You can download the following types of firmware images with MD Storage Manager:
RAID controller module firmware that manages the storage array controllers
RAID nonvolatile static random access memory (NVSRAM) images that specify the default settings for the storage array controllers
Physical disk firmware that controls the operation of the disks in the storage array
Enclosure Management Modules (EMMs) firmware that manages data transfer between the drives and a RAID enclosure
To download firmware for any of these components, click the Support tab and then click Download firmware. MD Storage Manager displays links to specify the components for which firmware is available.
Before downloading any firmware, verify that the storage arrays are in Optimal status. When you download new firmware, MD Storage Manager checks the operating status of the storage array controllers. If any controllers are not in the Optimal status, an error message appears, and you can stop or continue the download. Before continuing, correct any non-Optimal conditions.
NOTE: Virtual disks that do not have all their member drives at controller startup are reported as Optimal. The firmware reports this to prevent disks failing as a result of disconnected enclosures.
Downloading RAID Controller and NVSRAM
Packages
The following sections describe the downloading process for RAID Controller and NVSRAM firmware.
NOTE: Due to a limitation with Linux, firmware updates to the RAID controller module must be performed using out-of-band management only. Failure to do so may result in the host server becoming unresponsive, and it may require a reboot.
Downloading Both RAID Controller and NVSRAM Firmware
NOTE: I/O to the array can continue while you are upgrading RAID controller and NVSRAM firmware.
NOTE: Dell recommends that the firmware and NVSRAM be upgraded during a maintenance period when the array is not being used for I/O.
NOTE: The RAID enclosure must contain at least two disk drives in order to update the firmware on the controller.
Use the following procedure to download RAID controller and NVSRAM firmware in a single operation:
Click the Support tab, then click Download firmware.
From the Download firmware display, click Download RAID Controller
Module Firmware.
A dialog box lists the current controller firmware and NVSRAM versions in use.
Click Select File to browse to the file that you want to download. By
default, only firmware images that are compatible with the current storage
array configuration appear.
Click the file in the File Selection area and then click OK.
If the file you selected is not valid or is incompatible with the current
storage array configuration, an error message appears. Click OK to close
the error message, and select a compatible file.
NOTE: If you wish to only download firmware for the RAID controller, skip to step 10 in this procedure.
Click the check box next to Transfer NVSRAM file with RAID controller
module firmware.
Click Select File to browse to the file that you want to download. By
default, only firmware images that are compatible with the current storage
array configuration appear.
Click the file in the File Selection area and then click OK.
If the file you selected is not valid or is incompatible with the current
storage array configuration, an error message appears. Click OK to close it,
and select a compatible file.
Click Transfer...
A Confirm Download dialog box appears listing the current versions and
the versions you selected of the RAID controller and NVSRAM firmware.
To complete the download, click Yes.
Downloading Only NVSRAM Firmware
Use the following procedure to download NVSRAM firmware:
Click the Support tab, then click Download firmware.
From the Download firmware display, click Download RAID Controller
Module NVSRAM.
A dialog box lists the current controller firmware and NVSRAM versions in use.
Click Select File to browse to the file that you want to download. By
default, only firmware images that are compatible with the current storage
array configuration appear.
Click the file in the File Selection area and then click OK.
If the file you selected is not valid or is incompatible with the current
storage array configuration, an error message appears. Click OK to close it,
and select a compatible file.
Click Transfer...
A Confirm Download dialog box appears listing the current versions and
the versions you selected of the RAID controller and NVSRAM firmware.
To complete the download, click Yes.
Downloading Non-redundant MSCS NVSRAM Firmware
NOTE: For non-redundant MCSC Cluster configurations, download an updated NVSRAM to avoid Virtual Disk Not on Preferred Path conditions.
Use the following procedure to download non-redundant NVSRAM firmware:
Click the Support tab, then click Download firmware.
From the Download firmware display, click Download RAID Controller
Module NVSRAM.
A dialog box lists the current controller firmware and NVSRAM versions in use.
Click Select File to browse to the file that you want to download. By
default, only firmware images that are compatible with the current storage
array configuration appear.
Click the non-redundant-MSCS NVSRAM file in the File Selection area
and then click OK.
If the file you selected is not valid or is incompatible with the current
storage array configuration, an error message appears. Click OK to close it,
and select a compatible file.
Click Transfer...
A Confirm Download dialog box appears listing the current versions and
the versions you selected of the RAID controller and NVSRAM firmware.
To complete the download, click Yes.
