*IBM pSeries Servers* *Microcode Update for Cheetah 15K4 * *Model ST3xxxx54LC; 36/73/146 GB* *SCSI Hard Disk Drive* *Microcode Level C71F* DATE: May 14, 2007 *Table of Contents* 1. General Information <#_Toc96833341> 1.1 Disk Drives Affected <#_Toc96833342> 1.2 Microcode Change History <#_Toc96833343> 2. AIX Operating System <#_Toc96833344> 2.1 Installation Time <#_Toc96833345> 2.2 Determine Drive Model, FRU&PN and Current Microcode Level <#_Toc96833346> 2.2.2 SCSI Drives attached to PCI SCSI RAID Controllers <#_Toc96833347> 2.3 Transferring and Unpacking the Microcode Update Package <#_Toc96833348> 2.3.1 Internet AIX self extracting file (.bin) <#_Toc96833349> 2.3.2 Internet RPM package <#_Toc96833350> 2.3.3 CD-ROM <#_Toc96833351> 2.4 Microcode Download Procedure <#_Toc96833352> 2.4.1 SCSI Drives Attached to SCSI Adapter <#_Toc96833353> 2.4.2 SCSI Drives Attached to PCI RAID Adapter <#_Toc96833354> 3. Linux Operating System <#_Toc96833356> 3.1 Linux 2.6 kernel(such as SuSE SLES 9 or RHEL 4) <#_Toc96833357> 3.2 RHEL 3 <#_Toc96833358> 3.3 SLES 8 SP4 <#_Toc96833359> *4. Code level C716 Format Problem description and recovery procedure <#_4._Code_level>* *===============================================================* 1. General Information The Microcode files provided in this package are *only* for use when installing disk drive microcode to a disk drive installed in a pSeries Server using the AIX or Linux Operating System.** 1.1 Disk Drives Affected Below is the list of microcode files in this package, these files are for use with the following pSeries SCSI hard disk drive ONLY: NOTE: To insure the integrity of microcode files, please check the checksum value of each file after extraction Size Disk Drive Model FRU# P/N (VPD) Microcode File Name Checksum Comment -------- --------------------- ----------- ------------- ------------------------------------- ---------- ----------------------------------------- 36GB ST336754LC 00P2693 26K5278 ST33675.53413030.43373146 37256 (80 pin-U320 Carrier) 36GB ST336754LC 03N6340 26K5530 ST33675.53533030.43373146 37256 (80 pin-U320-RoHS) 36GB ST336754LC 00P2697 26K5279 ST33675.53413031.43373146 37256 (80 pin-Scallop Carrier) 36GB ST336754LC 80P6324 26K5254 ST33675.53483030.43373146 37256 (80 pin-U320-HV) 36GB ST336754LC 03N6342 26K5570 ST33675.53533030.43373146 37256 (80 pin-U320-HV-RoHS) 73GB ST373454LC 00P2685 26K5280 ST37345.53413030.43373146 37256 (80 pin-U320 Carrier) 73GB ST373454LC 03N6345 26K5531 ST37345.53533030.43373146 37256 (80 pin-U320 Carrier-RoHS) 73GB ST373454LC 00P2689 26K5281 ST37345.53413031.43373146 37256 (80 pin-Scallop Carrier) 73GB ST373454LC 80P6325 26K5255 ST37345.53483030.43373146 37256 (80 pin-U320-HV) 73GB ST373454LC 03N6347 26K5571 ST37345.53533030.43373146 37256 (80 pin-U320-HV-RoHS) 146GB ST3146854LC 80P3402 26K5282 ST31468.53413030.43373146 37256 (80 pin-U320 Carrier) 146GB ST3146854LC 03N6350 26K5532 ST31468.53533030.43373146 37256 (80 pin-U320-RoHS) 146GB ST3146854LC 80P3412 26K5256 ST31468.53483030.43373146 37256 (80 pin-U320-HV) 146GB ST3146854LC 03N6352 26K5572 ST31468.53533030.43373146 37256 (80 pin-U320-HV-RoHS) 1.2 Microcode Change History *Release date* *Code level* *Change Description* May 14, 2007 C71F Read/write performance enhancement for very large file transfers April 20, 2006 C71A Changed ?read look ahead? routine to improve drive?s read performance in certain applications. The specific application does what is called disk "stride" or ?skip? read; example of striding is to read 4KBytes of data, skip the next 4Kbytes, read the following 4KBytes, and so on. This change does not effect normal ?random? or ?sequential? read performance November 15, 2005 C719 Fixed a microcode bug that in rare situations causes drive to report un-recovered read errors, also includes other minor fixes and enhancements. August, 2005 C717 Fixed format problem, problem description and work around procedure is explained in section 4 below. July, 2005 C716 Initial Release =============================================================== 2. AIX Operating System 2.1 Installation Time /Approximately 20 minutes if drive is part of rootvg(using Diagnostics CD); Approximately 5 minutes/drive if drive is not part of rootvg(using concurrent diagnostics)./ 2.2 Determine Drive Model, FRU&PN and Current Microcode Level 2.2.1 SCSI Drives attached to SCSI Controllers and PCI-X RAID Adapters To see the drive type and current microcode level, Execute the following command: lscfg -vl hdisk* |pg ; For drives NOT configured for RAID lscfg ?vl pdisk* |pg ; For drives configured for RAID DEVICE LOCATION DESCRIPTION hdisk1 U0.1-P1/Z1-A5 16 Bit LVD SCSI Disk Drive (36400 MB) Manufacturer................IBM Machine Type and Model......ST336754LC FRU Number..................00P2693 ROS Level and ID............