6/26/00 ______________________________________________________________________ FUP -- IBM Option 10/20 TRAVAN Firmware Update Program v2.3 The NA207A61.EXE file will self-extract and build a DOS bootable diskette image. The image contains a batch file that automatically executes a firmware update on the tape drive EEPROM. A SCSI inquiry test is run at the conclusion and will verify that the 7.A61 firmware has been correctly applied. _______________________________________________________________________ Preliminary Hornet NS 20 Firmware Difference List TapeAlert Enabled This firmware difference list documents the changes from Hornet NS 20 firmware version 7A51 to version 7A61. This version of firmware supports TapeAlert. It returns 7A61 for firmware version in the Inquiry data. Product Bug Fixes 1) Prevent Lead Screw Dislodge The NS20 lead screw may dislodge if the user pulls the cartridge after reading files from locations below middle of tape and inserting the same or different cartridge. The scenario leaves the head positioned below middle of tape but the tape drive believes the head is at middle of tape. If the next media access command requests data from track 0 which is located at bottom edge of tape, the head will be driven below track 0 causing the lead screw to dislodge from its retaining bracket. This is now fixed. 2) Drive hangs on a write command following a tape pull The next write command following a tape cartridge pull while the drive was writing data would cause the drive to hang without an error response. If the tape was pulled and reinserted while Backup Exec was performing a backup, Backup Exec would terminate the job. But if another backup job were initiated, it would hang. This is now fixed. 3) Drive hangs on a read command following a space reverse operation on tapes without EOD A tape without a proper End of Data (EOD) record would cause the drive to hang during a read after a Space EOD, Space Reverse One Block command sequence. This sequence is performed by Computer Associates ArcServe software application when appending a backup set to the tape. Backup operations that complete successfully always terminate the write operation with proper EOD records. Several unnatural events can cause tapes without proper EOD records: 1) tape pull during write, 2) SCSI Bus Reset during write, 3) turning power off to the drive while it is writing, or 4) hard write errors. This is now fixed. 4) Drive reports a 04/80/9C error during Space Reverse Filemark Operation The NS20 would intermittently abort an appended backup operation initiated with the ArcServe software application. The drive would report a 04/80/9C error during a Space Reverse Filemark operation. ArcServe commonly uses this operation when appending backup sets to the tape. This is now fixed. Product Enhancements 1) Automatic Retension This firmware has a feature designed to retention cartridges in response to a SCSI Load with Retention command or in response to a SCSI Read, Write, or Space command. If, after a cartridge has been inserted, the NS20 receives a READ, WRITE, or SPACE command, before a Load with Retention command, the cartridge will be retensioned prior to executing the media access command (the firmware will disconnect from the SCSI bus and perform the retention then finish executing the SCSI command). If a Load with Retention command is received prior to a Read, Write or Space command, the cartridge will be retensioned like normal. Subsequent media access commands following the retension will not retension the tape. If the user leaves the cartridge inserted in the NS20 for longer than one hour, the cartridge will also be retensioned on the next media access command or retension as described above. This enhancement was made to the NS 20 firmware to ensure cartridges were properly retensioned, even in software environments that do not support a retension as part of a scheduled backup. Users may experience a delay in tape initialization and recognition commands while the retension is in progress. A retension takes approximately 3 minutes if the cartridge is at BOT when the retension begins. 2) Append at Medium Speed after excessive rewrites The NS20 will append data, during writes, at the medium tape speed if a sequence of excessive rewrites has been detected. Data will continue to be written, as long as its successful, to the end of track at which time writing will begin again at the highest tape speed. Previously the NS 20 continued writing at the same tape speed during excessive rewrites. Firmware -------- Firmware is a term used for the software program which controls the tape drive. All IBM tape drives store firmware in a ROM (read only memory) internal to the drive. Newer tape drives (since about 1993) use a type of ROM called a flash EEPROM (electrically erasable ROM). Most tape drives, with flash EEPROMs, are capable of receiving updated firmware through the SCSI bus. Firmware Files -------------- New firmware is provided in a file. Firmware filenames have the format .HEX or .BIN. For example, V4BT-400.HEX, V5AC-0.HEX, V6580500.BIN, V658A-0.BIN. Firmware is not generally interchangeable between tape drive models. FUP verifies that new firmware matches the tape drive model. Firmware Upgrade Program (FUP) ------------------------------ FUP.EXE (Firmware Update Program) is used, primarily, to update the firmware in a IBM DAT tape drive or loader. FUP transfers the content of a firmware file to a tape drive. The tape replaces its firmware with the new firmware and saves it in an EEPROM. IBM has built the diskette image to be a self-extracting bootable diskette with ASPI support. We recommend that this method is used as it ensures that nothing will be resident in memory that can corrupt either the firmware update or data local to the system. Using FUP to Update IBM TRAVAN Tape Drive Firmware --------------------------------------------------- This procedure updates your IBM TRAVAN tape drive firmware. It assumes -- * the tape drive is properly connected to the SCSI bus, * the SCSI bus is correctly terminated, * the tape drive has power, and * the computer is booted. 