User's Guide

Appendix A: Loading Revised Firmware

Your DDS-4 or DAT 72 autoloader includes permanently installed, electrically upgradeable flash

memory. This memory allows qualified OEMs to revise DAT 72 and DDS-4 SCSI firmware quickly

and easily. It also prolongs the life of the tape drive by allowing the drive to inherit leading

technologies as soon as those technologies become available.

This appendix describes how to load firmware onto your tape drive. Topics in this appendix are:

• “Firmware Upgrade Methods” on page 56

• “Using Firmware Cartridges” on page 56

Firmware Upgrade Methods

You can upgrade your tape drive’s firmware two ways:

• Using the diagnostic software provided on your Tape Resource CD or available at

http://support.certance.com. This software uploads a firmware file via SCSI from your host

computer to the tape drive.

• Using Certance OEM firmware cartridges

Using Firmware Cartridges

The following procedure describes how to upgrade the tape drive firmware using a firmware

upgrade tape cartridge. Firmware upgrade cartridges are available only to qualified

Certance OEM

customers. Contact your sales representative for information.

1. Power on the host system with the DDS-4 or DAT 72 autoloader installed.

2. Close all applications that might try to communicate with the drive during the firmware

upgrade procedure.

3. Insert the firmware upgrade cartridge. The drive automatically recognizes the firmware

upgrade cartridge and begins downloading the firmware from the cartridge into DRAM.

When the firmware has been downloaded into DRAM, the drive ejects the firmware upgrade

NOTE: The firmware can also be upgraded from a host computer via the SCSI connection using

software available at http://support.certance.com.