IBM Support

IBM System Storage N series Hard Disk Drive (HDD) / Solid State Drive (SSD) Firmware and Data ONTAP Disk Qualification Package (DQP) Download and Installation Instructions

Product Documentation


Abstract

These instructions describe how to locate, download, and install the Hard Disk Drive (HDD) and Solid State Drive (SSD) firmware for all vendors and versions and, if required, the Data ONTAP® Disk Qualification Package (DQP) for the IBM® System Storage™ N series storage systems.

Content


Installation prerequisites:

To install the HDD / SSD firmware and/or Data ONTAP DQP, you need to have access to one of the following sets of devices:
  • A UNIX® client system and a serial console connected to the storage system.
  • A Windows® client system and a serial console connected to the storage system.

Considerations when updating the Hard Disk Drive (HDD) and Solid State Disk (SSD) firmware on an N series storage system:
  1. At the time of manufacture, the most current HDD / SSD firmware is shipped with new systems.
  2. Whenever a new Data ONTAP release is made available, the most current HDD / SSD firmware is included with the Data ONTAP release.
  3. Prior to the Data ONTAP 8.0.2 release, background HDD / SSD firmware nondisruptive upgrades (NDU) were available for disk drives in aggregates of all RAID types except non-mirrored RAID4. For storage systems upgrading to Data ONTAP releases prior to Data ONTAP 8.0.2, the disruptive HDD / SSD firmware upgrade for disk drives in a non-mirrored RAID4 aggregate must be performed prior to upgrading to a newer Data ONTAP release.
  4. Beginning with the Data ONTAP 8.0.2 release, storage systems with non-mirrored RAID4 aggregates can be upgraded nondisruptively using the background HDD / SSD firmware upgrade process. The HDD / SSD firmware will be updated after the storage system has booted with the new release of Data ONTAP.
  5. Schedule the HDD / SSD firmware update during times of minimal usage of the storage system as this activity is intrusive to the normal processing of disk I/O.
  6. Updating the HDD / SSD firmware involves resetting the drive; therefore, it is possible that a volume can become off-line if you are upgrading 2 or more of the same drive types in the same RAID group. When you upgrade HDD / SSD firmware, you are upgrading the firmware of all the same drive types in parallel. When encountering a situation like this, it is best to schedule a maintenance window to upgrade the HDD / SSD firmware for all drives. The other alternative is to upgrade the HDD / SSD firmware one drive at a time.

Considerations when updating the Data ONTAP Disk Qualification Package (DQP) on an N series storage system:
  1. Each DQP will contain several files. The file used to install the DQP is based upon the release of Data ONTAP that is running on the storage system. Each file contains a header with a Datecode in the format "YYYYMMDD" to identify the date when the file was last updated. Do not modify the contents of any DQP because this can bring the storage system to a halt.
  2. To determine the version of the DQP installed on your storage system, you can use a "rdfile /etc/<dqp_filename>" command on the storage controller console to read the header of the appropriate DQP file installed. Refer to the examples below based upon which release of Data ONTAP is running on the storage system.
  3. If the storage system is running a Data ONTAP 7.2.1, 7.2.2, or 7.2.3 release:
    system_name> rdfile /etc/qual_devices_v2 (7.2.1,7.2.2,7.2.3)

    #########
    # This file is auto generated by the script file.
    # Copyright (c) 2000 NetApp  Inc.
    # All rights reserved.
    #
    # Datecode: 20090506
    #
    #########
    • Failure to have updated disk qualification files can result in a system shutdown if the problem is not remedied in 72 hours.
    • These older releases of Data ONTAP require the latest version of the qual_devices_v2 file for updating the DQP.
    • The last update to the qual_devices_v2 file occurred on May 6, 2009 (i.e., the "20090506" Datecode of the file in the DQP is the last that contained an update). To obtain updates for all newly qualified disk drives, the storage system must be upgraded to run the Data ONTAP 7.2.4 or later release.
    • Example of determining the Datecode for the qual_devices_v2 file:
  4. If the storage system is running a Data ONTAP 7.2.4 or later release:
    system_name> rdfile /etc/qual_devices_v3 (7.2.4 and later)

