README: 200GB Half High LTO-2 Tape Drive Microcode

This package is being provided to allow the update of older 200GB LTO-2 Tape Drive Microcode Tape Drives to the latest level of microcode that is currently shipping from IBM.

Users are responsible to install the latest microcode level themselves.
The microcode and instructions are available at the IBM external web site:
http://www-933.ibm.com/support/fixcentral/

Operating System levels supported:

All levels of AIX that this product was announced on.

Installation Time:

The typical time to install this microcode is .3 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 5.1 diagnostics and higher, For the AIX diagnostic package 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 to download the microcode into the tape drive.

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 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 200GB LTO GEN2 tape drive up to the current level of microcode which is:
0468

Feature Code 5755

Also 7212-102/103 Feature Code 1109

Table 1. Microcode History

Tape Drive P/N Tape Drive FRU P/N Microcode Level Load ID What does this microcode change

96P1773
23R3247 96P1775
23R3248 0218 A1700D54 First Microcode level shipped.

96P1773
23R3247 96P1775
23R3248 0290 A1700D54

Improved error handling to reduced drive time outs and SCSI bus errors.
Improve "Prevent media removal" handling.
Improve internal drive trace information.
Improve reading of Data Cartridges with problems in the cartridge memory.
Improve writing to marginal tapes or tapes where dropouts had previously been detected.
Improve tape tension control.
Improve internal buffer handling during delays in system delivering data to the drive.
Improve error indication during drive Power On Self Test(POST).
Reduce causes of stuck tape, including ejecting a tape with a "Cartridge Memory" problem.
Change LED indications during and after tape drive diagnostics.
Cartridge Eject in Service Mode Reset function. If Drive was Reset from Service Mode Entry #2 (Drive Reset) the drive will now Eject the Cartridge.
Implement Emergency Eject of a cartridge by holding the eject button for an extended period of time(approximately 25 seconds).This will also reset the drive.

96P1773
23R3247 96P1775
23R3248 0330 A1700D54

Eliminate issues with some SCSI adapters when the tape drive is set to variable blocksize(0).
Eliminate a problem where a cleaning cartridge with defect Cartridge Memory will cause reset and then cause a cleaning cartridge to get stuck in the drive.
Improve cartridge handling where the cartridge has a defective cartridge memory.
Improve error reporting by the drive.
Allow write and reading of tapes with inverted servo tracks.
Improve drive performance on read and write by eliminating un-necessary internal interrupt.
Improve allowable physical margins in handling some cartridge.
Worn Media', 'Dead Drive' and 'Dead Media' are added into Sense Data returned by the drive for use in manual problem determination.
Reduces instances of Fatal Trap errors.

96P1773
23R3247 96P1775
23R3248 0375 A1700D54

Improve emergency eject capability with some tape drive internal errors.
Improve error handling and tracking on errors involving tape insertion.
Increase Log visibility by adding Cleaning Required bit in Request Sense Data in addition to the previous 3 Service Bits ("worn media", "dead media", and "dead drive.
Eliminate some causes of "Fatal Trap" errors caused by an internal microcode deadlock conditions.

96P1773
23R3247 96P1775
23R3248 0376 A1700D54

Fix Fatal trap if a reset occurs while unbuckling an expired cleaning cartridge.
Improve handling of cartridges properly seated (Accept cartridge which is not fully inserted).

96P1773
23R3247 96P1775
23R3248 0410 A1700D54

Handle thin media. Some brands of media are thinner than expected. This fix better handles this "thin" media. This resolves some causes of media errors(write and read errors).
Improve the drive internal "Flash" recovery when the drive is powered off during the taking of an internal drive dump/trace.
Better handle false tack pulses which can show up as media errors.

