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Understanding Firmware Release numbers: An increment of the first digit indicates a major new feature release. A major release indicates significant new features have been introduced. For major releases the customer is informed during the firmware update process that they will not be able to downgrade once the update has completed, and they are asked if they would like to proceed. A change in the second digit of the version number indicates a minor feature release or support for new hardware. Example: V4.2.1 -> V4.3.0 A change in the third digit indicates a maintenance only update. Example: V4.1.0 -> V4.1.1 A customer can verify the version of firmware running on their array either through the management GUI or the CLI. When displayed, the version number will be followed by a build identification number in parenthesis. Example: V4.1.5 (R96999). The Rxxxxx build identification number that is used internally by Dell Equallogic to identify the specific revision of code that was integrated into the release. It is recommended that you run the latest firmware to take advantage of new product features and enhancements. The latest PS Series array firmware can be found on the EqualLogic customer support website. Read the related release notes to ensure you fully understand all the pertinent new information within the firmware release Follow the correct firmware update path. Under normal situations you can update an array directly to the latest firmware version. In some cases, you may need to update to an interim version before updating to the latest version. Restart the array before updating, if applicable.

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Mixed firmware groups are not supported for extended lengths of time. Best practices are for all PS Series group members to run the same version of the storage array firmware, preferably the latest version. In general, mixed groups are supported only for as long as it takes to update all members. Update a group one member at a time. If you are updating a multi-member group, perform the update procedure on one member at a time. If you must update to an interim version, according to the supported update path, update all the members to the interim version and then update all the members to the final version. Between updating arrays, allow the SAN to stabilize. Minimize host disruption during updates. For the update to take effect, you must run the restart command to restart the array after completing the update procedure. During the restart, iSCSI targets for the volumes with data on the array will be unavailable. Pause all collection replications before updating group. Do not update a PS Series group member while collection replication outbound from the group is in progress; otherwise, the collection replication operation may fail or appear to hang. In addition, be sure that collection replication does not begin while a member is being updated. Restart GUI after updating an array. You should close and restart the GUI after running the update command. The GUI will not be consistent with the new firmware until you restart it.

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Replication is supported only between certain firmware versions. The table above shows whether replication is supported between any two partners running different firmware versions. The first column, Firmware on the Group, lists firmware versions on the primary group. The second column, Partner Site Firmware, lists the supported firmware versions for the replications partners.

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The following steps take you through the PS Series storage array firmware update procedure: Gather network information. The update procedure requires the following items: The IP address assigned to a network interface on the array. Do not use the group IP address. Host that has the FTP utility available and network access to each array being updated. Obtain the firmware update kit and documentation from the Dell EqualLogic support site and unpack it. Disconnect any hosts from the group targets if applicable and possible. Restart the array, if applicable. Using FTP in Binary mode, copy the kit to the array. An example kit name is kit_V4.0.0-R75262_3375926472.tgz. Update the array firmware using the update command.

The update command will update the firmware on the member's flash memory using the kit that has already been copied to the member with FTP.
Starting with version 4.0 Firmware, when you perform an update the update will be done on one controller at a time The update will take effect after the next member restart. Restart the array to have the firmware updated. The updated firmware will not take effect until the member is restarted. For firmware version 3.x the update is done to both controllers at the same time once the restart command is issued Beginning with firmware version 4.x each controller restarts separately, and the active and secondary controllers change roles when the array is fully restarted. Verify the firmware update was completed successfully. PS Series Storage Firmware Update 5-6

Once the kit has been moved over to the array, the update command needs to be run to update the array. Connect to the array using a serial connection, telnet, or SSH to connect to an IP address assigned to a network interface on the array (for example, eth0). Do not connect to the group IP address. Login to an administration account that has read-write permission (for example, the grpadmin account). At the CLI prompt, enter the update command. On a dual control module array, both control modules will be updated. An example of running the update command is shown next. > update The update command will update the firmware on the member's flash memory using the kit that has already been copied to the member with FTP. Before the update procedure begins, the console will display the version of the currently running firmware and the version the member will be running after the update. At this point, you can choose whether to continue with the update. The updated firmware will not take effect until the member is restarted. For firmware version 3.x the update is done to both controllers at the same time once the restart command is issued Beginning with firmware version 4.x each controller restarts separately, and the active and secondary controllers change roles when the array is fully restarted.

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Once the updated firmware is moved over to the SAN attached server, 1. Select Update Firmware from the Activities area 2. Enter in grpadmin password 3. Select the new Firmware tgz file location on the local SAN Server 4. Monitor the progress on the progress screen that follows. The update process needs to be run on each member in the group, one at a time

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