MD Series: Gen 1 to Gen 2 Firmware Update for MD3000 or MD3000i

Summary: How to do the generation Firmware update of a MD3000 SAS or iSCSI.

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Symptoms

SLN316726_en_US__1icon Please Note before Update:
 Do a backup of your data!
- The process of updating could take up to 30 minutes and both controllers will be restarted.
- For the update, the storage has to be in the optimal-state.
- Do the Update only during Downtime, cause the IO will be stopped during the update.
- The storage-firmware needs to be minimum version 06.70.17.60.
- Check the compatibility-guide of your Software-/OS-vendor if the Firmware is approved.

Cause

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Resolution

1. Download the needed Firmware and Resource-DVD.
2. Stop all IO to the Storage.
3. Change the language-settings for your OS to English.
4. Install the newest Resource-CD/DVD.
Uninstall the older Version of the Modular Disk Storage Manager before you begin. Be aware that in this Version the multipath driver will be also uninstalled in this Situation - If you run the update on an attached Host the SAS-connection will be interrupted immediately.
  • Full Installation - includes the MDSM, MD cross generation update utility and the multipath driver (for server with storage-access and management)
  • Host Installation - includes only the multipath driver (for Server with storage-access but no management)
  • Management Station - includes only the MDSM and the MD cross generation update utility (for server/client with management only)
5. Check the Firmware of your MD3000.
If the Version 06.70.17.60 is not reached update first to this so-called Bridge-Firmware.
6. Update the firmware as follows:
1. Open the MD Cross Generation Upgrade Utility, which you can find in Start > Programs > Dell > MD Storage Manager.
2. After starting the utility click to Add and discover the MD3000-array automatically.
3. After that click to Download.
The update utility will check the Major Event Log for actually existing issues. If there are failure-entries, you will get a message. In this Case save and clear the MEL and the update will run.
4. For the RAID-Controller-Firmware choose the file with the ending *.dlp. Additionally, select the check-box Transfer NVSRAM with Raid controller module Firmware and provide the path to the NVSRAM-file via Browse.
Be aware that you have to check if you use a Single- or Dual-Controller-Configuration. Choose the right package according to the following table:
  MD3000 MD3000i
Raid-Controller FIRMWARE MD3000_FW_RC_07353964_133x.dlp MD3000i_FW_RC_06701760_1532.dlp
NVSRAM (Dual-Controller) Default-MD3000-N133X-75890-005.dlp Dual_Controller_MD3000i_N1532-670890-001.dlp
NVSRAM (Single-Controller) Single-port-clustering-MD3000-N133X-735890-705.dlp Single_Controller_MD3000i_N1532-670890-901.dlp
5. Start the update by clicking Transfer
This process can take up to 30 Minutes.
6. Also update the firmware of the hard drives after the controller update finished fine.
Be Aware, that this is only recommended to do in a Downtime!
1. Download the HDD-firmware (Download A25) and extract the file.
2. Start the Modular Disk Storage Manager (MDSM).
3. Choose the Tab Support.
4. Use the Item Download Firmware.
5. Now choose Download Physical Disk Firmware.
6. In the window, which now appears, you will find the information which firmware-packages are installed in the moment for the physical drives.
7. Now open the ReadMe.txt, which is located in the extracted folder.
8. In that file you can search for the shown Firmware and you will find the actual package according this firmware.
9. If you use Add... you can attach the needed update from the folder.
10. Than you can also add additional packages for the different HDD-types by clicking Add... again.
11. Now click Next.
12. In the following window you will see a survey with the compatible HDD. Select the box Choose All and click the Finish-button. Now all updates will be enforced to the drives.

Affected Products

Dell PowerVault MD3000 with Red Hat Enterprise Linux HA Clusters, Dell PowerVault MD3000 with Windows HA Clusters, Dell PowerVault MD3000i with Windows HA Clusters, PowerVault MD3000, PowerVault MD3000i
Article Properties
Article Number: 000123896
Article Type: Solution
Last Modified: 03 Nov 2022
Version:  5
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