StorEdge L9/L20/L40/L60 - Upgrading Library Firmware Without Web Browser

Asset ID:	1-72-1006403.1
Update Date:	2011-04-05
Keywords:

Solution Type Problem Resolution Sure

Solution 1006403.1 : StorEdge L9/L20/L40/L60 - Upgrading Library Firmware Without Web Browser

Applies to:

Sun Storage L9 Tape Library
Sun Storage L20 (StorEdge-OEM) Tape Library - Version: Not Applicable and later    [Release: N/A and later]
Sun Storage L40 (StorEdge-OEM) Tape Library - Version: Not Applicable and later    [Release: N/A and later]
Sun Storage L60 (OEM) Tape Library - Version: Not Applicable and later    [Release: N/A and later]
All Platforms
Checked for relevance on 2-Feb-2011.

Symptoms

When upgrading firmware for Sun[TM] Tape libraries using the ethernet management port, (out of band upgrade) you may receive messages about unsupported browser, Or you may have difficulty getting the library applet to appear if you do not have the correct Java[TM] runtime version installed with your browser.

Changes

{CHANGE}

Cause

{CAUSE}

Solution

Resolution
The firmware upgrade process using a web browser was originally developed by the OEM vendor using Microsoft Internet Explorer and Java runtime edition (JRE) 1.31. Netscape[TM] Communicator 4.7x was also tested at the time.
New firmware is being tested which will support Netscape 7 and Mozilla[TM] browsers and newer JREs.

If your web browser is not capable of working you may need to use an alternate FTP only method to update the firmware.

Future plans are for the new firmware to support the tload utility which will upgrade the library through "in band" (SCSI) methods.

If a tape library component is replaced and has a different firmware version it can cause a firmware mismatch message partially available message on the display. In this case you may not be able to use the browser upgrade method.

See the workaround below.

Relief/Workaround
In addition to the checks on the readme:

Check the barcode settings

Check barcode character length and make sure the setting is the same after the firmware upgrade as before. Barcode can 6 7 or 8 characters.

Menu path (from L20)

Main
3. Admin
3. Change config, more,
3. Other config options, more,
1. Barcode character length.

Otherwise the backup application may generate a new set of volumes for it's database. This can really mess up Sun StorEdge[TM] Enterprise Netbackup (NBU). (Solstice Backup[TM] can cope with this).

This is because NBU by default looks at the last 6 digits presented. If media domain and type info is presented it will interpret it as part of the volume ID. So, in an 8 character setting a type 1 LTO volume ID 123456 would appear as 3456L1 to NBU. The key is to keep the character length the same as before the upgrade so NBU's media database does not change. NBU can be reconfigured to look at the first 6 digits but many customers have not done this. Some firmware revisions default to sending 8 btyes, so you may need to reset it to 6 or 7 bytes afterwards.

Alternate firmware Upgrade process

An alternative to using a browser for firmware upgrades is to do FTP transfer to the RMC card.

On your host system (laptop etc.) change directoy to the folder which contains the firmware file:

name:
password:
A password must be setup using the library front panel prior to ftp

Then wait for it to complete. Downloading messages Appear on the Library front Panel LCD.

Additional Information
Note
The Sun StorEdge L20/L40/L60 has a management card built in. The Sun StorEdge L9 does not ship with a RMC card but can be ordered by authorized Sun Service personel for the purpose of doing an upgrade.
Installing a RMC card for the first time in an older Sun StorEdge L9 will likely cause a firmware mismatch and the FTP method will need to be used. (The Sun StorEdge L9 RMC goes into a little horizontal slot below the PS).

What is known to work:

Windows 98 with Microsoft Internet Explorer/JRE 1.31.
Netscape Communicator 4.71/JRE 1.31
Mozilla or Netscape 7 browser if firmware on library is already x.7x

If any browsers are not working the FTP workaround can be used.

Mozilla is a trademark or registered trademark of Netscape Communications Corporation in the United States and other countries. Mozilla est une marque de Netscape Communications Corporation aux Etats-Unis et ? d'autres pays.

Netscape is a trademark or registered trademark of Netscape Communications Corporation in the United States and other countries. Netscape est une marque de Netscape Communications Corporation aux Etats-Unis et dans d'autres pays.

Tape, Library, firmware, ftp, partially available, upgrade, browser, unsupported
Previously Published As 77950

User Name: 71396
Action: Update Canceled
Comment: *** Restored Published Content *** from ssh audit update
Version: 0
Date: 2006-01-23
User Name: 71396
Action: Update Started
Comment: updating per ssh audit
Version: 0
Date: 2004-10-06
User Name: 97961
Action: Approved
Comment: Applied trademarking. Made simple formatting changes.
Version: 4
Product_uuid
3297ede6-224e-11d6-809a-dc96121efddb|Tape Drives
32944826-224e-11d6-9f4d-b3ad24123e93|Tape Automation
2ab212b2-0a18-11d6-9bdf-cd21504888a6|Sun StorageTek L9 Tape Autoloader
2ab7e5fc-0a18-11d6-8193-b157d4a5d57c|Sun StorageTek L20 Tape Library

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