Users Guide

Chapter 11 Updating Library and Tape Drive Firmware
Upgrading Tape Drive Firmware
Dell PowerVault ML6000 User’s Guide 206
You can find step-by-step instructions on erasing FUP tapes in your
library's online Help. To access the online Help system, click the Help icon
at the top right of the Web client or operator panel user interface.
The paths to open the appropriate screens are as follows:
• From the operator panel, select Tools > Drive Mgmt.
• From the Web client, select Tools > Drive Operations.
Using a FUP Tape to
Upgrade Tape Drive
Firmware 11
You can upgrade tape drive firmware using a FUP tape. A FUP tape
contains a specific version of tape drive firmware and is used to transfer
the firmware to one or more tape drives within the library. For
information on creating FUP tapes, see Creating a FUP Tape on page 204.
Make sure to upgrade the library with the appropriate level of tape drive
firmware, compatible with the tape drive type. To determine the
appropriate drive firmware, see the library’s release notes or contact Dell
Technical Support. The Dell Support Website, http://support.dell.com,
provides information that can help you to verify that the library is
running the appropriate level of tape drive firmware, compatible with the
tape drive type.
The entire process of updating tape drive firmware with a FUP tape can
be performed using the operator panel. If you choose to perform the
operation using the Web client, be aware that part of the process must be
performed on the operator panel and that you will need access to the
physical library.
Details on using a FUP tape to upgrade tape drive firmware include:
• Upgrade firmware on all of the drives in the library at the same time
to make sure that all of the drives are at the same firmware level.
Having different levels of drive firmware in the library is not
recommended.
• Each tape drive interface type requires a unique firmware image.
FUP tapes must contain the appropriate SCSI, FC, or SAS firmware
image for the corresponding SCSI, FC, or SAS drive type.
• You cannot use an LTO-1 tape in LTO-3 tape drives, or LTO-1 or
LTO-2 tapes in LTO-4 tape drives, or LTO-1, LTO-2, or LTO-3 tapes
in LTO-5 tape drives, to create FUP tapes. See Creating a FUP Tape
on page 204 for more information.