How to verify shelf firmware and update it

[IlirS]

Hello,

We have recently bought 4 SSD drives and we are going to install them on an external disk shelf DS2246 which is connected with a dual controller FAS2552 storage system.

My concern is :

Should I do a firmware update of the disk shelf DS2246 before installing the disks ?

If yes,  how can I verify the existing shelf firmware and do the update ?

Is it a non-disruptive process ?

BR,

Ilir

[GidonMarcus]

Hi. If the shelf connected in a correct multi-path topology upgrading the shelf modules firmware will be non-disruptive.

The steps to connect the shelf, along with verifying the firmware can be found here:

https://library.netapp.com/ecm/ecm_download_file/ECMM1280392

[andris]

System Manager will show you shelf firmware details.

If sending AutoSupport, you can also see this information in the Active IQ portal's reports and visualizations.

If you keep ONTAP updated, new shelf and disk firmware will automatically be installed on your storage shelves.

As a best practice, if you're not on the latest ONTAP versions, you can download and install any needed shelf and disk firmware using the bundled "all disk/shelf" packages.

Shelf: https://mysupport.netapp.com/site/downloads/firmware/disk-shelf-firmware

   All shelf package: https://mysupport.netapp.com/cgi-bin/shelffwdnld.cgi/download/tools/diskshelf/bin/all_shelf_fw

Disk: https://mysupport.netapp.com/site/downloads/firmware/disk-drive-firmware

  All disk package: https://mysupport.netapp.com/NOW/cgi-bin/diskfwmustread.cgi/download/tools/diskfw/bin/all

Installation/update order doesn't really matter. I would personally update shelf firmware, first.

[IlirS]

Hello Guys,

Thank you for your replies.

So it will be non-disruptive only if the shelf has multipath connections with nodes ?

What happens if I don't update the shelf and drive firmware ?

BR,

Ilir

[GidonMarcus]

As for what-if.

Every firmware update usually have a release notes on its download page that describes what bugs it resolves. see:

https://mysupport.netapp.com/site/downloads/firmware/disk-shelf-firmware

https://mysupport.netapp.com/download/tools/diskfw/

If you don't update you are exposed for these bugs, some only apply in specific unlikely scenarios - some can be on more likely ones (for example I well remember SP firmware bug the crashes ONTAP OS after 500 days of SP uptime).

As for single-path IO. TBH I can't find a special procedure for such updates, but I assume it cannot be done on an IOM that a controller is using. I'm tempted to tag @andris - any idea how the magic of updating single-path HA IOM module happens?

[andris]

If you are in a single-path HA configuration, that means that each node only has one path to the shelf - i.e. it can only reach one of the IOM modules on the shelf.  In that situation, your applications need to be able to handle a ~45s pause in storage I/O for the IOM module to restart after an update. 

Also, make sure you download shelf and disk firmware to both nodes in an HA pair.  The node that actually performs the shelf and/or disk firmware will depend on disk ownership and who the "storage master node" is...

[IlirS]

Hello andris,

Is there any interoperability matrix between shelf firmware and disk firmware ?

For example, what are the supported disk firmwares for a given/specific shelf firmware or they are independent ?

BR,

Ilir  

[andris · Accepted solution]

The DQP is read by ONTAP a few minutes after it is installed o the node, automatically. The DQP provides updated information to ONTAP on the technical characteristics of disks.

See:
https://docs.netapp.com/ontap-9/topic/com.netapp.doc.dot-cm-psmg/GUID-0989805D-91CF-4930-BBA9-03241EC490CB.html

Shelf and disk firmware-level compatibility is considered universal.   Compatibility of specific shelf modules (IOM, NSM) and drives (HDD, SSD) is documented in the NetApp Hardware Universe.

[jcolonfzenpr]

I also update the DQP every time i do new disk install.

Disk Qualification Package

https://docs.netapp.com/ontap-9/index.jsp?topic=%2Fcom.netapp.doc.dot-cm-psmg%2FGUID-0989805D-91CF-4930-BBA9-03241EC490CB.html

[IlirS]

Hello jcolonfzenpr

If I update DQP it will update automatically in background the firmware of all the disks not only the new installed ones, right ?

BR,

Ilir