README: 7207-012 1.2GB 1/4" Tape Drive Microcode

Table of Contents

README: 7207-012 1.2GB 1/4" Tape Drive Microcode

README: 7207-012 1.2GB 1/4" Tape Drive Microcode

Version: I09.32 and I09:32

Date: July 9, 2003

General information

Subject: IBM 7207-012 1.2GB 1/4" Tape Drive Microcode

******* PLEASE READ THIS ENTIRE NOTICE *********

This package is being provided to allow the update of older IBM 7207-012 1.2GB 1/4" Tape Drives to the latest level of microcode that is currently shipping from IBM.

User install

You are encouraged to install the latest microcode level yourself. The microcode and instructions are available for your use at the IBM external web site:
download.html

Operating System levels supported:

All levels of AIX that this product was announced on.

Installation Time:

The typical time to install this microcode is .5 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

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	What does this microcode change
46G2688	46G2689	I04:38	First Microcode level shipped.
16G8598	21H5155	I07:03	Microcode changes to support changes in the drive hardware.
16G8598	21H5155	I07:24	Fixes possible tape drive memory error.
16G8598	21H5155	I09.23 or I09:23	Dry cleaning cartridge support enhanced. Enhanced Read/Write error handling.
16G8598	21H5155	I09.32 or I09:32	Further enhanced Read/Write error handling of marginal tapes.

Determine the Current Microcode level

To determine if your machine(s) has one of these level tape drives, type the command on an AIX prompt:
lscfg -vl rmt* | pg

* The "*" will show the Vital Product Data for all tape drives that are in the available state.

The output of the command have the combined Z1 and Z2 fields showing the microcode level of the drive.

  DEVICE            LOCATION          DESCRIPTION
 
  rmt1              00-00-01-5,0      1.2 GB 1/4-Inch Tape Drive
 
        Manufacturer................TANDBERG
        Machine Type and Model...... IBM 4100
        Part Number.................46G2703
        EC Level....................896742
        Device Specific.(Z0)........018002022E000008
        Device Specific.(Z1)........I09.
        Device Specific.(Z2)........32
or
        Device Specific.(Z1)........I09:
        Device Specific.(Z2)........32

Two(2) Microcode Files

There are 2 different microcode files because there are 2 levels of the drive in the field. The 2 different levels of the drive are due to Engineering Changes(EC)to the internal drive components.
AIX uses the "Load ID" of the tape drive to determine which microcode goes to which EC level of the tape drive.
The "Load ID" of this tape drive cannot be seen by the user with standard AIX commands.

• One level has a "Load ID" of A00B00E10. Once the I09:32 level of microcode is loaded the vital product data will show a colon(:) between the I09 and the 32.
• The other level has a "Load ID" of A00B00E13. Once the I09.32 level of microcode is loaded the vital product data will show a period(.) between the I09 and the 32.

Putting the microcode on the system

There are 2 ways a you can get the microcode files. Each of these will put the microcode on your system but the you may have to move the files to appropriate directory for system use.

From the IBM WEB site when you downloading the files.

When you download the microcode files from the IBM web site the packaged microcode files will be put into the /tmp directory.

• If you download the 7207012.bin file you should put the downloaded file into the /tmp directory and then use the instructions in the section of this README titled "AIX bin file".
• If you download the Tape7207012.I0932-01.rpm file you should 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 7207012.bin file on your system the microcode files will expanded into the /tmp/7207012_web directory. The next step is to follow the instructions in this README titled "Copy Microcode File" and copy the files to the appropriate directory. The building and putting of the files into the /tmp/7207012_web directory was done when you used the CD-ROM build instructions.

Note: AIX commands and file names are case sensitive.
If your AIX permission does not allow the copy to the above stated directory or file then you will be prompted for a new location.

Packaged Microcode Files

AIX bin file

• .Make the download file executable by doing the following AIX commands:
  cd /tmp
  chmod +x 7207012.bin
• Execute the binary file:
  /tmp/7207012.bin
• Executing the binary file created the directory:
  /tmp/7207012_web
• Change to the directory just built:
  cd /tmp/7207012_web
• The directory will contain the following files:
  • IBM-4100.A0B00E10.0932
  • IBM-4100.A0B00E13.0932

Copy microcode file

AIX diagnostics requires the microcode files to be in the /etc/microcode directory. You must copy the files from the /tmp/7207012_web directory to the /etc/microcode directory using the AIX commands:
cd /tmp/7207012_web
cp IBM-4100.A0B00E10.0932 /etc/microcode/.
cp IBM-4100.A0B00E13.0932 /etc/microcode/.

Note: The copy command copies the file to the new directory with the same name when you use the period(.) after new directory name.

RPM File

• Download the Tape7207012.I0932-01.rpm file to the eServer pSeries or RS/6000 to the /tmp directory.
• To expand the Tape7207012.I0932-01.rpm file use the following commands:
  cd /tmp
  rpm -ihv --ignoreos Tape7207012.I0932-01.rpm
• This will put the following files in the /etc/microcode directory:
  • IBM-4100.A0B00E10.0932
  • IBM-4100.A0B00E13.0932

Verifying the microcode

To verify the microcode do the following and compare the output of sum command:
cd /etc/microcode
sum IBM-4*
22071 129 IBM-4100.A0B00E10.0932
60255 129 IBM-4100.A0B00E13.0932

If your output does not match what is shown here, repeat the process you did to download and expand the files insuring that the binary files are loaded correctly.

Installing the microcode in the tape drive

Note: Previously installed microcode not on the system.
The AIX diagnostics will look for earlier versions of microcode for the device you chose for the install. If 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.

To start the install enter the following AIX command:
diag

Select Service Aids
Select Microcode Download
Follow the instructions.

Vital Product Data(VPD)

To have the tape drive VPD data show the current level of microcode just installed in the drive do the following AIX commands:
rmdev -l rmtx <--where x is the drive number
mkdev -l rmtx <--where x is the drive number