*43373146* Serial Number...............000004BC EC Level....................H13092 Part Number.................26K5278 Device Specific.(Z0)........000004129F00013E Device Specific.(Z1)........0721*C71F* Device Specific.(Z2)........0002 Device Specific.(Z3)........02312 Device Specific.(Z4)........0001 Device Specific.(Z5)........22 Device Specific.(Z6)........H13092 Brand....................... If the data returned in the ?Part Number?, ?FRU Number?, and ?Machine Type and Model? fields match the one listed in section 1.1 AND the "ROS Level and ID...." field of that data is below "*43373146*", this microcode applies. If this level is already installed then the "ROS Level and ID...." shows: "*43373146*" *Note*: Drive microcode level in ?ROS Level and ID ?? field is displayed in Hex value of ASCII characters in VPD data. Each alpha-numeric ASCII character converts to a 2-digit hex number. For example in VPD displayed above, 33 Hex= ASCII character "*C*"; 37Hex= ASCII character "*7*"; 31 Hex=ASCII character "*1*"; 46 Hex=ASCII character "*F*", microcode level is "*C71F*". Also note that the microcode level "*C71F*" is displayed in ?Z1? field. 2.2.2 SCSI Drives attached to PCI SCSI RAID Controllers At AIX command line, type: Diag Select "Task Selection" from diagnostics menu. Select "PCI RAID Physical Disk Identify" Select SCSI RAID Adapter (press enter, then F7 to Commit) This will display the Vital Product Data for Physical Disk drives attached to the RAID adapter. =============================================================== 2.3 Transferring and Unpacking the Microcode Update Package 2.3.1 Internet AIX self extracting file (.bin) a) Make a directory on an AIX system to receive the AIX format file. Enter: mkdir /tmp/fwupdate b) Transfer the AIX format file to /tmp/fwupdate directory (using "Save as ..."). You'll see the filename is CH15K4.bin c) Unpack the file by executing the instructions below. Enter the commands: cd /tmp/fwupdate chmod +x CH15K4.bin ./CH15K4.bin [Don't overlook the periods (.) in the above command.] The directory CH15K4 with microcode files listed in section 1.1 will be added to /tmp/fwupdate. d-Enter the following command to copy the microcode files to " /etc/microcode " directory : cp /tmp/fwupdate/CH15K4/ST3* /etc/microcode e- If transferring files to a different system using floppy diskettes, use the following procedure to copy files to diskette Note: Don't overlook the complete path of microcode files, AIX Diag microcode download _will not work if files are not copied with complete path onto the diskette_. Enter the following command to copy microcode file(s) onto a floppy diskette ls /etc/microcode/ microcodefilename | backup -ivf /dev/rfd0 where microcodefilename is microcode file that is needed, for example: ls /etc/microcode/ ST33675.53413030.43373146 | backup -ivf /dev/rfd0 2.3.2 Internet RPM package *Note:* The instructions that follow are specific AIX commands. AIX commands are CASE (lower and upper) SENSITIVE, and */must/* be entered exactly as shown, including filenames. a) Make a directory on an AIX system to receive the RPM format file. Enter: mkdir /tmp/microcode b) Transfer the RPM format file to the /tmp/microcode directory (using "Save as ..."). You'll see the filename is *CH15K4-C71F-AIX.rpm* c) Unpack the file by executing the instructions below: Enter the commands: *rpm -ihv ?ignoreos CH15K4-C71F-AIX.rpm* The file size and checksum will be verified. The microcode files will be added to /etc/microcode/ 2.3.3 CD-ROM Copy microcode updates from the CD-ROM to standard locations on your local disk: 1. RPM packaged microcode files will be copied to "/tmp/microcode/RPM" 2. Microcode files will be copied to /usr/lib/microcode *Notes:* - "/etc/microcode" is a symbolic link to "/usr/lib/microcode". - If permission does not allow the copy to the above stated directory or file then the user will be prompted for a new location. *========================================================* 2.4 Microcode Download Procedure 2.4.1 SCSI Drives Attached to SCSI Adapter /Warning:/ Do not power off the system or the drive during microcode download as this may permanently damage the disk drive *NOTE:* Please save current and older versions of the microcode update files in case you need to restore your system. /Caution:/ The microcode download process is nondestructive to the hard disks; however, as a precaution, ensure that a backup operation has been performed on the affected systems PRIOR to the microcode installation. /Can microcode be installed Concurrently?/ AIX level 5.1 and above supports concurrent microcode download on all drives, including drives that are part of rootvg. AIX level 4.33 and below does not support concurrent microcode download if drive is part of rootvg, microcode download can ONLY be performed in service mode(stand alone) using diagnostics CD. If disk is not part of rootvg, microcode download can be performed cuncurrently as long as drive is not in use. /Is system reboot needed to activate the microcode: /Yes if stand alone diagnostics is used, NO if concurrent diagnostics is used. /Installation Time: /Approximately 20 minutes/drive if stand alone diagnostics is used(using Diagnostics CD); Approximately 5 minutes/drive if consurrent diagnostics is used. 2.4.1.1 AIX level 5.1 and above 2.4.1.2.1 Concurrent Download 1. Type diag at the prompt. 2. Select the "Task Selection" from diagnostics menu. 3. Select "Microcode Download" from "Task Selection" menu. 4. Select resource that microcode will be applied to(hdisk? For physical disk, pdisk for RAID configured disks) and press ENTER, then press "F7" to commit.. 5- A small screen displays the message " *** NOTICE*** The microcode installation occurs while the attached drives are available for use..... " Press enter to continue 6. Select the source for microcode, use arrow key to go up/down, Enter to continue. /etc/microcode diskette - Use /etc/microcode if "restore" command is used to copy files from diskette onto the disk - Use diskette if using diskette as the source for download NOTE: A prompt will ask you to insert the microcode diskette in diskette drive(if Diskette is selected above). Insert the diskette and press ENTER 7- Display shows a list of microcode files available for the selected drive, highlight option "M ST3xx...", the latest microcode for the drive and press ENTER. A message may warn you that current level of microcode is not available on the media, press ENTER to continue. 8. You will receive a msg. "Current Microcode is...." and "Download has completed successfully" (this may take a few minutes) 9. Return to the Tasks Selection menu and repeat this procedure for each hard disk that requires this microcode. 10. Exit diagnostic(and reboot if needed). 2.4.1.2 AIX level 4.33: This procedure is for drives that are not part of rootvg or paging space: 1. This step is optional. Microcode download can be performed either from Diskette or from Disk. To copy files from the diskette to disk, place the diskette containing microcode files into diskette drive A, at AIX Prompt type restore 2- At AIX prompt, type diag 3. Select the "Task Selection" from diagnostics menu. 4. Select "Microcode Download" from "Task Selection" menu. 5. Select resource that microcode will be applied to(hdisk?) and press ENTER. 6. Press "F7" to commit. (The current microcode level of the resource you selected earlier will be displayed at the top of the screen) 7. Make the following selections on the next screen: Select Input Device --------------------------------------- [ diskette] <---------- Disk can be used if "restore" command is used in step 1 Microcode level to download ----------------------------- [ latest] Download latest level even if ------------------------------ [ yes] current is missing NOTE: A prompt will ask you to insert the microcode diskette into the floppy drive(if Diskette is selected above). Insert the diskette which accompanies these instructions. If this level is already installed in the drive you've selected a message will let you know. A message also may come up to let you know that the Diskette(or Disk) does not have the previous level microcode file. This is true and is not required to complete the download. PRESS "F7" to commit 8. You will receive a msg. "Current Microcode is....and...Download has completed successfully" (this may take a few minutes) 9. Return to the Tasks Selection menu and repeat this procedure for each hard disk that requires this microcode. 