96P1773
23R3247 96P1775
23R3248 0468 A1700D54

Improved reread and write retry I/O errors retry.
Improved read after drive power up.
Improved power-up/reset drive internal self test.
Improved power-up/reset drive tape handling.
Improved write when appending data.
Improved drive trace handing.
Fixed false over temperature condition after flashing of new code.
Improved cleaning cartridge loading if a system issues a command during cleaning cartridge loading.
Fixed time out when appending data.
Fixed cause of unable to eject the cartridge after a reset with tape in the drive.
Fixed causes of drive being in defined state after system power up.
Improved internal drive trace.
Fixed causes of possible tape loop.
Fixed cause of pushing eject button while SCSI WRITE does not eject tape/cartridge.
Added Request Sense Data to report Expired Cleaning Cartridge status and Temperature reading

Tape Drive P/N	Tape Drive FRU P/N	Microcode Level	Load ID	What does this microcode change
96P1773 23R3247	96P1775 23R3248	0218	A1700D54	First Microcode level shipped.
96P1773 23R3247	96P1775 23R3248	0290	A1700D54	Improved error handling to reduced drive time outs and SCSI bus errors. Improve "Prevent media removal" handling. Improve internal drive trace information. Improve reading of Data Cartridges with problems in the cartridge memory. Improve writing to marginal tapes or tapes where dropouts had previously been detected. Improve tape tension control. Improve internal buffer handling during delays in system delivering data to the drive. Improve error indication during drive Power On Self Test(POST). Reduce causes of stuck tape, including ejecting a tape with a "Cartridge Memory" problem. Change LED indications during and after tape drive diagnostics. Cartridge Eject in Service Mode Reset function. If Drive was Reset from Service Mode Entry #2 (Drive Reset) the drive will now Eject the Cartridge. Implement Emergency Eject of a cartridge by holding the eject button for an extended period of time(approximately 25 seconds).This will also reset the drive.
96P1773 23R3247	96P1775 23R3248	0330	A1700D54	Eliminate issues with some SCSI adapters when the tape drive is set to variable blocksize(0). Eliminate a problem where a cleaning cartridge with defect Cartridge Memory will cause reset and then cause a cleaning cartridge to get stuck in the drive. Improve cartridge handling where the cartridge has a defective cartridge memory. Improve error reporting by the drive. Allow write and reading of tapes with inverted servo tracks. Improve drive performance on read and write by eliminating un-necessary internal interrupt. Improve allowable physical margins in handling some cartridge. Worn Media', 'Dead Drive' and 'Dead Media' are added into Sense Data returned by the drive for use in manual problem determination. Reduces instances of Fatal Trap errors.
96P1773 23R3247	96P1775 23R3248	0375	A1700D54	Improve emergency eject capability with some tape drive internal errors. Improve error handling and tracking on errors involving tape insertion. Increase Log visibility by adding Cleaning Required bit in Request Sense Data in addition to the previous 3 Service Bits ("worn media", "dead media", and "dead drive. Eliminate some causes of "Fatal Trap" errors caused by an internal microcode deadlock conditions.
96P1773 23R3247	96P1775 23R3248	0376	A1700D54	Fix Fatal trap if a reset occurs while unbuckling an expired cleaning cartridge. Improve handling of cartridges properly seated (Accept cartridge which is not fully inserted).
96P1773 23R3247	96P1775 23R3248	0410	A1700D54	Handle thin media. Some brands of media are thinner than expected. This fix better handles this "thin" media. This resolves some causes of media errors(write and read errors). Improve the drive internal "Flash" recovery when the drive is powered off during the taking of an internal drive dump/trace. Better handle false tack pulses which can show up as media errors.
96P1773 23R3247	96P1775 23R3248	0468	A1700D54	Improved reread and write retry I/O errors retry. Improved read after drive power up. Improved power-up/reset drive internal self test. Improved power-up/reset drive tape handling. Improved write when appending data. Improved drive trace handing. Fixed false over temperature condition after flashing of new code. Improved cleaning cartridge loading if a system issues a command during cleaning cartridge loading. Fixed time out when appending data. Fixed cause of unable to eject the cartridge after a reset with tape in the drive. Fixed causes of drive being in defined state after system power up. Improved internal drive trace. Fixed causes of possible tape loop. Fixed cause of pushing eject button while SCSI WRITE does not eject tape/cartridge. Added Request Sense Data to report Expired Cleaning Cartridge status and Temperature reading

Feature Code 1997

Table 2. Microcode History

Tape Drive P/N Tape Drive FRU P/N Microcode Level Load ID What does this microcode change

96P1776 96P1777 0218 A1700D5A First Microcode level shipped.

