IBM pSeries Servers
Microcode Update for UltraStar C10K1800 1800GB

Model: HUC1018xxCS420

2.5” SAS Hard Disk Drive
Microcode Level NAR1

DATE: July 28, 2017




Table of Contents

1.   General Information

1.1 Disk Drives Affected

2.  AIX and VIOS (PowerVM Virtual I/O Server)

2.1 Installation Time

2.2 Determine Drive Model, FRU&PN and Current Microcode Level

2.3.1 Internet AIX self extracting file (.bin)

2.3.2 Internet RPM package

2.3.3 CD-ROM

2.4 Microcode Download Procedure

3.   Linux Operating System

3.1 ReadHat (RHEL) and SLES

3.2 Ubuntu

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1.   General Information

The Microcode files provided in this package are for SAS disk drives used in IBM Power Systems AIX/Linux.

1.1 Disk Drives Affected 

Below is the list of microcode files in this package:

NOTE: To insure the integrity of microcode files, please make sure the checksum value is correct after extraction

Size        Disk Drive Model          FRU#           P/N (VPD)    Microcode File Name                            Checksum        
--------    -----------------------      -----------     ------------     -----------------------------------                                 -----------         

1800GB   HUC101818CS420     00E9962      00E9958       HUC1018.A1800005.4E415231             63418   

1800GB   HUC101818CS420     00E9946      00E9942                                                                                

1200GB   HUC101812CS420     00E9961      00E9957                                                                           

1200GB   HUC101812CS420     00E9945      00E9941                                                                           

600GB    HUC101860CS420      00E9959      00E9955                                                                           

600GB    HUC101860CS420      00E9943      00E9939                                                                           

 

1.2 Microcode Change History

Release date

Code level

Impact/ATT

Change Description

July 2017

NAR1

Availability/
ATT

-Support new SMART attribute for smear detection
-TFC seek length changed from 500 tracks to 100 tracks
-Fix to use correct memory segment information for skip write command execution
-Fix timeout during Skip Sequential read

May 2016

N990

 

Added new PN, no functional changes

June 2015

N72A

 

Initial Release

 

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2.  AIX and VIOS (PowerVM Virtual I/O Server)

Note: For VIOS systems, microcode of shared physical I/O resources can only be updated from VIOS partition.

To update disk drive microcode, from VIOS partition, enter the following command:     

oem_setup_env   

Then follow the instruction in section 2.3 to transfer/extract the microcode file, and section 2.4.1 to update the disk drive code.

2.1 Installation Time

Approximately 20 minutes if using Diagnostics CD; Approximately 5 minutes/drive using AIX concurrent diagnostics.
 

2.2 Determine Drive Model, FRU&PN and Current Microcode Level
To see the drive type and current microcode level, Execute the following command:
lscfg -vl hdisk* |pg      ; For drives NOT configured for RAID

lscfgvl pdisk* |pg     ; For drives configured for RAID

 

Example:

 

   DEVICE                            LOCATION                                                      DESCRIPTION

   hdisk5                             U5887.001.G17X00G-P1-D6  SAS 4K Disk Drive (1200000 MB)

 

        Manufacturer................IBM

        Machine Type and Model......HUC101812CS420

        FRU Number..................00E9945

        ROS Level and ID............ 4E415231

        Serial Number...............06G0L27H

        EC Level....................N46243

        Part Number.................00E9941

        Device Specific.(Z0)........000006329F001002

        Device Specific.(Z1)........C4IPNAR1

        Device Specific.(Z2)........0068

        Device Specific.(Z3)........14271

        Device Specific.(Z4)........

        Device Specific.(Z5)........22

        Device Specific.(Z6)........N46243

        Hardware Location Code......U5887.001.G17X00G-P1-D6

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 “4E415231", this microcode applies.

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, 4E Hex= ASCII character "N"; 41 Hex= ASCII character "A"; 52 Hex=ASCII character "R"; 31 Hex=ASCII character "1", microcode level is "NAR1". Also note that the microcode level "NAR1" is displayed in “Z1” field.

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2.3 Transferring and Unpacking the Microcode Update Package

2.3.1 Internet AIX self extracting file (.bin)

a) Make a directory on 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 C10K1800-4K.bin
c) Unpack the file by executing the instructions below.
  Enter the commands:
  cd /tmp/fwupdate
  chmod +x C10K1800-4K.bin
  ./C10K1800-4K.bin
[Don't overlook the periods (.) in above command.]

The directory C10K1800-4K 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/C10K1800-4K/HUC*  /etc/microcode

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.
    You'll see the filename is C10K1800-4K-NAR1-AIX.rpm

c) Unpack the file by executing the instructions below:
    Enter the commands:
        rpm -ihv --ignoreos  --force C10K1800-4K-NAR1-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.
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2.4 Microcode Download Procedure

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?  YES
Is system reboot needed to activate the microcode: Yes if stand alone diagnostics CD 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 concurrent diagnostics is used.

2.4.1 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
                      optical media  (ISO 9660 file system format)

                               cd0

   - Use /etc/microcode if microcode files were added to /etc/microcode directory
   - Use “optical media” if code are in CD/DVD

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 microcodes available for the selected drive, highlight option "M  HUC...", 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).

2.4.2 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.

                             

======================================================

3.   Linux Operating System

 

3.1 ReadHat (RHEL) and SLES

 

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.  If using SLES 9 base, install the package by typing:

         rpm -ivh --ignoreos C10K1800-4K-NAR1-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 Ubuntu

 

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.  tar -C-xzvf C10K1800-4K-NAR1-LINUX.tgz

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