README: USB Removable Disk Drive Microcode


Table of Contents

README: USB Removable Disk Drive Microcode

  • Date: November 7, 2009
  • Microcode Versions:
  • Internal: 3043
  • External: 2043
  • Supported Feature Codes
  • Internal 1103
  • External 1104
  • General information
  • Definition of Terms:
  • RDX is a trademark of the ProStor Corporation.
  • USB Dock: Feature Code 1103 and Feature Code 1104
  • Removable Disk Drive: Feature Code 1106 and Feature Code 1107.
  • Operating System levels supported:
  • Installation Time:
  • Can microcode be installed Concurrently?
  • Is system reboot needed to activate the microcode
  • Microcode Download information:
  • Additional Cautions
  • Machines Affected:
  • Microcode History
  • Internal Dock Feature Code 1103
  • External Dock Feature Code 1104
  • Display Microcode Level
  • Internal FC 1103:
  • External FC 1104:
  • Putting the microcode on the system
  • From the IBM WEB site via the user downloading the files.
  • From a CD-ROM.
  • Packaged Microcode Files
  • AIX bin file
  • RPM file
  • Verifying the Microcode
  • Updating the microcode in the drive
  • Copy Dsdata and Microcode to appropriate directory
  • To use AIX Diagnostics

  • README: USB Removable Disk Drive Microcode

    Date: November 7, 2009


    Microcode Versions:

    Internal: 3043

    External: 2043


    Supported Feature Codes

    Internal 1103

    Note: The microcode download to the internal dock, feature code 1103, is not supported at this time. This support should be available within a few months.

    External 1104


    General information

    ******* Please read this entire notice *********

    This package is being provided to allow the update of older USB Removable Disk Drive Microcode to the latest level of microcode that is currently shipping from IBM.

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


    Definition of Terms:

    RDX is a trademark of the ProStor Corporation.

    USB Dock: Feature Code 1103 and Feature Code 1104

    The device that accepts the removable disk. The USB Dock contains microcode that this microcode process can update when newer microcode is made available.

    Removable Disk Drive: Feature Code 1106 and Feature Code 1107.

    The removable disk drive is the disk drive that goes into the docking station(dock). Currently the following removable disks are available:

    There is no updatable microcode available for the removable disks.


    Operating System levels supported:

    All levels of AIX that this product was announced on.


    Installation Time:

    The typical time to install this microcode is .2 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 USB dock must be available with no other processing running to the USB dock.


    Is system reboot needed to activate the microcode

    A reboot is not needed as the microcode is active in the dock when the dock completes microcode download.


    Microcode Download information:

    In order to complete the microcode download to the USB Dock you will need to use the AIX diagnostics.
    The AIX diagnostic package will need the microcode files in this package.
    This USB Dock microcode package will get you to step where you will need to use the AIX Diagnostics.


    Additional Cautions

    Remove any removable disk cartridge from the drive prior to attempting the microcode download.
    Do not power off the USB Dock during microcode download as this may damage the USB Dock microcode requiring the USB Dock to be replaced.


    Machines Affected:

    All Power Systems this product was announce on. In general if the USB Dock 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

    Internal Dock Feature Code 1103

    The microcode update will bring the IBM RDX USB Dock up to the current level of microcode which is:
    3043

    Table 1. Microcode History
    Dock P/N Dock FRU P/N Microcode Level Date Released What does this microcode change

    46C5370 46C5380 3043 October 30, 2009
    • GA level, First level released.


    External Dock Feature Code 1104

    The microcode update will bring the IBM RDX USB Dock up to the current level of microcode which is:
    2043

    Table 2. Microcode History
    Dock P/N Dock FRU P/N Microcode Level Date Released What does this microcode change

    46C5372 46C5381 2043 October 30, 2009
    • GA level, First level released.



    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 USB Dock microcode level.

    To display the level of microcode in the USB Dock do the following AIX command:

     lscfg -vl usbms0             <--- change the dock number to reflect
                                       the actual usbms address of the Dock
    

    The output of the lscfg command will look like the following with the:

    Internal FC 1103:

    usbms0           U78A5.001.WIH0008-P1-T1-L1-L2-L2-L0  USB Mass Storage
     
            Manufacturer................IBM
            Machine Type and Model......IBMRDX
            ROS Level and ID............3043
            Serial Number...............U081940031
    

    External FC 1104:

    usbms0           U78A5.001.WIH0008-P1-T1-L1-L2-L2-L0  USB Mass Storage
     
            Manufacturer................IBM
            Machine Type and Model......IBMRDX
            ROS Level and ID............2043
            Serial Number...............U081940098
    


    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.

    From a CD-ROM.

    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

    RPM file


    Verifying the Microcode

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


    Updating the microcode in the drive

    You need to determine how you are going to download the microcode:

    AIX diagnostics naming and supported directory for the microcode and dsdata file.

    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/IBMRDX_web
     
    cp IBMRDX.int1103.3043 /etc/microcode/.
     
    cp IBMRDX.ext1104.2043 /etc/microcode/.
    

    To use AIX Diagnostics

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

    Using the AIX Diagnostics menu

    To use the AIX Diagnostics menu for microcode download do the following:

    Note: There are differences between AIX levels of AIX Diagnostics. In some cases the step after Task selection is Microcode Tools, or Download Microcode. The following steps are general instructions to download microcode.
    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

    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 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.

    Note: If the microcode download fails install:

     
    diag -c -d rmt0 -T "download" (enter)

    or

    diag -c -d rmt0 -T "download -f" (enter)