    #########
    # This file is auto generated by the script file.
    # Copyright (c) 2000 NetApp  Inc.
    # All rights reserved.
    #
    # Datecode: 20130228
    #
    #########
    • These later releases of Data ONTAP require the latest version of the qual_devices_v3 file for updating the DQP.
    • Example of determining the Datecode for the qual_devices_v3 file:
  5. Starting with Data ONTAP 7.2.1 and later, full support for next generation disk drives can be added to existing releases in a nondisruptive manner by simply downloading and installing a new Disk Qualification Package onto the storage system.
  6. Failure to have the latest disk qualification files on your storage system can prevent Data ONTAP from taking full advantage of all features of the new disk drive thus resulting in reduced reliability, availability and serviceability.

Downloading all or part of the HDD / SSD firmware and the Data ONTAP DQP:

To download all or part of the HDD / SSD firmware, including the Data ONTAP DQP, to your storage system, complete one of the following sets of steps when using either a UNIX client or Windows client.
 
Steps
Download Actions when using a UNIX client
1
 Create a mount point for the storage system's root file system on the UNIX client by entering the following command:
  • mkdir /mnt

    where:
    • /mnt is the directory on the UNIX client where you want to mount the storage system's root file system.
2
 Mount the storage system's root file system in the new directory by entering the following command:
  • mount system_name:/ /mnt

    where:
    • system_name is the name of your storage system.
3
 Enter the following command to go to the UNIX client's /mnt/etc directory:
  • cd /mnt/etc
4
 The HDD / SSD firmware files and Data ONTAP Disk Qualification Package (DQP) for installation with a UNIX client are available for download using the "Software Packages ...." link from the Download view of the N series Support Website. Refer to the important information for N series support for step-by-step instructions explaining how to access software packages as part of the complete instructions for entitlement and registration. When following the step-by-step instructions, select the Hard Disk Drive (HDD) and Solid State Disk (SSD) Firmware software package from the N series and related Host Software Downloads - Pick page and open it by pressing the "Continue" button at the bottom of the page.
5
 When the N series and related Host Software Downloads - Download page is displayed for the Hard Disk Drive (HDD) and Solid State Drive (SSD) Firmware Software Package, the "Download using Download Director" view will be preselected. IBM recommends using the Download Director as this method will ensure easy recovery in the event the download is interrupted. If necessary, you may also choose the "Download using http" view to download files via HTTP.

Methods for downloading HDD / SSD firmware and the Data ONTAP DQP:
  • When using the "Download using Download Director" view, select the radio button next to the file and press the "Download now" button at the bottom of the page. If the download begins without allowing you to specify the location to save the file, press the "Cancel" button, press "Yes" to delete the partially downloaded file, then press the "Setup" button, select the "Always ask for download location" option, press the "OK" button, close the window and restart the download. You will now be requested to specify the location to save the file.
  • When using the "Download using http" view, select the "Download now" button to the right of the file. You will now be requested to specify the location to save the file.
6
 The HDD / SSD firmware can be updated in its entirety or for an individual vendor's HDD. Choose one of the following options:
  • If updating all HDDs' / SSDs' firmware (i.e., all vendors and versions), go to Step 7.
  • If updating a single HDD's / SSD's firmware (i.e., a particular vendor), go to Step 9.
  • If the Data ONTAP DQP is to be updated without updating the HDD's firmware, go to Step 10.
7
 If updating all HDDs' / SSDs' firmware (i.e., all vendors and versions), find the All HDD / SSD Firmware section on the N series and related Host Software Downloads - Download page and select the all.gz file to be downloaded.

Follow the prompts in the download process to save the HDD / SSD firmware file to your UNIX client so that it can be accessed later using the convention:
  • /mnt/etc/disk_fw/all.gz
8
 From the UNIX client, extract the files with the following commands:
  • gunzip all.gz
    tar xvf all

    Result: The gunzip command creates a tar file and the tar command extracts files and reports the file names. All HDD / SSD firmware files should appear in the /mnt/etc/disk_fw directory.

