MD3200i Firmware Upgrade Procedures

Hello Tim,

Here are the steps that you will need to follow to do a firmware upgrade on your MD3200i.

Steps to update the firmware:

1. Ensure you have a tested backup of the data contained on the array
2. It is highly recommended to gather support bundle from the "Support" tab of the MD Storage Manager before performing any firmware upgrade operations. Also recommend getting another support bundle after the upgrade is complete.
3. You must stop all I/O going to the array
4. Load MDSM to verify connectivity, then close MDSM but leave the main management screen open
5. From the main management screen in MDSM use the “upgrade raid controller firmware” on the “devices” screen to upgrade to the latest firmware
6. Verify connectivity through MDSM
7. Update the hard drive firmware if applicable
8. Reboot the stack
9. Power down the server(s)
10. Power down the MD3000(i)
11. Power down any attached storage (MD1000/12xx)
12. Leave the power off for 2-3 minutes
13. Power up in reverse order
    1. Verify connection to the array and virtual disks and verify that data is presented to each of the connected servers

This update process will take 60-90 minutes but will vary depending on how long the reboots take to complete.

Please let us know if you have any other questions.

So I am planning on doing this procedure this week. Just to clarify, the MDSM seems to be out of date which is located on my SAN. (10.75.G6.16).

Also, I came across a thread that suggested that I need Multipathing software on my vCenter server as well. I use vSphere for all multipathing configs. Am I on the right track here or am I looking at a different problem?

Hello TIMoSLADE,

When you upgrade the firmware on your MD3200i you will need to update MDSM as well. Here is a link to the latest version of MDSM. http://www.dell.com/support/home/us/EN/19/Drivers/DriversDetails?driverId=JPKXM&fileId=3365491915&osCode=WS8R2&productCode=powervault-md3200i&languageCode=EN&categoryId=CD

Since you are using Vsphere as long as you have the VMware plugin to ensure that they work correctly. Here is a link to the plugin. http://www.dell.com/support/home/us/en/19/Drivers/DriversDetails?driverId=Y2YY0&fileId=3365313701&osCode=WS8R2&productCode=powervault-md3200i&languageCode=EN&categoryId=AP

Please let us know if you have any other questions.

Hi Sam;  I have an md3200I and the firmware is really old: version 07.70.06.63, I have heard that I would need to upgrade to version : (If the Firmwareversion 07.75.28.60 is not installed please update to this Version first.).  So what should I do; where can I get this older version. Or can I skip the in-between version and upgrade right to version 7.84.xx.xx  Regards

Hello jumarcil,

What I would do is upgrade to version 07.75.10.60 first. Once the system has been upgraded to that version then I would upgrade to version 07.84.56.60. Here are links to both version s of firmware as well as a link to the latest resource cd that has the latest version of MDSM on it as well that will need to be updated as well.

Firmware 07.75.10.60

http://www.dell.com/support/home/us/en/19/Drivers/DriversDetails?driverId=YP48C&fileId=2731099603&osCode=W764&productCode=powervault-md3200i&languageCode=EN&categoryId=SI

Firmware 07.84.56.60

http://downloads.delltechcenter.com/PowerVault/MD/Powervault_MD32_MD36_Series_Firmware_07_84_56_60.zip

Resource CD

http://downloads.delltechcenter.com/PowerVault/MD/DELL_MDSS_Consolidated_RDVD_5_1_0_9.iso

Please let us know if you have any other questions.

Hello Sam i have md 3200i .its not connecting to MDSM.I am using putty and console cable to configure md3200i but do not see the configuration optioln.the messages are below.

Set baud rate: press within 5 seconds
Baud rate set to 9600

Press within 5 seconds: for Service Interface, for baud rate

Press within 5 seconds: for Service Interface, for baud rate
Set baud rate: press within 5 seconds
Baud rate set to 9600

Press within 5 seconds: for Service Interface, for baud rate

the main reason is its stuck when i press capital S

Hello jassi.john,

Is this a new install? If so then what you need to do is to use the MDCU (Modular Disk Configuration Utility) to do a new install. Here is a link to the Deployment guide if you don’t already have it. http://downloads.dell.com/Manuals/Common/powervault-md3200i_Deployment%20Guide_en-us.pdf

The MDCU is on the Resource CD. Here is a link to that as well just in case you need it. http://www.dell.com/support/home/us/en/19/Drivers/DriversDetails?driverId=R9G1X&fileId=3587386326&osCode=W12R2&productCode=powervault-md3200i&languageCode=en&categoryId=CD

You can’t configure an MD using Putty. You can use SMCLI (Storage Manager Command Line), after you have completed the base install with MDCU.

Please let us know if you have any other questions.