PowerVault MD34xx or MD38xx: How to update the Controller Firmware

Summary: This tutorial explains how to update the controller your PowerVault MD34xx or MD38xx.

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Instructions

Caution: This update should have a production shutdown to be implemented. As a precautionary measure, it is recommended that there is a complete backup of the present data on the array.

This tutorial explains how to update the controller your PowerVault MD34xx or MD38xx.


Prerequisites:

  • Download the Latest version of Modular Disk Storage Manager (MDSM) to manage your MD34XX or your MD38XX

    • The name of the download file contains Modular Disk Storage Software (MDSS).
    • Extract the ISO to local storage
    • Software does not correctly install over the network or attached to a VM
  • Download Latest version of the controller firmware 08.25.14.60
    • The file is in the section "Storage Controller" and called "Dell PowerVault MD 34/38 Series Storage Controller Firmware and NVSRAM firmware"
    • Extract the .zip to the server running Modular Disk Storage Manager (MDSM)
  • The array is in an optimal state in the management software.
  • Both management ports are correctly answering pings


Update procedure

  1. Uninstall the MDSM software installed on hosts or management station
    1. If already running on the latest version of MDSM, skip the reinstallation steps
    2. This process is required to be completed on MDSM system
    3. All windows and linux hosts that connect to the storage must have the latest version of MDSM installed on them for MPIO to work correctly
  2. Reboot the system to finish uninstalling all components
    1. This does include management only hosts
  3. Install the latest MDSM version on a management system and or hosts connected for data
    1. MDSM should be running on hosts with access to Out Of Band (OOB) management connections
    2. This prevents issues with updates and managing only through the data connections known as In Band (IB) connections
  4. Stop I/O to the storage from hosts if not already done
    1. Turning off the hosts is the safest
    2. Other options include
      1. Maintenance mode (VMware)
      2. Offline the cluster (clustered storage)
      3. Offline the virtual disks in Disk Management (Windows)
      4. Others
    3. If I/O cannot be stopped for controller updates, reduce I/O as much as possible to avoid losing access to data
  5. Run a new set of logs to capture details in case historical logs must be cleared
  6. On the gray bar menu at the top of the screen, go to Upgrade > RAID Controller Module Firmware > Upgrade
  7. Read the warning
  8. Click OK. 
  9. Click Select file
Image shows the MDSM controller firmware update popup where files to update are chosen
  1. Choose the matching file from the extracted controller update files downloaded earlier
    1. MD34/38 2U units - MD3400_MD3420_MD3800x_MD3820x_Series_Firmware_08_25_14_60.dlp
    2. MD3460x/MD3860x - MD3460_MD3860x_Series_Firmware_08_25_14_60.dlp
  2. Click the check box next to NVSRAM
  3. Click the Select File in the NVSRAM section
  4. Choose the matching file from the extracted controller update files downloaded earlier
    1. MD34/38 2U units -MD3400_MD3420_MD3800x_MD3820x_NVSRAM_N2701_825890_004.dlp 
    2. MD3460x/MD3860x - MD3460_MD3860x_NVSRAM_N2701_825890_004.dlp
  5. When ready to update, click the Transfer Button
  6. If there is an error about too many errors to allow the update:
    1. Erase the event log in MDSM
      1. The controllers check for errors in the event logs, and if there are too many historical errors it prevents the update
      2. If unsure what those errors were, contact Support for review if under warranty
    2. Go on the gray bar menu at the top of the screen and click: Monitor > Reports > event log
Image shows the drop downs used in the steps above to start the controller firmware update
  1. Click Clear All
Image shows the Clear All button at the bottom of the Event Log popup 
  1. Retry the update steps
  1. MDSM transfers the files to the controller over the network
  2. The controllers match the update files between them
  3. Then one controller updates and reboot
  4. Once it is complete, the other controller is updated and reboots itself as well
  5. The process can last up to 30 minutes
    1. Approximately 15 minutes per controller
    2. If the process is taking longer than 30 minutes,
      1. Contact support for assistance
    3. There can be loss of access to management during this process
    4. Wait for more than 30 minutes before attempting to do anything to the controllers to allow them to complete the update
    5. Management access should recover on its own

      Affected Products

      PowerVault MD3400, PowerVault MD3420, PowerVault MD3460, PowerVault MD3800f, PowerVault MD3800i, PowerVault MD3820f, PowerVault MD3820i, PowerVault MD3860f, PowerVault MD3860i
      Article Properties
      Article Number: 000123615
      Article Type: How To
      Last Modified: 13 Nov 2025
      Version:  7
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