Release Notes

Controller firmware
20 Dell PS Series Configuration Guide
5 Controller firmware
5.1 About member firmware
Each control module in a group member must be running the same version of the PS Series Firmware.
Firmware is stored on a compact flash card or a microSD card on each control module.
Dell EMC recommends the following:
• Always run the latest firmware to take advantage of new features and fixes.
• All group members must run the same firmware version. If you are adding a new array to a group,
update the group to the latest firmware before adding the new member.
• Dell EMC does not support groups running with mixed-firmware versions, except when you are in the
process of upgrading the firmware of the entire group, and then only for as long as it takes to do the
upgrade.
• You can upgrade member firmware to a higher version or downgrade member firmware to a lower
version. In some firmware releases, firmware downgrades are not allowed. See the Dell PS Series
Storage Arrays Release Notes for version-specific information about the firmware running on your
group member(s).
• If you are running older firmware versions, or updated across multiple releases, you might have to
update to one or more interim versions before updating to the latest firmware. For example, to update
a group from version 5.2.9 to version 7.1.6, you must first update the version 6.0.5, then to version
7.1.6.
• For instructions on how to update the firmware, see the document Updating Firmware for Dell
EqualLogic PS Series Storage Arrays and FS Series Appliances, available at the Dell PS Series
customer support site (requires support login):
https://eqlsupport.dell.com/support/download_file.aspx?id=2930
• For guided update management of Dell EMC storage products, the Dell Storage Update Manager
simplifies the update process. More information is available at the Dell PS Series customer support
site (requires support login): https://eqlsupport.dell.com/support/download.aspx?id=6442455985
Each PS Series array runs a core operating system in firmware that provides all of the PS Series features and
functionality. The firmware version is defined using a version number and will be updated from time to time as
new features are added or for general maintenance improvements.
The firmware version number takes the following form: X.Y.Z.
• X is used to identify the "major" release number. This changes when there are very significant
changes in the features and functionality.
• Y is the "minor" release number. This changes as new minor features or improvements in existing
features are made for a given major release.
• Z denotes maintenance releases. This changes whenever a maintenance release level is released to
resolve any identified technical or usability issues.