MO Autochanger Firmware Update Tool (cstm Online Help)

The Firmware Update Tool allows you to update the firmware on a SCSI MO autochanger.

File Commands:

• ChangeFWDirectory(CD)
• SaveAs(SAV)
• Print(PRN)
• Exit(EX)

Utility Commands:

• StartMenu(SM)
• AdvancedMenu(AM)

Other help topics:

• Introduction
• Command Description
• Step-By-Step Instructions for Unlicensed Tool
• Step-By-Step Instructions for Licensed Tool
• What do you if it doesn't work

Introduction

MO (Magneto Optical) drives and autochangers contain "firmware" which is special software for devices that controls the operation of the hardware contained in the drive and autochanger. The firmware controls such critical things as the communication with the host, the process of reading and writing data, moving cartridge between storage slots and drives, and so on.

Over the lifetime of a device, this firmware gets updated to fix problems that have been found after the devices were shipped and/or add new features that have been developed. If an newer version of firmware becomes available, it is distributed as a file that contains all the program code and data. This file needs to be installed into the device with special commands that are sent over the SCSI bus. This tool manages this process and makes the installation of a new firmware revision in a MO Autochanger or MO Drive easy.

This tool can install new firmware into the autochanger, all the drives, or even both at the same time. It also verifies that the firmware file matches the autochanger or drive you are upating, that the firmware revisions are correct, and many other conditions. This prevents the user from making mistakes that can make a device unusable by updating it with the wrong firmware code.

Before you start using this tool, please make sure that you have already obtained the firmware file that you will need to install the firmware into the autochanger or drive. If you need to update both, you need to obtain separate files, one for the autochanger and one for the drive.

Read the Step-By-Step Instructions for Unlicensed Tool section for a detailed description of the process of installing the new firmware before you continue.

If you experience problems during the process of updating your firmware, consult the What do you if it doesn't work help topic for recommended actions.

Command Description

This section describes the commands available for the command-line based interface. Each command can be executed by either spelling it out or using the abbreviated short form:

To select files:

Command

Description

ChangeFWDirectory(CD)

Change the Firmware File Directory Path

SaveAs(SAV)

Save window contents to a file

Print(PRN)

Send window contents to a printer

Exit(EX)

Exit and return to the main prompt

To update firmware:

Command

Description

StartMenu(SM)

Initiate Autochanger and Drive firmware updates

AdvancedMenu(AM)

Initiate Autochanger and Drive firmware updates

Step-By-Step Instructions for Unlicensed Tool

This section provides a detailed description of all the steps required to update the firmware on an MO Autochanger and/or MO Drive.

• Load the correct firmware files on your unit under test (UUT) system. Refer to Obtaining the MO Firmware Files for more information on loading and installing firmware files.
• Make sure that tool is searching the correct directory path for firmware files. Refer to Changing Firmware File Directory Path for more information on changing the directory path.
• Click "Utility" then then click "Start Menu..." on the pop-up menu.
• The program will search your current directory path for firmware files. If it cannot find any files or if the files are not compatible with the SCSI devices (Product IDs don't match or the revision is older), it will pop up an error message box and return you back to the main menu.
• If the program found a file for the MO Drive and/or Autochanger, it will pop up a dialog box titled "Firmware Update Tool" asking you which devices you want to update firmware. By default, both boxes are clicked on. If you don't want to update firmware on the drives or autochanger, click that box to disable it (it can be enabled by clicking it again). Click "Start Update" to continue or "Cancel" to return to the main menu.
• Just before updating the firmware, the program will pop up a message box warning the user not to interrupt or power cycle the SCSI devices while the program is updating firmware. Click "Continue" to proceed with the firmware update or "Cancel" to return to the main menu.
• If the user clicked "Continue", the tool will now update firmware on all the SCSI devices that the user clicked on the Firmware Update Tool menu and print updates on the main window. Once the firmware is transferred to the device(s), the drive(s) will reset and restart with the new firmware. The autochanger will reset itself and re-initialize its inventory (this can take several minutes to complete). Once the process is complete, the tool will display the results on the screen and return to the main menu.

Step-By-Step Instructions for Licensed Tool

This section provides a detailed description of all the steps required to update the firmware on an MO Autochanger and/or MO Drive using the Licensed (or "Advanced") menu.

