transfer to your local disk the microcode that you choose to upgrade.
The Microcode Update files and Discovery Tool CD-ROM is available as a download from the microcode download website, or by contacting the software or hardware support center to request the tool on physical media.
For more information, visit the CD-based microcode discovery service.