PCI 4-Chan Ultra3 SCSI RAID Adapter Firmware Update

7025 - F50, F80, H70, 6F0, 6F1
7026 - H50, H70, H80, M80, B80, 6H0, 6H1, 6M1
7028 - 6C1, 6E1, 6C4, 6E4
7029 - 6C3, 6E3
7038 - 6M2
7043 - 150, 260, 270
7044 - 170, 270
7046 - B50
7311 - D10, D20
9112 - 265, 275

2.1 Installation Time

3.0 Cautions and Important Notes

The SCSI RAID Adapter MUST BE IDLE! as this update will disrupt adapter operations. The update should be done with no user activity on the system.

MOVING EXISTING BATTERY BACKED-UP CACHE CARD TO NEW BASE CARD FRU 37L6892:

Before updating firmware on the new base card the battery backed-up cache card must be removed from the failing base card and installed on the new base card using the following procedure.

1) Remove cables from the adapter noting which cable goes to which connector so they can be reconnected in exactly the same positions

2) Remove the battery backed-up cache card from the base card by removing the 8 screws visible when looking at the battery side of the adapter

3) Carefully separate the 2 cards by rocking the cache card near the connectors joining the 2 cards. Do not disconnect the battery wires because there may be valid data in the the battery backed-up cache card

4) Install the battery backed-up cache card on the replacement base card being careful to position the battery wires so they do not interfere with the mounting screws or the PCI connector

5) Reinstall the adapter and cables in the system

4.0 Determine Current Firmware Level

Before you install the microcode, it is important to determine the Microcode level of the adapter when you install it in the target system. Use the following instructions to read the Loadable Microcode Level stored in the adapter's non-volatile memory

1)  List the PCI Raid adapters installed in the system by typing:

lsdev -C | grep scraid

Note the device names of all PCI 4-Channel PCI Ultra3 SCSI Raid Adapters installed. The adapter device name will be scraidX,where X is 0,1, or some other number

Identify the name of the card you just installed

2) To check the current microcode level for the adapter enter the following command

lscfg -vl scraidX

Where X is the number of the card you just installed

The Command will produce output similar to

The adapter microcode is listed in the field Loadable Microcode Level.
In the case below, the adapter microcode is 6.20.01

DEVICE       LOCATION       DESCRIPTION

scraid0         20-58                  PCI 4-Channel Ultra3 SCSI RAID Adapter

Part Number.................09P1521

EC Level....................0H10522

Serial Number...............00000001

FRU Number..................37L6892

Manufacturer................IBM000

Displayable Message.........UL3RAID

Diagnostic Level............03

Device Driver Level.........03

Loadable Microcode Level....6.20.01

ROS Level and ID............4.00.26

Device Specific.(YL)........P2-I9

If the FRU Number is 37L6892 and Loadable Microcode Level is different than 4.50.01, 4.70.11 or 4.84.01 as it is in the above case (6.20.01) then you should update the microcode

5.0 Downloading and Installing the Firmware Update Package from WEB (AIX binary)

The WEB package is found under the Adapter Microcode section. The filename is tr48401.bin. It is a self expanding executable which will create a directory containing the download code and these instructions for replacing the adapter base card FRU:

In the table for Adapter Microcode, find PCI 4-Channel Ultra SCSI RAID Adapter In the Files to read/download column, you will find: Description (this instructions document), AIX Format file (for downloading to an AIX system or workstation) You will want a copy of the description (instructions document) and AIX format file. Detailed download/unpacking instructions is as follows for AIX format files:

Note: if the directory /tmp/raidtemp already exists, make sure it is empty before proceeding.
B) Transfer the AIX format file to the /tmp/raidtemp directory (using "Save as..."). You'll see the filename is tr48401.bin
C) Unpack the file by executing the instructions below. You will be asked for the password from the license agreement: pass = **RS/6000**

(don't overlook the periods (.) In the above command) The directory pci4raid with these files will be added to /tmp/raidtemp: 2e1014C.4.84.01 & rdme_4_84_01.HTM. Ignore rdme_4_84_01.HTM, use this readme.
Enter the following command to copy the microcode file to "etc/microcode" directory:

5.1 Downloading and Unpacking the Firmware Update Package from CORE

CORE Package

The CORE package is found under IBM RS/6000-Microcode-Adapter. The filename is 4_84_01.exe. It is a self expanding executable which will create a diskette containing the download code in backup format.

Creating the diskettes

The diskettes that are produced with this procedure are in a format that the SSR can use directly with a computer that is using AIX as it's operating system. These diskettes once produced on the most platform cannot be read using normal platform tools or command line operations.

1. Place a 1.44 Mbyte diskette into your 'A' Diskette drive.
2. Press 'Launch' on the line that represents the Firmware that you want to generate.
3. Label Diskette "IBM PCI 4-Channel Ultra3 SCSI RAID Adapter Firmware-Version 4.84.01"

Transfer update files from this AIX backup diskette onto the workstation that you are going to use this firmware.