96P1776 96P1777 0290 A1700D5A

Improved error handling to reduced drive time outs and SCSI bus errors.
Remove the "H0" from the Drive Vital Product Data(VPD) in drive P/N 23R3247.
Improve "Prevent media removal" handling.
Improve internal drive trace information.
Improve reading of Data Cartridges with problems in the cartridge memory.
Improve writing to marginal tapes or tapes where dropouts had previously been detected.
Improve tape tension control.
Improve internal buffer handling during delays in system delivering data to the drive.
Improve error indication during drive Power On Self Test(POST).
Reduce causes of stuck tape, including ejecting a tape with a "Cartridge Memory" problem.
Change LED indications during and after tape drive diagnostics.
Cartridge Eject in Service Mode Reset function. If Drive was Reset from Service Mode Entry #2 (Drive Reset) the drive will now Eject the Cartridge.
Implement Emergency Eject of a cartridge by holding the eject button for an extended period of time(approximately 25 seconds).This will also reset the drive.

96P1776 96P1777 0330 A1700D5A

Eliminate issues with some SCSI adapters when the tape drive is set to variable blocksize(0).
Eliminate a problem where a cleaning cartridge with defect Cartridge Memory will cause reset and then cause a cleaning cartridge to get stuck in the drive.
Improve cartridge handling where the cartridge has a defective cartridge memory.
Improve error reporting by the drive.
Allow write and reading of tapes with inverted servo tracks.
Improve drive performance on read and write by eliminating un-necessary internal interrupt.
Improve allowable physical margins in handling some cartridge.
Worn Media', 'Dead Drive' and 'Dead Media' are added into Sense Data returned by the drive for use in manual problem determination.
Reduces instances of Fatal Trap errors.

96P1776 96P1777 0375 A1700D5A

Improve emergency eject capability with some tape drive internal errors.
Improve error handling and tracking on errors involving tape insertion.
Increase Log visibility by adding Cleaning Required bit in Request Sense Data in addition to the previous 3 Service Bits ("worn media", "dead media", and "dead drive.
Eliminate some causes of "Fatal Trap" errors caused by an internal microcode deadlock conditions.

96P1776 96P1777 0376 A1700D5A

Fix Fatal trap if a reset occurs while unbuckling an expired cleaning cartridge.
Improve handling of cartridges properly seated (Accept cartridge which is not fully inserted).

96P1776 96P1777 0410 A1700D5A

Handle thin media. Some brands of media are thinner than expected. This fix better handles this "thin" media. This resolves some causes of media errors(write and read errors).
Improve the drive internal "Flash" recovery when the drive is powered off during the taking of an internal drive dump/trace.
Better handle false tack pulses which can show up as media errors.

96P1776 96P1777 0468 A1700D5A

Improved reread and write retry I/O errors retry.
Improved read after drive power up.
Improved power-up/reset drive internal self test.
Improved power-up/reset drive tape handling.
Improved write when appending data.
Improved drive trace handing.
Fixed false over temperature condition after flashing of new code.
Improved cleaning cartridge loading if a system issues a command during cleaning cartridge loading.
Fixed time out when appending data.
Fixed cause of unable to eject the cartridge after a reset with tape in the drive.
Fixed causes of drive being in defined state after system power up.
Improved internal drive trace.
Fixed causes of possible tape loop.
Fixed cause of pushing eject button while SCSI WRITE does not eject tape/cartridge.
Added Request Sense Data to report Expired Cleaning Cartridge status and Temperature reading

