Servers - Preventing false DDD errors on hard drives

Abstract
Prevent false DDD errors on server hard drives

Symptom
Hard drives in machine types 8640, 8641, 8642, and 9595 appear DDD. The "Replace/Rebuild" function in the RAIDADM utility or on the RAID Option Diskette completes successfully without physically replacing the drive(s). No hardware failure actually occurs; this is a false DDD.

Problem Isolation Aids
The following hard drives in both RAID and non-RAID Servers will be updated with the firmware update:

1GB FRU p/n06H8560 (Option p/n 07H0386)
2GB FRU p/n06H8561 (Option p/n 07H0387)
4GB FRU p/n06H8562 (Option p/n 07H0834)

The simplest way to identify the drives is to remove the system cover and view the front of the drives. These drives have a silver seal around them.

Fix
The IBM Hard Disk Drive Update Utility Version 4.1 (C43.EXE) updates the firmware on the silver hard drives connected to all IBM SCSI-2 adapters (including RAID adapters) and integrated SCSI-2 controllers supported in PC Servers except the ServeRAID adapter (FRU p/n06H9334).

Obtain a copy of this Diskette
Servers manufactured with the ServeRAID adapter do NOT require the hard drive update. Hard drives with firmware 81K6 will be updated to 6C43. Hard drives with firmware other than 81K6 will NOT be updated. The firmware level of the drives can be viewed on the Drive Information screen on Main Menu of RAID Option Diskette.

Note:
If dissimilar SCSI adapters are installed, or if the Server has an integrated SCSI controller (PCI/MicroChannel Servers) and a SCSI-2 adapter (including RAID), then the utility will only update the hard drives attached to the primary SCSI adapter. Therefore, the utility must be run separately for each type of adapter.

Follow this procedure:
1. Download C43.EXE and expand the image onto a blank diskette using the command: C43.EXE A:
Obtain a copy of this Diskette
2. Ensure that the customer has a current backup of all data.
3. Shutdown the operating system.
4. Boot the Server using the firmware diskette.
5. An error message may appear as different device drivers load. This is normal. Wait for the update to complete.
6. Power off the Server.
7. If the Server has dissimilar SCSI adapters or an integrated SCSI controller (PCI/MCA systems), remove the primary SCSI adapter or disable the integrated SCSI controller by moving the system board jumper J26 to pins 2-3 (adapter position). Reboot the Server using the firmware diskette and the drives connected to the secondary adapter(s) will be updated.
8. After the update is complete, remove the diskette and power off the server.
9. Replace any adapters removed or return jumper J26 to its original position.

Notes:
1. The following message: "Hard Disk Drive updates complete. Remove the diskette, turn off the system power and back on to activate the update. Thank you." indicates that hard drives connected to the PRIMARY (similar) SCSI adapter(s) were updated. Make certain that hard drives connected to secondary (dissimilar) SCSI adapter(s), if any, are also updated. See step 7 above.

2. If the message "No hard disk drives requiring firmware update are present" appears, then either no hard drives require the update, OR the hard drives are connected to secondary (dissimilar) adapter OR the integrated SCSI controller (PCI/Microchannel Servers) needs to be disabled.

Document id: RMIE-39VBW5

Last modified: 2001-10-11

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