Updating Tape Drive Firmware Using an Image File

The Web client allows you to update tape drive firmware using a firmware image file. It takes approximately 30 minutes to update one or more tape drives using an image file.

Because drives can be updated in parallel, updating multiple drives does not require more time than updating a single drive. You can upgrade multiple tape drives at one time if they are of the same tape drive type (for example, LTO-3) and interface type (for example, SCSI).

Tape drive firmware is available from Quantum Support. Download the file to your computer hard drive. Verify with the Release Notes or Quantum Support that you are updating the tape drives with the correct version of firmware. For Quantum Support contact information, see Getting More Information or Help.

NOTE: For HP LTO tape drives, you may receive two versions of drive code in the same bundle: .E and .FRM. Make sure to use the .E version for the upgrade process described here. (The .FRM version is used by HP Library and Tape Tools, a host-based drive management application, and should NOT be used here.).

Also note that each tape drive interface type (SCSI, SAS, and Fibre Channel) requires unique firmware. For example, you cannot use a SCSI firmware image file to update a Fibre Channel tape drive and vice-versa.

It is recommended that all tape drives of the same interface type have the same firmware level installed. The library allows you to update firmware on multiple tape drives at one time.

If the tape drive and affected partition is online, it will be taken offline before the firmware update operation is performed, and brought back online after it is complete. You will be asked to confirm that you want to take the tape drive and partition offline. (If the operation does not complete successfully, the partition remains offline until you turn it back online manually or restart the library. See Changing the Partition Mode.)

CAUTION: Before you update tape drive firmware, make sure that cartridges are not loaded in any tape drives.

CAUTION: Do not turn off power to the library during the update process. Turning off power to the library during the update can cause problems with the library.

NOTE: This operation should not be performed concurrently by multiple administrators logged in from different locations. You can access the appropriate screens, but you cannot apply changes while another administrator is performing the same operation.

You need administrator privileges to update tape drive firmware using an image file.

1. Using the Web client, select Tools > Drive Operations.

   The Tools - Drive Operations screen displays. The screen lists the available drive operations.

2. Select Update tape drive firmware using a firmware image file and click Next.

   The Update Drive Firmware By Image screen displays. The screen lists the following information about each installed tape drive:

   • Partition

   • Location

   • Drive firmware

   • Status

   • Whether it is connected to an FC I/O blade

   • Whether it is connected via Ethernet. If the tape drive is connected via Ethernet, the tape drive IP address will be listed in the Ethernet Connected column. If the tape drive is Ethernet capable but not connected, the column displays “No.” If the tape drive is not Ethernet capable, the column displays “N/A.”

3. Do one of the following:
   • If your library contains multiple tape drive interface types, continue with step 4.
   • If your library contains only one tape drive interface type, continue with step 5.
4. Select the interface type you want to update and click Next.

   The Update Drive Firmware screen displays. This screen lists the location, current installed firmware, and status of each tape drive of a specific interface type.

5. Select the tape drive(s) you want to update and click Next.

   NOTE: If there is more than one page of tape drives, use the Page 1 of x arrows to view the additional tape drives.

   NOTE: Bold column headings in the table can be sorted. For example, selecting the Location column heading will sort by location coordinates.

   The Update Drive Firmware By Image screen displays.

6. Click Browse.
7. Locate the tape drive firmware image file and click Open.
8. Click Apply.

   The Progress Window displays. The Progress Window contains information on the action, elapsed time, and status of the requested operation. Do one of the following:

   • If Complete appears in the Progress Window, the tape drive firmware update completed. Continue with step 9.
   • If Failure appears in the Progress Window, the tape drive firmware update did not complete. Follow the instructions listed in the Progress Window to resolve any issues that occurred during the operation.
9. To verify the firmware update, view the System Information Report and verify that the correct firmware appears for the tape drive(s) you updated.

   For information on how to view the System Information Report, see Viewing System Information.

10. Do one of the following:
    • If the correct firmware appears on the System Information Report for the tape drive(s) you updated, the firmware update is complete.
    • If the incorrect firmware appears on the System Information Report for the tape drive(s) you updated, check to see if a Reliability, Availability, and Serviceability (RAS) ticket was generated. For information on RAS tickets, see Working With RAS Tickets.

See also:

• About Tape Drive Operations
• Retrieving Tape Drive Logs