Tape Drive P/N	Tape Drive FRU P/N	Microcode Level	Load ID	What does this microcode change
96P1776	96P1777	0218	A1700D5A	First Microcode level shipped.
96P1776	96P1777	0290	A1700D5A	Improved error handling to reduced drive time outs and SCSI bus errors. Remove the "H0" from the Drive Vital Product Data(VPD) in drive P/N 23R3247. Improve "Prevent media removal" handling. Improve internal drive trace information. Improve reading of Data Cartridges with problems in the cartridge memory. Improve writing to marginal tapes or tapes where dropouts had previously been detected. Improve tape tension control. Improve internal buffer handling during delays in system delivering data to the drive. Improve error indication during drive Power On Self Test(POST). Reduce causes of stuck tape, including ejecting a tape with a "Cartridge Memory" problem. Change LED indications during and after tape drive diagnostics. Cartridge Eject in Service Mode Reset function. If Drive was Reset from Service Mode Entry #2 (Drive Reset) the drive will now Eject the Cartridge. Implement Emergency Eject of a cartridge by holding the eject button for an extended period of time(approximately 25 seconds).This will also reset the drive.
96P1776	96P1777	0330	A1700D5A	Eliminate issues with some SCSI adapters when the tape drive is set to variable blocksize(0). Eliminate a problem where a cleaning cartridge with defect Cartridge Memory will cause reset and then cause a cleaning cartridge to get stuck in the drive. Improve cartridge handling where the cartridge has a defective cartridge memory. Improve error reporting by the drive. Allow write and reading of tapes with inverted servo tracks. Improve drive performance on read and write by eliminating un-necessary internal interrupt. Improve allowable physical margins in handling some cartridge. Worn Media', 'Dead Drive' and 'Dead Media' are added into Sense Data returned by the drive for use in manual problem determination. Reduces instances of Fatal Trap errors.
96P1776	96P1777	0375	A1700D5A	Improve emergency eject capability with some tape drive internal errors. Improve error handling and tracking on errors involving tape insertion. Increase Log visibility by adding Cleaning Required bit in Request Sense Data in addition to the previous 3 Service Bits ("worn media", "dead media", and "dead drive. Eliminate some causes of "Fatal Trap" errors caused by an internal microcode deadlock conditions.
96P1776	96P1777	0376	A1700D5A	Fix Fatal trap if a reset occurs while unbuckling an expired cleaning cartridge. Improve handling of cartridges properly seated (Accept cartridge which is not fully inserted).
96P1776	96P1777	0410	A1700D5A	Handle thin media. Some brands of media are thinner than expected. This fix better handles this "thin" media. This resolves some causes of media errors(write and read errors). Improve the drive internal "Flash" recovery when the drive is powered off during the taking of an internal drive dump/trace. Better handle false tack pulses which can show up as media errors.
96P1776	96P1777	0468	A1700D5A	Improved reread and write retry I/O errors retry. Improved read after drive power up. Improved power-up/reset drive internal self test. Improved power-up/reset drive tape handling. Improved write when appending data. Improved drive trace handing. Fixed false over temperature condition after flashing of new code. Improved cleaning cartridge loading if a system issues a command during cleaning cartridge loading. Fixed time out when appending data. Fixed cause of unable to eject the cartridge after a reset with tape in the drive. Fixed causes of drive being in defined state after system power up. Improved internal drive trace. Fixed causes of possible tape loop. Fixed cause of pushing eject button while SCSI WRITE does not eject tape/cartridge. Added Request Sense Data to report Expired Cleaning Cartridge status and Temperature reading

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 IBM 7212-102/103 or the internal 200GB LTO GEN2 tape drive do the following AIX command:

 lscfg -vl rmt0               <--- change the drive number to reflect
                                   the actual rmt address of the 200GB
                                   HH_LTO_Gen_2 tape drive.

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

Feature Code 5755

rmt0 P1/Z1-A8 LVD SCSI 1/2-inch Cartridge Tape Drive (200000 MB) Manufacturer................IBM Machine Type and Model......HH LTO Gen 2 Device Specific.(Z1)........0468 Serial Number...............2000006A Device Specific.(LI)........A1700D54 Part Number.................96P1773 FRU Number..................96P1775 EC Level....................H81465 Device Specific.(Z0)........0180030283000130 Device Specific.(Z3)........N1
Feature Code 1977

rmt1 P1/Z1-A2 LVD SCSI 1/2-inch Cartridge Tape Drive (200000 MB) Manufacturer................IBM Machine Type and Model......HH LTO Gen 2 H0 Device Specific.(Z1)........0218 Serial Number...............25000092 Device Specific.(LI)........A1700D5A Part Number.................23R3247 FRU Number..................23R3248 EC Level....................H81465 Device Specific.(Z0)........0180030283000130 Device Specific.(Z3)........N1

The microcode level 0290 changes the Vital Product Data in the drive Feature Code 1977 from:

      Machine Type and Model......HH LTO Gen 2  H0
To:
      Machine Type and Model......HH LTO Gen 2

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.

