Upgrading a PowerVault Physical Disk Firmware

Question

Hi there

I need to upgrade the firmware of a handful of hard drives in our MD3220i. I know I've done this before a year or so ago, but I can't figure out how to do so again.

The disk firmware page here does not have the "disk file" format it appears MDSM requires. For kicks I tried running the Windows version on our management server that MDSM is installed on, but get an error saying it's not compatible.

While I don't recall how we did this before, I don't remember it being a difficult process, so I'm hoping I'm just missing something obvious.

Thanks!

DELL-Sam L · Answer

Hello Timofcourse,

Here is a link to the readme for installing the firmware just in case you need it. http://downloads.dell.com/FOLDER03429966M/1/Readme.txt In some case you may need to extract the file from the zip download & then it should let you install the firmware for the drives.

Please let us know if you have any other questions.

timofcourse · Answer

Hi Sam

I appreciate the reply. Even with that readme, I'm not clear whether I should be able to download the firmware update it references directly from the MDSM or some other resource, then load it into MDSM. Right out of the gates it says in step #1, "From MDSM, click the Support tab, then click the Download Firmware link.". The thing is, we do not have a Support tab in our version of MDSM as you can see in the screenshot below.

The only thing even close that I am able to find is under the "Upgrade" menu, I can choose "Physical Disk Firmware...", which provides a dialog to browse to and Add disk firmware (*.df) files.

I just can't figure out where where to obtain the disk firmware file from.

Thanks.

DELL-Sam L · Answer

Hello Timofcourse,

What is the current version of MDSM that you are using? Also what is the current version of firmware that you are running on your controllers as well? As I check & you should have the support tab available so I think that you may be running an older version of MDSM.

Please let us know if you have any other questions.

timofcourse · Answer

We're using MDSM Version 11.20.0G06.0015. This is the most recent version installed from the latest MD3200i resource DVD (Version 6.2.0.2,A06) we obtained from the drivers page here. Controller firmware is Version 08.20.12.60,A10, also obtained from the drivers page.

If there's a more current version we should be using, what's the best way determine that?

Thanks again!

timofcourse · Answer

Hello Timofcourse,

What is the current version of MDSM that you are using? Also what is the current version of firmware that you are running on your controllers as well? As I check & you should have the support tab available so I think that you may be running an older version of MDSM.

Please let us know if you have any other questions.

Hi Sam

Any suggestions based on the versions we're running?

Thanks.

DELL-Sam L · Answer

Hello Timofcourse,

What you need to do is to click on the add button and then that will bring up a window that will ask you where the file for the HDD firmware is located. Now you will need to unzip the file first after you download it as the firmware update tool will not extract it from the zip file. Once you point it to the correct folder and select the correct firmware for the drives that need to be updated then hit the next button and it will start the process of upgrading the firmware.

Please let us know if you have any other questions.

DELL-Sam L · Answer

Hello Timofcourse,

Here is the link to the Drive firmware. http://www.dell.com/support/home/us/en/19/Drivers/DriversDetails?driverId=GC2RY&fileId=3498043326&osCode=W12R2&productCode=powervault-md3220i&languageCode=EN&categoryId=EH Now it also list out all the drive models that are in the firmware package. If you drives are not listed in the newest firmware then let us know & we can see what version of firmware that those drives should be at.

Please let us know if you have any other questions.

timofcourse · Answer

I understand the process of applying firmware. The problem Im having is I cannot find the download of the firmware package. Can you point me to where I can find this? Thanks.

timofcourse · Answer

And if it helps at all, the HDD product ID I'm looking to update firmware on is ST91000640SS and I'm looking for firmware version AS0B. Thanks again!

timofcourse · Answer

Thank you! That's what I've been trying to track down. I actually came across this in searching a while back, but didn't think it was the correct download as the product ID for the drive we need to update is not included under the "Fixes & Enhancements" list on the website. I just checked out the Readme and download and do in fact see it there.

For future reference, what's the best way to find this page to see if there have been new firmware updates?

Thanks again!

timofcourse · Answer

**sorry, forum is acting strange and made a double post **

DELL-Sam L · Answer

Hello Timofcourse,

So the best way to look & see the latest is to check the readme file as that will list all drives that have an updated firmware version that is included in the firmware download. Now to get to the page like I provided all you need to do is to go to the Enterprise HDD/SSD & select the View Details option & that will bring up the window like the link that I sent you.

Please let us know if you have any other questions.

timofcourse · Answer

Sorry, could you clarify how one would get to that downloads page? The only place I could find 'Enterprise HDD/SDD' was this page here: www.dell.com/.../dell-hard-drives, but I couldnt find the View Details option you mention.

DELL-Sam L · Answer

Hello Timofcourse,

Oh sorry Tim. Here is the link to the main download site. http://support.dell.com Once you get there then you would want to either put in the service tag of the system or you can search for the system type & it will take you to that systems page which has the manuals, driver & downloads, etc…

Please let us know if you have any other questions.

PowerVault

Upgrading a PowerVault Physical Disk Firmware

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