Go to Step 10.
9
 If updating a single HDD's firmware, find the Individual HDD / SSD Firmware for <vendor> section (where <vendor> is Fujitsu, Hitachi, Maxtor, Seagate, etc.) on the N series and related Host Software Downloads - Download page and select the particular LOD file to be downloaded.

Follow the prompts in the download process to save the HDD / SSD firmware file selected to your UNIX client so that it can be accessed later using the convention:
  • /mnt/etc/disk_fw/firmware_name

    where:
    • firmware_name is the HDD / SSD firmware's file name (e.g., "X274_FAL9E146F10.NA04.LOD").
10
 NOTE: Refer to the information contained in the Considerations when updating the Data ONTAP Disk Qualification Package (DQP) on an N series storage system section of this document to determine if the DQP file installed on your storage system needs to be updated.

Find the Disk Qualification Package section on the N series and related Host Software Downloads - Download page and select the DQP for UNIX file to be downloaded.

Follow the prompts in the download process to save the DQP for UNIX file selected to your UNIX client so that it can be accessed later using the convention:
  • /mnt/etc/qual_devices.tar.gz
11
 From the UNIX client, extract the files with the following commands:
  • gunzip qual_devices.tar.gz
    tar xvf qual_devices.tar
  • Result: The gunzip command creates a tar file and the tar command extracts files and reports the file names. The Data ONTAP DQP files should appear in the /mnt/etc directory.
12
 From the UNIX client, unmount the storage system's root file system (/) by entering the following commands:
  • cd /
    umount /mnt

The Download Actions are complete; go to the Install Actions in the next section.
Steps
Download Actions when using a Windows client
1
 Log in to your Windows client using an account that has one of the following rights:
  • Domain administrator rights
  • Full control on the storage system C$ share

Note: The Windows client used must have unzip software installed to extract the zip file.
2
 The HDD / SSD firmware files and Data ONTAP Disk Qualification Package (DQP) for installation with a Windows client is available for download using the "Software Packages ...." link from the Download view of the N series Support Website. Refer to the important information for N series support for step-by-step instructions explaining how to access software packages as part of the complete instructions for entitlement and registration. When following the step-by-step instructions, select the Hard Disk Drive (HDD) and Solid State Drive (SSD) Firmware software package from the N series and related Host Software Downloads - Pick page and open it by pressing the "Continue" button at the bottom of the page.
3
 When the N series and related Host Software Downloads - Download page is displayed for the Hard Disk Drive (HDD) and Solid State Drive (SSD) Firmware Software Package, the "Download using Download Director" view will be preselected. IBM recommends using the Download Director as this method will ensure easy recovery in the event the download is interrupted. If necessary, you may also choose the "Download using http" view to download files via HTTP.

Methods for downloading HDD / SSD firmware and the Data ONTAP DQP:
  • When using the "Download using Download Director" view, select the radio button next to the file and press the "Download now" button at the bottom of the page. If the download begins without allowing you to specify the location to save the file, press the "Cancel" button, press "Yes" to delete the partially downloaded file, then press the "Setup" button, select the "Always ask for download location" option, press the "OK" button, close the window and restart the download. You will now be requested to specify the location to save the file.
  • When using the "Download using http" view, select the "Download now" button to the right of the file. You will now be requested to specify the location to save the file.
4
 The HDD / SSD firmware can be updated in its entirety or for an individual vendor's HDD. Choose one of the following options:
  • If updating all HDDs' / SSDs' firmware (i.e., all vendors and versions), go to Step 5.
  • If updating a single HDD's / SSD's firmware (i.e., a particular vendor), go to Step 7.
  • If the Data ONTAP DQP is to be updated without updating the HDD's firmware, go to Step 8.
5
 If updating all HDDs' / SSDs' firmware (i.e., all vendors and versions), find the All HDD / SSD Firmware section on the N series and related Host Software Downloads - Download page and select the all.zip file to be downloaded.