Downloading Physical Disk Firmware
Use the following procedure to download physical disk firmware:
NOTE: Dell recommends stopping all I/O to the array when downloading physical disk firmware.
NOTE: Due to a limitation with Linux, physical disk firmware updates must be performed using out-of-band management only. Failure to do so may result in the host server becoming unresponsive, and it may require a reboot.
Click the Support tab, then click Download firmware.
From the Download firmware display, click Download Physical Disk
Firmware.
A dialog box lists the current physical disk firmware version in use.
Click Add to browse to the file that you want to download. By default, only
firmware images that are compatible with physical disks in the storage
array appear.
Click the file in the File Selection area and then click OK.
If the file you selected is not valid or is incompatible with the physical
disks in the storage array, an error message appears. Click OK to close it,
and select a compatible file.
Click Transfer...
A Confirm Download dialog box appears listing the current versions and
the versions you selected of physical disk firmware. To complete the
download, click Yes.
Downloading EMM Firmware
NOTICE: Do not make any configuration changes to the storage array while you are downloading the EMM firmware. Doing so could cause the firmware download to fail, damage the storage array, or cause loss of data accessibility.
NOTE: Due to a limitation with Linux, EMM firmware updates must be performed using out-of-band management only. Failure to do so may result in the host server becoming unresponsive, and it may require a reboot.
Click the Support tab, then click Download firmware.
From the Download firmware display, click Download Environmental
(EMM) Card Firmware.
A list of expansion enclosures appears with the corresponding version of the current EMM firmware file.
Select where to download the EMM firmware by clicking an individual
expansion enclosure to highlight it or by clicking the Select All checkbox
to highlight all the expansion trays.
Click Select File to locate the directory in which the EMM firmware file to
download resides. Select the file to download by double-clicking the file, and
then click Start to start the download.
The Start button is disabled until you select a firmware file. If you click Stop while a firmware download is in progress, the download completes before the operation stops. When the status field for the remaining expansion enclosures changes to Canceled, restart the firmware upgrade process.
Firmware Upgrade to 07.xx
NOTE: All I/O to the array should be stopped before performing the upgrade.
NOTE: Due to the nature of the enhancements made by the 07.xx firmware, once the upgrade to the 07.xx firmware is made, Dell does not support converting back to the 06.xx firmware.
The 07.xx firmware supports RAID 6, LUNs that are larger than two Terabytes, and smart battery (a battery module that supports actively monitoring the health of the battery to ensure that it can power the cache in the event of a power outage). If you are running 06.xx firmware on the RAID controllers in your MD3000 or MD3000i system, you need to perform the following steps to upgrade the system so that it supports the new 07.xx firmware.
Check the version of the firmware currently running on the RAID
controllers.
Using Modular Disk Storage Manager click on Storage Array Profile
(on the Summary tab).
Select the RAID Controller Modules tab
Look at Firmware version listed under the Current configuration.
If the version number is 06.70.xx.xx (x is a number), then you will
need to use the upgrade utility to convert your system to the 07.xx
firmware. If the version number is 07.35.xx.xx (x is a number), then
you should use the upgrade firmware option in Modular Disk Storage
Manager to upgrade the firmware and/or NVSRAM.
NOTE: It is recommended that the MD3000/3000i be upgraded to the 06.70 firmware before upgrading to the 07.35 firmware.
If you are running 06.70.xx.xx firmware, perform the following steps to
upgrade to 07.35.xx.xx firmware.
Run the Modular Disk Storage Manager Firmware Upgrade utility.
(Start®Programs®Dell®MD Storage Manager®Modular Disk
Storage Manager Firmware Upgrade or equivalent based on the
operating system).
Add the arrays to update
Select either Automatic or Manual, based on whether you want to upgrade all your systems of just user specified systems. This can also be done using the Add command in the utility.
For the Manual option, enter the appropriate IP address(es) for the controllers and click Add.
Select an array that can be upgraded.
NOTE: Only arrays that are in the optimal state may be upgraded.
NOTE: Arrays not in an optimal state must be made optimal before they can be upgraded.
NOTE: Multiple arrays of the same type (for example, all MD3000 or MD3000i) can be upgraded at the same time with the utility.
Click on the Download symbol and the firmware/NVSRAM pop-up
will be displayed.
Enter the paths to the 07.35.xx.xx firmware and NVSRAM into the
appropriate areas in the pop-up window.
Click OK to start the upgrade.
The upgrade process may take up to 15 minutes to complete, since
configuration information on the physical disks needs to be revised to
support the updated firmware.
