Quantum FIRMWARE User Manual

UPDATING THE FIRMWARE

This chapter explains how to update the tape drive’s PCBA-resident firmware.

C.1 OVERVIEW

Using the tape drive’s front panel and a tape with the updated firmware image,
you can update the tape drive’s PCBA-resident firmware.

CAUTION

If a powerfail occurs during the firmware update process (when the
new image is actually being programmed into the FLASH EEPROMs),
the tape drive’s PCBA will be rendered unusable. When performing
a firmware update, take all possible precautions to prevent power
failure to the tape drive.

C.2 CREATING A FIRMWARE UPDATE TAPE

To update the tape drive’s PCBA firmware, you need a tape cartridge with a copy
of the new firmware image. The firmware image must be byte-written without
compression onto the tape using the appropriate block size as defined in Table C-

1. The image must be “copied” onto the tape instead of using the backup utility.

Table C-1 Block Size Used for Firmware Update Tape

Appendix C

Tape Format Density Upgrade Tape Block

DLTtape III 2.6 GB 6.0

GB 10.0 GB

DLTtape IIIxt 15.0 GB 4 Kbytes Only

DLTtape IV 20.0 GB

35.0 GB

Quantum DLT 7000 Tape System C-1

4 Kbytes Multiple 4
Kbytes Multiple 4
Kbytes Multiple

4 Kbytes Only 8
Kbytes Only

Appendix C: Updating the Firmware

NOTES

On UN*X systems, use the FTP utility to transfer the binary firmware
image. Be sure to specify “type image” before using the “get” or
“put” commands, otherwise extra characters may be added to the
file, causing it to be invalid. The image file should be exactly 1286 *
512 bytes in size.

When making the update tape, copy the image file to the tape
media using an appropriate block size as shown in Table C-1, that is,
dd, ltf, and so on. The tape must be uncompressed.

C.3 FIRMWARE UPDATE PROCEDURE

This section describes the procedure to update the firmware of the tape drive’s
PCBA. The update requires a cartridge that holds the update firmware image.
Firmware updates from a host are also supported (see the section on the SCSI
command WRITE BUFFER in Chapter 5).

CAUTION

If a powerfail occurs during the firmware update process (when the
new image is actually being programmed into the FLASH EEPROMs),
the tape drive’s PCBA will be rendered unusable. When performing
a firmware update, take all possible precautions to prevent power
failure to the tape drive.

Make sure you have a DLTtape that bears the firmware image of the required
revision level copied to it.

1. Put the tape drive into the firmware update mode. To do this:

a) Remove any cartridge in the target tape drive and close the handle

(down position).

b) Press the UNLOAD button on the drive front panel and hold the button

until the WRITE PROTECT indicator begins blinking (approximately six
seconds). This indicates that the tape drive has recognized your request
for firmware update mode and is waiting for the sequence to complete.

C-2 Quantum DLT 7000 Tape System