• Load the correct firmware files on your unit under test (UUT) system. Refer to Obtaining the MO Firmware Files for more information on loading and installing firmware files.
• Make sure that tool is searching the correct directory path for firmware files. Refer to Changing Firmware File Directory Path for more information on changing the directory path.
• Click "Utility" then then click "Advanced Menu..." on the pop-up menu. If the "Advanced Menu..." button is disabled (grayed out), you will have to exit out of the firmware update tool and install the license from the main STM window.
• The program will pop up a dialog box with 2 options that are disabled by default. The first option allows the program to search for firmware files whose Product IDs don't match that of the SCSI device. The second option allows the program to search for older firmware revisions. CAUTION: You should not change these options unless you have been asked by a HP Support Representative to do so, or unless you clearly understand the need and the impact of changing these options.
• The program will search your current directory path for firmware files. If it cannot find any files or if the files are not compatible with the SCSI devices (depending on which boxes were checked in the previous menu), it will pop up an error message box and return you back to the main menu.
• If the program found one or more files for the MO Drive and/or Autochanger, it will pop up a dialog box titled "Advanced Firmware Update Tool Menu." From this dialog, the user can select which firmware file to use from a list of files, check whether or not to overwrite the Product ID of the Drives or autochanger, check whether or not to update the configuration of the drives from the firmware files, and finally select the devices to update firmware. Click "Start Update" to continue or "Cancel" to return to the main menu.
• Depending on what selections were made in the advanced menu, any one of up to 3 warning message boxes will pop up. There is a warning message box for selecting a firmware file with a different Product ID, one for selecting an older firmware revision, and one if any of the options in step 2 of the menu were selected.
• Just before updating the firmware, the program will pop up a message box warning the user not to interrupt or power cycle the SCSI devices while the program is updating firmware. Click "Continue" to proceed with the firmware update or "Cancel" to return to the main menu.
• If the user clicked "Continue", the tool will now update firmware on all the SCSI devices that the user clicked on the Firmware Update Tool menu and print updates on the main window. Once the firmware is transferred to the device(s), the drive(s) will reset and restart with the new firmware. The autochanger will reset itself and re-initialize its inventory (this can take several minutes to complete). Once the process is complete, the tool will display the results on the screen and return to the main menu.

Obtaining the MO Firmware Files

Before you can start the process of updating the firmware on your device(s), you first need to make sure that the file that contains the new firmware is present on your system.

CAUTION: If you are using the user interface on a system other than the unit under test (UUT), or if you use remote access the firmware files must be present on the UUT system, not the system that the user interface is running on.

Firmware files for this tool are generally located in the directory /var/tmp, but they can be stored under any directory. Firmware files for STM firmware update modules end in the extension ".frm".

If you do not have the firmware file for the MO Drive or Autochanger, you can download it from the extern website at:

http://www.hp.com/support/optical/

This website provides firmware for multiple products and in multiple file formats for each product. Make sure you are following the instructions on the website on how to obtain the file for MO autochanger and drives and in the STM format.

Changing Firmware File Directory Path

Firmware files for this tool are generally located in the directory /var/tmp, but they can be stored under any directory. The directory path used by both the licensed and unlicensed tools is displayed on the first line of the dialog menus. These menus simply display the path; they cannot change the directory path. To change the directory path, follow these directions:

• Click "File" then then click "Change FW Directory..." on the pop-up menu.
• A dialog box will pop up that allows the user to enter another directory path. Type in the new directory path and click "OK" when finished. Clicking "Default" writes /var/tmp/ in the dialog box; clicking "Cancel" returns the user to the main menu with the directory path unchanged.

What do you do if it doesn't work

If the tool is experiencing problems it should explain the problems in messages that are displayed in dialog boxes and in the window of the tool. Extensive messages are also logged into the Test Activity Log. Please make sure that you read these messages carefully - they are normally the best source of information about the problem and what to do about it.

Following are some general checkpoints when the download doesn't work:

• Make sure the device is powered on.
• Make sure that all the SCSI cabling is correct (termination, no ID conflicts, correct bus adapter)
• Some autochangers have a switch that allows the selection of either the single-ended and the differential connector. Make sure the selector switch is in the correct position.
• Re-generate the map in the STM main window to reflect any changes in the I/O configuration: Select 'System/Remap System' from the menu in the STM main window.
• If you are using the STM user interface on a machine different than the UUT, make sure the STM user interface is connected to the correct UUT.
• Make sure you have the latest version of the MO tools installed.
• Make sure you have the right firmware files downloaded. When you download via ftp, make sure you have used the binary data transfer mode.
• Make sure you have chosen the right option settings for your system.

Glossary

downgraded

'downgrading' refers to installing a firmware revision in a drive that is identical or lower/older than the firmware revision currently present in the drive.

autoload

'autoload' refers to the process of the firmware update tool proceeding directly to the 'Perform Update' function without major user interaction. This is mainly a convenience feature.

Test Activity Log

This is a log file maintained by STM that contains messages about the progress and problems encountered by the tool as it executes. To view the log file, select the 'View Activity Log' menu item belonging to this device from the STM main window.

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