10. Exit diagnostic. 2.4.1.2.2 Standalone (Service Mode) Download This procedure is used for all drives including rootvg or paging space drives 1. Properly shutdown the system. 2. Boot up the system in standalone diagnostics mode with the CDROM diagnostics(Use diagnostics level 4.21 or above; It is recommended to use the same level of Diagnostic CD as the AIX ). 3. Select the "Task Selection" from diagnostics menu. 4. Select "Microcode Download" from "Task Selection" menu. 5. Select resource that microcode will be applied to(hdisk?) and PRESS ENTER. 6. Press "F7" to commit. (The current microcode level of the resource you selected earlier will be displayed at the top of the screen) 7. Make the following selections on the next screen: Select Input Device --------------------------------------- [ diskette] Microcode level to download -----------------------------[ latest] Download latest level even if -----------------------------[ yes] current is missing NOTE: A prompt will ask you to insert the microcode diskette into the floppy drive. Insert the diskette which accompanies these instructions. If this level is already installed in the drive you've selected a message will let you know. A message also may come up to let you know that the Diskette(or Disk) does not have the previous level microcode file. This is true and is not required to complete the download. PRESS "F7" to commit 8. You will receive a msg. "Current Microcode is...." and "Download has completed successfully" (this may take a few minutes) 9. Return to the Tasks Selection menu and repeat this procedure for each hard disk that requires this microcode. 10. Exit diagnostic and reboot system in normal mode. * * 2.4.2 SCSI Drives Attached to PCI RAID Adapter *NOTE:* Please save current and older versions of the microcode update files in case you need to restore your system. 1. At AIX Command line type: diag 2. Select the "Task Selection" from diagnostics menu. 3. Select "Microcode Download" from "Task Selection" menu. 4. Select RAID controller from the list of resources, PRESS ENTER, then F7 to commit 5. Select "Physical Disks" and PRESS ENTER 6. A list of all Physical Disks will be displayed, select the disk that needs to be upgraded, PRESS ENTER and F7 to commit. 7. Select "Latest level" 8. Select "Disk" if files are copied to /etc/microcode directory. Select "Diskette" if microcode files are saved onto a diskette, PRESS ENTER (The current microcode level of the resource you selected earlier will be displayed at the top of the screen) 9. You will receive a message "Download has completed successfully" and "Current Microcode is" (this may take a few minutes). 10. Return to the Previous menu and repeat this procedure for each hard disk that requires this microcode. 11. Exit diagnostic and reboot system. *======================================================* 3. Linux Operating System 3.1 Linux 2.6 kernel(such as SuSE SLES 9 or RHEL 4) Microcode can be updated using the iprconfig utility. The iprconfig utility allows for multiple levels of adapter and device microcode to exist on the system at the same time. After the device to update microcode is selected, all available microcode levels are presented to choose to download. 1. a) If using SLES 9 base, install the package by typing: rpm -ivh --ignoreos *CH15K4-C71F-AIX.rpm* b) If using SLES 9 SP1 or better or RHEL 4 or better, install the package by typing: rpm -ivh *CH15K4-C71F-LINUX.rpm* 2. Update the microcode by typing: iprconfig Press Enter. 3. Select Download microcode and press Enter. 4. Select the device you wish to update by typing a 1 then pressing Enter. Multiple devices may be selected. 5. Select the microcode image to be downloaded to the device by typing a 1 then pressing Enter. 