4. Insert the diskette in the floppy diskette reader (rfd0).
5. Login as su or "root" on the workstation.
6. Enter the AIX command:

This command will extract the binary image of the microcode to the system /etc/microcode directory.

Alternatively, the AIX binary file or RPM file can be downloaded to the target server and extracted via the process in the previous and following sections.

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/RPM

b) Transfer the RPM format file to the /etc/microcode directory (using "Save as ...").
You'll see the filename is adapter.scraid.4.84.01.rpm

c) Unpack the file by executing the instructions below:
Enter the commands:
rpm -ihv --ignoreos adapter.scraid.4.84.01.rpm

To obtain information how to burn a CD-ROM and run the Discovery Tool for an AIX System please go to: CDROMhelp.html
1) After running the Discovery Tool successfully the "/tmp/microcode/RPM" directory was created and your rpm files are copied from the CD-ROM.

3) Unpack the file by executing the instructions below:
Enter the commands:
rpm -ihv --ignoreos adapter.scraid.4.84.01.rpm
4) Microcode files will be copied to "/etc/microcode". The file size and checksum of the microcode image will be verified in Section 6.0

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.

6.0 Updating the Firmware on the Target Adapter

NOTE: Please save current and older versions of the microcode update files in case you need to restore your system.

This section describes the method for transferring the new firmware into the target adapter. Each flash update should complete within one minute.

WARNING: Do not power off the target server at any time before the flash process completes. If power is removed or the system is reset while flash_update is being run, irrecoverable failures may occur. This could require return of the adapter for exchange.

Please verify the filesize and checksum of the raw microcode file in the /etc/microcode/ directory.
Filesize: 536852
Checksum: 54319

FLASH the adapter EEPROM using one of the 2 following commands:
A) If the loadable microcode level listed previously is below 4.84.01 then type

Where X is the numerical character denoting the logical ID of the SCSI RAID adapter you identified previously.

B) If the loadable microcode level listed previously is above 4.84.01 then type

This will cause 4.84.01 load even if a higher level from some other application is on the card. You should receive a confirmation that microcode has been updated.

NOTE: If downleveling to 4.84.01 you will receive a message stating, "The configuration data could not be restored to the NVRAM of the adapter. Run the Disk Array Manager to resolve the adapter configuration error." This message is displayed falsely. Verify the update (below) and then type "smit pdam -> List PCI SCSI Disk Arrays" to verify the configuration is present.

Verifying the Update
To verify that the correct level of microcode, 4.84.01, is on the adapter type:

Where X is the numeric character denoting the logical ID of the SCSI RAID adapter you identified previously. The Loadable Microcode Level should be 4.84.01.

"Replacing the PCI 4-Channel Ultra3 SCSI RAID Adapter" in the adapter REFERENCE GUIDE, SA23-1239-00 which is summarized below:

Attention:
If the adapter being replaced experienced an abrupt failure, there may be valid data in the adapter's non volatile write cache.
If an existing disk array configuration will be imported from the attached drives, then the write cache card from the adapter being replaced should be used with the new adapter. This will ensure any data which may exist in the non-volatile write cache module is correctly written to the attached disk drives.

A configuration conflict may result when a PCI 4-Channel Ultra3 SCSI RAID Adapter within a configured system is replaced (possibly due to a defective adapter). The configuration stored on the adapter may be out of sync with the configuration stored on the drives. The configuration can be restored by synchronizing the adapter configuration with the drive configuration. This can be accomplished using the ACCEPT CONFIGURATION ON DRIVES option under PDAM RECOVERY OPTIONS. PDAM is the PCI SCSI Disk Array Manager under SMIT.
Use the following to do this:

1. Start PDAM by entering the following command

    smit pdam

2. Select the RECOVERY OPTIONS option.

3. Select RESOLVE PCI SCSI RAID ADAPTER CONFIGURATION option.

4. Select ACCEPT CONFIGURATION ON DRIVES option.

5. Select the adapter that was replaced.

NOTE: following an Accept Configuration on Drives option, the PCI 4-Channel Ultra3 SCSI RAID Adapter will automatically perform a Consistency Check with Auto-Repair on all redundant level RAID arrays. Progress of the Consistency Check can be monitored using the list PCI SCSI Disk Arays option of PDAM.

Adapter Firmware Level	Description of Code
NOTE	Note levels 4.50.01, 4.70.11 and 4.84.01 have proven to be equivalent on pSeries. Any of these levels are acceptable to be installed on the adapter. Any level 5.xx.xx or above is xSeries only microcode. FRU replacements typically come w/ a xSeries microcode level flashed on the adapter. If one of these levels is on the adapter please downlevel the microcode.
4.84.01	Large Sequential Write Enhancements, Spin Down Defunct Drives
4.70.11	Further Command Timeout Fixes
4.50.01	Fixes Command Timeout Issue
4.20.18	First Customer Ship Level

PCI 4-Channel Ultra 3 SCSI RAID Adapter Replacement and Firmware Update Procedure

Table of Contents:

1.0 Microcode Change History

2.0 Machines Affected