Upgrading solid-state drive (SSD) software

The Upgrade Software panel in the SAN Volume Controller Console provides a method to upgrade cluster software and SSD software. This panel displays currently uploaded packages, the status of upgrades, and the current version levels.

This task assumes that you have already launched the SAN Volume Controller Console.

Software upgrades include cluster software versions and upgrades to SSDs that are located on SAN Volume Controller 2145-CF8 nodes. For software updates to SSDs, each SAN Volume Controller 2145-CF8 node can contain up to four SSDs, which are presented to SAN Volume Controller Console as managed disks (MDisks). Each of these MDisks contains two programmable components:
  • The drive firmware
  • The Field Programmable Gate Array (FPGA)
These programmable components can be upgraded individually.
Note: Do not upgrade the FPGA unless directed to do so by an IBM® service representative.
If you want to upgrade the SSD software, you can download the upgrade files from the Support for SAN Volume Controller (2145) Web site:

Support for SAN Volume Controller (2145)
Web site

  1. Download the appropriate SSD software from the following Web site:

    Support for SAN Volume Controller (2145) Web site

    • If you want to write the SAN Volume Controller code to a CD, you must download the CD image.
    • If you do not want to write the SAN Volume Controller code to a CD, you must download the install image.
  2. In the portfolio, click Service and Maintenance.
  3. Click Upgrade Software to upgrade SSD software. The Software Upgrade panel is displayed. This panel displays all currently uploaded packages that contain cluster software upgrades and SSD software. Cluster software upgrade files are automatically deleted when they have been successfully uploaded and applied to the all nodes within the cluster. SSD upgrade files remain listed on the panel because they can be applied to multiple drives within the cluster. When you have successfully upgraded the SSD drives in the cluster, you can delete these files.
  4. If you have not uploaded the SSD software file, select Upload File from the task list, and click Upload File. The File Upload panel displays.
  5. Click Browse and select the SSD software file that you downloaded in step 1.
  6. Click OK to copy the SSD software file to the cluster. After the file uploads, the Software Upgrade panel is displayed. The new uploaded file should be displayed in the list.
  7. On the Software Upgrade panel, select the SSD software file that you uploaded and select Apply MDisk Software from the task list and click Go. The Select Solid State Drives panel displays.
  8. On the Select Solid State Drives panel, you can select to either upgrade the SSD firmware or upgrade the FPGA. SSD drives are represented as MDisks. To upgrade SSD firmware, select the SSD drive to be upgraded and select Upgrade Firmware from the task list. Click Go.
    1. On the Upgrading Firmware panel, verify that the correct SSD drive is being upgraded with the correct firmware software package. Click Confirm.
  9. To upgrade the FPGA firmware, select the SSD drive to be upgraded and select Upgrade FPGA from the task list. Click Go.
    Note: Do not upgrade the FPGA of an SSD unless you have been directed to do so by an IBM service representative.
    1. On the Upgrading FPGA panel, verify that the correct SSD drive is being upgraded with the correct FPGA firmware package. Click Confirm.
Parent topic: Upgrading the SAN Volume Controller software
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