13GB 1/4" Microcode information for the 7207-315

Users are encouraged to install the latest microcode level themselves. The microcode and instructions are available for users at the IBM external web site:
download.html

The 0345 level of microcode is a major microcode revision requiring an intermediate level of microcode to be installed first(0253) then install the current level of microcode(0345).
This two step process is necessary because of major changes to support the 16GB tape cartridges starting with microcode level 0345.

The 0345 level of microcode is the minimum level of microcode required for support of the 16GB tapes. Prior levels of microcode will not read or write the 16GB tapes.

Installation Time:

The typical time to install this microcode is .6 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. But to have the Vital Product Data show the new level you must use the AIX rmdev and mkdev commands.

Additional Cautions

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.

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

Machines Affected:

All pSeries and RS/6000 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

Table 1. Microcode History

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

87G4847 87G4858 0145 A0B00E11 First Microcode level shipped.

87G4847 87G4858 0147 A0B00E11 Fixes slow backup and restore.

87G4847 87G4858 0253 A0B00E18 Changes Load ID.

87G4847 87G4858 0345 A0B00E18 Support for 16GB media.
Changes cleaning time from 50 tape motion hours to 8 tape motion hours to reduce media read/write errors.

Tape Drive P/N	Tape Drive FRU P/N	Microcode Level	Load ID	What does this microcode change
87G4847	87G4858	0145	A0B00E11	First Microcode level shipped.
87G4847	87G4858	0147	A0B00E11	Fixes slow backup and restore.
87G4847	87G4858	0253	A0B00E18	Changes Load ID.
87G4847	87G4858	0345	A0B00E18	Support for 16GB media. Changes cleaning time from 50 tape motion hours to 8 tape motion hours to reduce media read/write errors.

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 13GB 1/4" tape drive issue the following AIX command:

 lscfg -vl rmt0               <--- change the drive number to reflect
                                   the actual rmt address of the 13GB
                                   1/4" tape drive.

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

  DEVICE            LOCATION          DESCRIPTION
 
  rmt0              00-03-01-0,0      Differential SCSI 1/4-Inch Tape
                                      Drive(13000 MB)
 
  Manufacturer................TANDBERG
  Machine Type and Model......IBM-6100
  Device Specific.(Z1)........0345  <-- This is the microcode level
                                         currently in the drive.

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 will 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 13GBQTR.bin file the user will put the downloaded file into the /tmp directory and then use the following AIX commands to expand the files:
chmod +x 13GBQTR.bin
/tmp/13GBQTR.bin
This puts the following files in the /tmp/web_microcode directory:

dsdata
Note: This dsdata contains the 0253 dsdata information
dsdata.0345
IBM-6100.0253.A0B00E11
IBM-6100.0345.A0B00E18
The next step is to follow the instructions in this README titled "Microcode Install".

From a CD-ROM.

If the CD-ROM process is used to put the 13GBQTR.bin file on the user system the microcode files will expanded into the /tmp/web_microcode directory. The building and putting of the files into the /tmp/web_microcode directory was done by the user when they used the CD-ROM build instructions.
This put the following files in the /tmp/web_microcode directory:

dsdata
Note: This dsdata contains the 0253 dsdata information
dsdata.0345
IBM-6100.0253.A0B00E11
IBM-6100.0345.A0B00E18
The next step is to follow the instructions in this README titled "Microcode Install".

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.

Microcode Install

Which program to use to install the microcode

To install the microcode you must decide which microcode download program to use, "genucode" or AIX 5.1 diagnostics(or higher). Then you must sequentially install the 0253 level of microcode and then the 0345 level of microcode.

If you are going to do the microcode install using "genucode" go to the section "Installing with Genucode".

or

For AIX 5.1 diagnostics(or higher). you must copy the files to the /etc/microcode directory with new names as the AIX diagnostics use a different naming convention and directory then does "genucode". AIX Diagnostics requires the microcode and the dsdata file to be in the /etc/microcode directory. Do the following AIX commands:
cd /etc/microcode
cp /tmp/web_microcode/dsdata IBM-6100.A0B00E11.dsdata
cp /tmp/web_microcode/IBM-6100.0253.A0B00E11 IBM-6100.A0B00E11.0253
cp /tmp/web_microcode/IBM-6100.0345.A0B00E18 IBM-6100.A0B00E18.0345
Then use the AIX diagnostics to install the microcode.
diag (enter)
Then follow the AIX Diagnostics instructions:
Select "Task Selection"
Select "Download Microcode"
Select the rmt for the tape drive and press F7 to commit
Select "/etc/microcode"
Select the level of microcode to download

You may see a message similar to: "Previously installed microcode not on the system". The AIX diagnostics will look for earlier versions of microcode on the device you chose for the install. When you see the message from the AIX diagnostics about download microcode without the previous level present reply to the prompt to continue with the install even though the previous level of microcode is not available on the system.

Follow the remaining diagnostic instructions.

Repeat the diagnostic microcode download

After completing the download of the microcode level "0253" then you must download the microcode level "0345". To download the "0345" level of microcode select the rmt for the tape drive and repeat the process only this time select the "0345" level of microcode to download.

Installing with Genucode

Genucode requires the microcode and the dsdata file to be in the /tmp directory. Do the following AIX commands:
cd /tmp
cp /tmp/web_microcode/dsdata dsdata
cp /tmp/web_microcode/IBM-6100.0253.A0B00E11 IBM-6100.0253.A0B00E11
cp /tmp/web_microcode/IBM-6100.0345.A0B00E18 IBM-6100.0345.A0B00E18

You now need to use the instructions in the "genucode" package(from CORE) to do the first microcode install using the 0253 microcode file

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