Follow the prompts in the download process to save the all.zip file to your Windows client so that it can be accessed later using the convention:
  • \\[system_name]\C$\etc\disk_fw

    where:
    • system_name is the name of your storage system.
      C$ should point to the root volume of the storage system. This is normally "vol0".
6
 From the Windows client, go to the drive and directory that contains the all.zip file you downloaded and unzip it.

Result: All HDD / SSD firmware files should appear in the \\[system_name]\C$\etc\disk_fw directory.

Go to Step 8.
7
 If updating a single HDD's / SSD's firmware, find the Individual HDD / SSD Firmware for <vendor> section (where <vendor> is Fujitsu, Hitachi, Maxtor, Seagate, etc.) on the N series and related Host Software Downloads - Download page and select the particular LOD file to be downloaded.

Follow the prompts in the download process to save the HDD / SSD firmware file selected to your UNIX client so that it can be accessed later using the convention:
  • \\[system_name]\C$\etc\disk_fw\firmware_name

    where:
    • firmware_name is the HDD / SSD firmware's file name (e.g., "X274_FAL9E146F10.NA04.LOD").
8
 NOTE: Refer to the information contained in the Considerations when updating the Data ONTAP Disk Qualification Package (DQP) on an N series storage system section of this document to determine if the DQP file installed on your storage system needs to be updated.

Find the Disk Qualification Package section on the N series and related Host Software Downloads - Download page and select the DQP for Windows file to be downloaded.

Follow the prompts in the download process to save the DQP for Windows file selected to your UNIX client so that it can be accessed later using the convention:
  • \\[system_name]\C$\etc\qual_devices.zip
9
 From the Windows client, go to the drive and directory that contains the qual_devices.zip file you downloaded and unzip it.

Result: The Data ONTAP DQP files should appear in the \\[system_name]\C$\etc directory.

The Download Actions are complete; go to the Install Actions in the next section.

Installing all or part of the HDD / SSD firmware and the Data ONTAP DQP:

To install all or part of the HDD / SSD firmware, including the Data ONTAP DQP, on your storage system, complete the following steps.
 
Steps
Install Actions on storage system
1
 Use the appropriate install action based upon the configuration of your storage system. The configuration will determine if the storage system can use a nondisruptive HDD / SSD firmware upgrade process or if it must use a disruptive HDD / SSD firmware upgrade process.

Nondisruptive install action:
  • If the storage system is running the Data ONTAP 8.0.2 or later release or the storage system is running a prior Data ONTAP release without any drives in a non-mirrored RAID4 aggregate, it is recommended that the background option be used to update the HDD / SSD firmware for drives in RAID-DP volumes and mirrored RAID4 volumes instead of automatically updating all the HDD / SSD firmware upon a reboot. This option will allow the storage system to reboot faster by updating the HDD / SSD firmware nondisruptively in the background with Data ONTAP running and serving data. To enable this feature, enter the following command at the storage system's console:
    • system_name> options raid.background_disk_fw_update.enable on
    • where:
      system_name is the name of your storage system.

    With this option in effect, whenever newer HDD / SSD firmware is detected, the drive will have the firmware upgraded in the background. Disabling this option reverts back to the default behavior where all the drives' firmware are upgraded upon reboot of the storage system; which can result in longer reboot times.

Disruptive install action:
  • For drives in a non-mirrored RAID4 aggregate on a storage system running a Data ONTAP release prior to 8.0.2, a disruptive HDD / SSD firmware upgrade is required. After the new HDD / SSD firmware has been downloaded onto the storage system, manually upgrade the HDD / SSD firmware disruptively, enter the following command at the storage system's console:

    system_name> disk_fw_update

    where:
    • system_name is the name of your storage system.
2
 NOTE: Refer to the information contained in the Considerations when updating the Data ONTAP Disk Qualification Package (DQP) on an N series storage system section of this document to determine if the DQP file installed on your storage system needs to be updated.

If you have downloaded the Data ONTAP Disk Qualification Package (DQP) onto the storage system, wait five (5) minutes for the storage system to process newly installed drive qualification files, then install your new drive(s).

No reboot is necessary.

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Document Information

Modified date:
10 January 2020

UID

ssg1S7002516

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