If the user downloads the LTO.bin file the user will put the downloaded file into the /tmp directory and then use the instructions in the section of this README titled "AIX bin file".
If the user downloads the TapeHHLTO2-0468-01.rpm file the user will put the downloaded file into the /tmp directory and then use the instructions in the section of this README titled "RPM file".

From a CD-ROM.

If the CD-ROM process is used to put the LTO.bin file on the user system the microcode files will expanded into the /tmp/LTO_web directory. The next step is to follow the instructions in this README titled "AIX bin file" and copy the files to the appropriate directory. The building and putting of the files into the /tmp/LTO_web directory was done by the user when they used the CD-ROM build instructions.
If the CD-ROM process is used to put the TapeHHLTO2-0468-01.rpm file on the user system the microcode files will be in the tmp/microcode/RPM directory. To put the microcode in the appropriate directory for the system the user executes the following AIX commands:
cd /tmp/microcode/RPM
rpm -ihv --ignoreos TapeHHLTO2-0468-01.rpm
This puts the following files in the /etc/microcode directory for system use:

HH_LTO_Gen_2.A1700D54.dsdata
HH_LTO_Gen_2.A1700D54.0468
HH_LTO_Gen_2.A1700D5A.dsdata
HH_LTO_Gen_2.A1700D5A.0468
The next step is to follow the instructions in this README titled "Verifying the Microcode".

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

Download the LTO.bin file to the eServer pSeries to the /tmp directory.
Do the following AIX commands to make the file executable:
cd /tmp
chmod +x LTO.bin
To expand the LTO.bin file use the following command:
./LTO.bin
Note: The ./ before the command insures AIX paths thru the current directory to find the command.
This will put the following files in the /tmp/LTO_web directory:

HH_LTO_Gen_2.A1700D54.dsdata
HH_LTO_Gen_2.A1700D54.0468
HH_LTO_Gen_2.A1700D5A.dsdata
HH_LTO_Gen_2.A1700D5A.0468

RPM file

Download the TapeHHLTO2-0468-01.rpm file to the eServer pSeries to the /tmp directory.
To expand the TapeHHLTO2-0468-01.rpm file use the following commands:
cd /tmp
rpm -ihv --ignoreos TapeHHLTO2-0468-01.rpm
This will put the following files in the /etc/microcode directory:

HH_LTO_Gen_2.A1700D54.dsdata
HH_LTO_Gen_2.A1700D54.0468
HH_LTO_Gen_2.A1700D5A.dsdata
HH_LTO_Gen_2.A1700D5A.0468

Verifying the Microcode

To insure the file was downloaded without error do the following:

Change to the directory where you just put the microcode.
cd /tmp/LTO_web
or
cd /etc/microcode
Use the AIX command sum to verify the checksum of the microcode file:
sum HH_LTO*

Compare the sum you got with the sum of the microcode files here, if they do not match recheck your steps in creating the file on the system:

52629 2049 HH_LTO_Gen_2.A1700D54.0468 16890 2 HH_LTO_Gen_2.A1700D54.dsdata 60887 2049 HH_LTO_Gen_2.A1700D5A.0468 52186 2 HH_LTO_Gen_2.A1700D5A.dsdata

Updating the microcode in the drive

AIX diagnostics requires the microcode file and the dsdata file to be in the /etc/microcode directory.

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/LTO_web
 
cp HH_LTO_Gen_2.A1700D54.dsdata /etc/microcode/.
 
cp HH_LTO_Gen_2.A1700D54.0468   /etc/microcode/.
 
cp HH_LTO_Gen_2.A1700D5A.dsdata /etc/microcode/.
 
cp HH_LTO_Gen_2.A1700D5A.0468   /etc/microcode/.

To use AIX Diagnostics

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

Using the AIX Diagnostics menu
Using the AIX Diagnostics via command line input.

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)