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IBM i Removable Media: Updating firmware on stand-alone tape drives

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Abstract

This document contains the procedures for updating stand-alone tape drive firmware on IBM i.

Content

Most tape drive firmware is updated via the Tape Library interface. However, stand-alone drive firmware needs to be updated via other methods

Drive Code

The Drive code is found on FixCentral.

  • For the internal drive or stand-alone drive, the code is downloaded from the TS22xx for Half High drive and TS23xx for Full High drive links.
    • For an internal LTO5 drive, type 5638, use the TS2250 firmware
    • For an internal LTO6 drive, type EU11, use the TS2260 firmware
  • The code for the drives in Tape Media Libraries (TS2900, TS3100/3200, TS3310, TS3500, or TS4500) is downloaded from the individual library sections of FixCentral. (*.ro file or *.fmrz file)
  • The library drive code must be downloaded from the appropriate library link to ensure compatibility and support with the specific library.
  • The code level naming convention for LTO drives is one of the following (depending how it is downloaded):
    • Type 1

      • XH_T_xxxxLY.ro

      • XH is form Factor(Full High-FH, Half High-HH)

      • T is the connection type 

      • xxxx is the firmware version

      • L is for LTO

      • Y is the drive generation (1 for Ultrium1, 2 for Ultrium2, 3 for Ultrium3, etc.)

    • Type 2

      • LTOY_xxxx_TTT.ro

      • Y is the drive generation (1 for Ultrium1, 2 for Ultrium2, 3 for Ultrium3, etc.)

      • xxxx is the firmware version

      • TTT is the connection type

      • XH is form Factor(Full High-fh, Half High-hh)

There is no command on IBM i to display the firmware level of a stand-alone tape device, but the following methods can be used to determine the current tape device firmware levels:  
  • The Control Device (QTACTLDV) API can be used to extract and display the firmware level of a stand-alone tape drive.  See Examples: Using the Control Device (QTACTLDV) API  (Example 2: Displaying the firmware level of a tape device) for an example of code that can be compiled and run on an IBM i partition to do that function.
  • For IBM i 7.2, IBM i 7.3, IBM i 7.4, or IBM i 7.5 the iotapepaths Advanced Analysis macro can be used to display or print detailed information about the configuration of the tape devices on the system and their current firmware levels.   See Using the iotapepaths Advanced Analysis macro

Updating Tape Drive Firmware

Code can be loaded on the drive by using one of the following methods:

Using IBM Navigator for i (Web interface)

To use the IBM navigator for i (Web), open the following URL - http://<System name or IP Address>:2001, then sign on and select:

  • Expand
    • Configuration and Service
    • All Tasks
    • Tape Devices
  • Select
    • Stand-Alone Devices
  • Select
    • Update Firmware...
    • Browse and select the downloaded file
    • Click OK, OK

Using System i Navigator

To use the System i Navigator:

  • Download the required firmware to your PC. 
  • Sign onto the IBM i system.
  • Copy the firmware image from your PC to the IBM i Integrated File System (IFS).
  • Use System i Navigator to select the system the tape drive is attached to. If the system does not exist, add it under My Connections.
  • Expand
    • Configuration and Services
    • Hardware
    • Tape Drives
    • Stand-Alone Drives
  • Select the tape drive
  • Select Update Firmware
  • Browse and select the downloaded file
  • Click OK, OK

Using the QTAUPDDV API to update firmware

When System i Navigator or IBM Navigator for i are not available to use, the Update Device Microcode (QTAUPDDV) API provides an interface for updating device microcode from a code image stored in an Integrated File System (IFS) stream file.

The QTAUPDDV API supports only self-configuring, stand-alone tape devices. Use the Retrieve Device Capabilities (QTARDCAP) API to determine whether the tape device is a self-configured tape device. Other types of devices are currently not supported by this API. This API can be used for a tape device within a media library if the device is de-allocated from the library.

Note: Incorrect use of this API can cause damage to the tape device.

Instructions

Save the latest release of drive firmware image to your PC. Copy the firmware image from your PC to the Integrated File System (IFS) on your IBM i partition by using FTP. Use the QTAUPDDV API to update the drive firmware from the firmware image that was copied to your IBM i partition.

Example of how to use FTP to copy a firmware image from your PC to the IBM i:

From a command prompt window on your PC.

  • CD (change directory) to the directory location of the firmware file on your PC.
    • Example: C:\> cd temp\downloads
  • Use FTP to connect to the IBM i partition. Enter the user name and password when prompted.
    • C:\temp\downloads> ftp system_name
  • Use pwd to list the current working directory on the IBM i partition.
    • ftp> pwd
  • Issue the following command to change to the Integrated File System name format.
    • ftp> quote site namefmt 1
  • Use cd to switch to the directory on the IBM i partition where you want to store the firmware file. (If this directory does not exist you need to create it first)
    • Example: ftp> cd /usr/firmware
  • Type bin - to transfer the file in binary.
    • ftp> bin
  • Type put - to transfer the firmware file.
    • Example: ftp> put firmware_file_name.ro
  • Exit FTP
    • ftp> quit

Using the QTAUPDDV API.

You need to make sure that the tape drive is VARIED ON as a stand-alone device before you use the QTAUPDDV API,

Type the following command at the OS/400 MAIN MENU:

  • WRKCFGSTS *DEV *TAP

  • Type the following command at the OS/400 MAIN MENU:

    CALL QTAUPDDV (tape_device_name ‘/usr/firmware/firmware_file_name’)
    • tape_device_name = the name of your tape device
    • firmware_file_name = the name of the firmware file

            Note: Be sure to include the spaces.

Troubleshooting:

If the device rejects the firmware update, check the follow:

  • Verify that the tape drive is varied on as a stand-alone device.
  • Check the web page with firmware download for any known issues for your tape drive. Some releases of firmware might require more PTFs to work properly.
  • Verify that the proper firmware image is being used, which matches the tape drive type.
  • Ensure that there is no cartridge in the tape drive.
  • If the firmware image was sent to the IBM i partition by using FTP, verify that binary (BIN) transfer was performed.

For more information on using the QTAUPDDV API, click here.

Using the iotapepaths Advanced Analysis macro

The iotapepaths Advanced Analysis macro can be used to display or print detailed information about the configuration of the tape devices on the system and their current firmware levels.  Use the following steps to run the iotapepaths Advanced analysis macro

  1. From the Use Dedicated Service Tools or System Service Tools display, select Start a Service Tool.
  2. From the Start a Service Tool display, select Display/Alter/Dump.
  3. From the Display/Alter/Dump Output Device display, select Dump to printer or Display/Alter storage
  4. From the Select Data display, select Licensed Internal Code (LIC) data.
  5. From the Select LIC data display, page down and select Advanced analysis
  6. From the Select Advanced Analysis Command, type a 1 in the option field next to the blank line and enter iotapepaths as the command.
  7. From the Specify Advanced Analysis Options display press Enter with no options to see the information for all of the tape devices.   The rightmost column of the output is the current firmware level.    Note: You may need to use F10=Right or F20=Right to see that field. 
Trademarks
Linear Tape-Open, LTO, the LTO Logo, Ultrium and the Ultrium Logo are registered trademarks of Hewlett Packard Enterprise, International Business Machines Corporation and Quantum Corporation in the United States and other countries.

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Document Information

Modified date:
05 May 2022

UID

ibm11110363

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