1) Boot with the diskette in the system floppy drive. 2) Eject any tape media from the drive. 3) Write down the firmware filename (Tr5ns761.fls) intended to be sent to the tape drive. 4) At a DOS prompt, make sure that firmware file and FUP.EXE are present in the current directory. 5) Start the firmware update program, at the DOS prompt, using the command: fup 6) FUP begins by displaying a list of language choices. 7) Select a tape drive type, press any enter key to continue. 8) A list of files, in the current directory, is shown. Use the arrow keys to select the firmware file (ns207a61.fls) which you wish to send to the tape drive. 9) When a key is pressed, the selected firmware file's integrity is verified. You are cautioned to close any tape backup applications and eject tape media, if present. Press any key to start the firmware download. 10) The download process takes between 15 seconds and 2 minutes. The tape drive LEDs will flash during some portion of the process. 11) On completion, the drive's updated SCSI Inquiry string is shown, and you are prompted to press any key to exit. FUP Errors ---------- The following lists common FUP errors and comments. update ERROR: The ASPI Manager was not found. Check your CONFIG.SYS. update ERROR: The tape drive's model is not recognized, and therefore, cannot be updated by FUP in the normal mode. Comment: FUP cannot update firmware in all tape drive models. A newer version of FUP may be available. Or, your drive may contain a special engineering firmware release which is not recognized by FUP. Consult with a IBM representative. update ERROR: "": The firmware file is an invalid version. Try selecting a different firmware file. update ERROR: "": The firmware file does not match the drive model. Try selecting a different firmware file. Comment: The firmware file appears to be incorrect for the tape drive model. Firmware is, generally, not interchangeable between tape drive models. Obtain a new copy of the firmware file intended for your tape drive model then try again. Special engineering release firmware may also cause this error to be shown. If you suspect this is the case, consult a IBM representative. update ERROR: (): Hexfile record error: update ERROR: (): Hexfile syntax error: update ERROR: "": Missing flash boot code update ERROR: "": Firmware image size = bytes: Invalid image size Comment: The firmware file may be corrupt. Obtain a new copy of the firmware file intended for your tape drive model then try again. update ERROR: "": Firmware image size ( bytes) does not match drive requirement ( bytes) Comment: This message may be seen when using "fup /force". The firmware file image is either to small or too large for the EEPROM. Obtain a new copy of the firmware file intended for your tape drive model then try again. update ERROR: Insufficient memory for byte transfer buffer Comment: If using MS-DOS, Windows 3.1x or, Windows 95/98 in MS-DOS only mode, you may need to remove (or comment out unnecessary drivers and/or "terminate-and-stay- resident" (TSR) programs from CONFIG.SYS and AUTOEXEC.BAT to increase memory available to FUP. update ERROR: Cannot update this drive's firmware in Windows 9x Graphics mode (Within a DOS Box). Reboot your system into MS-DOS only mode. Comment: See the section "Windows 95/98 Graphics Mode" above. update ERROR: "": Is an invalid firmware file name Comment: The selected file name does not have a .HEX or .BIN suffix. Try selecting a firmware file a name of .HEX or .BIN update ERROR: A IBM DAT tape drive was NOT found. Make sure tape drive power is turned on, and SCSI bus is properly terminated. Comment: Shutdown and turn power off. Examine cables and connections. Power up and reboot the system. Try again. update ERROR: An error was encountered while Flashing firmware. The drive was not updated. Comment: The tape drive may have rejected the new firmware. Obtain a new copy of the firmware file intended for your tape drive model then try again. update ERROR: An error was encountered while Flashing firmware. The drive was not updated. Comment: If the switch block settings for switches S9 and S10 are not set to the default(OFF) position the drive will not be identified correctly and the flash mechanism will be able to run. Remove power from the device and correct the switches to the default settings and reapply the flash mechanism. ====================================================================== LICENSE AGREEMENT AND WARRANTY DISCLAIMER This is a legal agreement between you the purchaser and International Business Machines, Inc. By accessing FUP, (the "Software"), you agree to be bound by the terms of this agreement. 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