6. Press Enter _again_ to confirm the download (display shows ?Microcode Download in Progress? with elapsed time) 7. If multiple devices were selected, repeat from Step 5 for the next device. To check the microcode level: 1. Start iprconfig utility, 2. Select "Display hardware status" option. 3. Select disk to query by typing a 1 next to it and pressing "Enter" 4. Look at the "Firmware Version" field -------------------------------------------------------------------------- 3.2 RHEL 3*:* Microcode can be updated using the iprupdate utility. If iprupdate finds newer microcode on the system it will be downloaded to the disk. 1. Install the package by typing: rpm -ivh --ignoreos *CH15K4-C71F-AIX.rpm* Press Enter. 2. Update the microcode by typing: iprupdate Press Enter. To check the microcode level: 1. Start iprconfig utility, 2. Select "Display disk hardware status" option. 3. Find the disk you wish to query and note its serial number. 4. Type "d" to get to the "Display disk unit details" screen. 5. Select disk to query by typing a 5 next to it and pressing "Enter" 6. Look at the "Firmware Version" field ------------------------------------------------------------------------- 3.3 SLES 8 SP4 Microcode can be updated using the sisupdate utility. If sisupdate finds newer microcode on the system it will be downloaded to the disk. 1. Install the package by typing: rpm -ivh --ignoreos *CH15K4-C71F-AIX.rpm* Press Enter. 2. Update the microcode by typing: sisupdate Press Enter. To check the microcode level: 1. Start sisconfig utility, 2. Select "Display disk hardware status" option. 3. Find the disk you wish to query and note its serial number. 4. Type "d" to get to the "Display disk unit details" screen. 5. Select disk to query by typing a 5 next to it and pressing "Enter" 6. Look at the "Firmware Version" field 4. Code level C716 Format Problem description and recovery procedure A problem was found with the 15K RPM disk drives listed above with code level C716, this problem was fixed in code level C717 and thereafter. AIX ?diag? format routine fails to format these drives. After selecting "Format media" from Diagnostics "Task Selection" menu and selecting one of these disk drive for format, a normal format screen is displayed as below: "Format Op Is In progress" "Please Stand By" "0% complete" However, after about 30 Seconds, format command times out and the following message is displayed: "The Format operation has stopped" "It is recommended that diagnostics be run on this disk drive." The failure occurs only if drive is attached to a ?PCI-X Dual Channel Ultra320 SCSI Adapter? or ?PCI-X Dual channel U320 SCSI Raid Adapter?, AND only if SCSI bus speed is at U320 MB/sec. After format failure, drive becomes format corrupt and unusable until one of the procedure listed below is used to re-format the drive. FIX: If a drive becomes format corrupt, AIX Diag can not be used to format the drive or download this new microcode. Use one of the following procedures below to get around this problem and format these disk drives and download new microcode: 1- If drive is attached to ?PCI-X Dual Channel Ultra320 SCSI Adapter?, lower the SCSI bus speed and format the drive using AIX Diag format routine. Note: To lower SCSI bus speed, find the ?scsi#? that the drive is attached to, then use smitty?devices--SCSI Adapters--Change/Show Characteristics of a SCSI adapter. Highlight scsi# and change the ?Maximum SCSI bus speed? from U320 to U160. Then use AIX Diag format routine to format the disk drive. Also note that for SCSI bus speed change to take effect immediately, SCSI controller (and all devices attached to it) must be in ?defined? state. If there are devices on the SCSI bus that are active and can not be changed to ?defined?, then use ?Apply Change to Database Only? and reboot the system for SCSI bus speed change to take effect. 2- If drive is attached to ?PCI-X Dual channel U320 SCSI Raid Adapter?, you can either use the procedure above, or you can use PCI-X Raid Manager function in Smitty to format the drive to 522 Bytes sector and then back to 512 bytes sector: a. Use command Smitty pxdam b. Choose ?Create an array candidate pdisk and format to 522 Bytes Sector? and format the drive to 522 Bytes sector. c. After format completion, use ?change/Show PCI-X SCSI pdisk status? and then choose ?Delete an array candidate pdisk and format to 512 Byte sector?.