MD Series: Offline Disk firmware update of MD34xx MD38xx storage

Note: This article is part of the Dell PowerVault knowledge library.

The following precautions should be taken before updating offline drives:

• The procedure requires a production shutdown to be implemented.
• The array has to be in an "Optimal" state.

 Prerequisites:

• No I/O should be written on the disks during the update.
• The virtual disks have to be offline on the servers, or the servers accessing to it have to be powered off
• As a precautionary measure, it is recommended that there is a complete backup of the present data on the array
• Download the latest update package "Dell PowerVault MD Series Storage HDD/SSD Firmware" 
  • Package is in the Enterprise HDD/SSD folder.
• Extract the update package to a management station (server running Modular Disk Storage Manager (MDSM))

Steps

1. Open MDSM and open management of the required system
2. From the array management window, select Upgrade -> Physical Disk Firmware.
3. Note the Disk Models in the "Current firmware packages" section
   1. 
   2. Figure 1: MDSM update package selection
4. Click the Add button and find the associated disk model
   1. Example file locations in the bundle:

   2. \A59_MD32_MD34_MD36_MD38_HDD_Firmware_with_ReadMe\Seagate\Seagate_ST3500414SS_KS69.df
      \A59_MD32_MD34_MD36_MD38_HDD_Firmware_with_ReadMe\Hitachi\Hitachi_HUS156045VLS600_E516.df

5. Select up to four models to update
6. Click Next
7. From the dropdown, choose Parallel
   1. If the Online option is chosen, the disks update while the system is running
   2. This should only be done during low I/O times
8. Use the "Select all" checkbox to update all drives of those models
   1. If only certain drives need updates, select them manually from the list
9. Click Finish… button
10. Watch as the updates complete
11. Close window when updates are complete
12. Refollow steps until all required models are updated
13. Go back into production when complete