The Generic SCSI microcode download utility for Self Configuring SCSI Devices(SCSD), genucode, is a tool for downloading over the SCSI bus microcode for IBM SCSD devices such as tape and optical drives on a eServer pSeries or RS/6000.

Current Genucode supported devices:

4GB 1/4"(QIC-4GB-DC) Tape Drive
13GB 1/4"(QIC-5010) Tape Drive
12GB 4mm DDS3 Tape Drive
20GB 4mm DDS4 Tape Drive
36GB 4mm DAT72 Tape Drive
80GB VXA-2 Tape Drive
160GB VXA-320 Tape Drive
20GB 8mm Tape Drive
60GB 8mm Tape Drive
35GB DLT Tape Drive
40GB DLT Tape Drive
160GB DLT Tape Drive
32x CDROM
40x CDROM

Additional supported SCSD devices may be defined in the microcode package for that device.

Overview:

The Genucode Utility has been integrated into AIX Diagnostics for most devices since AIX 5.1., which means if your system has AIX 5.1 or higher, you don't need to download the Genucode Utility. However 32x and 40x CD-ROM still requires the standalone Genucode Utility for microcode updating process.

The dsdata and microcode files are still necessary for all the microcode update processes (through AIX Diagnostic or the Genucode Utility).

There are 5 separate steps to the download and installation of both Genucode and the microcode you wish to download:

     Step 1 - Download the microcode for the drive using the instructions
              in the microcode package for the specific drive you are
              working with.
 
     Step 2 - Download Genucode or Copy Genucode from CD-ROM.
 
     Step 3 - Install Genucode.
 
     Step 4 - Update the microcode in the drive.
 
     Step 5 - Update the Vital Product Data(VPD) in the system for the
              drive.

Step 1: Download the microcode for the drive

Follow the instructions in the microcode package for the drive.

Step 2: Putting Genucode on the system

Note: The "Genucode: Generic SCSI microcode download utility for SCSD devices" program is found at the bottom of the IBM web page for the microcode downloads. It is also found in the "media" section of same IBM web page. You must download this manually.

There are 2 ways a user can download the Genucode files. Each of these will put Genucode on the user's system but the user will have to move the files to appropriate directory for system use.

From the IBM WEB site via the user downloading the files.

When the user downloads the Genucode files from the IBM web site the packaged Genucode files should be put into the /tmp directory.

Note: Sign on the eServer pSeries or RS/6000 with root authority as you need root authority to do the microcode install.

If the user downloads the web_microcode.bin file the user should put the downloaded file into the /tmp directory and then use the instructions in the section of this README titled "AIX bin file".

From a CD-ROM.

If the CD-ROM process is used to put the web_microcode.bin file on the user system the microcode files will expanded into the /tmp/web_microcode directory. The next step is to follow the instructions in this README titled "Check File Checksum". The building and putting of the files into the /tmp/web_microcode directory was done by the user when they used the CD-ROM build instructions.

Note: AIX commands and file names are case sensitive.
If the users AIX permission does not allow the copy to the above stated directory or file then the user will be prompted for a new location.

Packaged Microcode Files

AIX bin file

Download the web_microcode.bin file to the system to the /tmp directory.
Do the following AIX commands to make the file executable:
cd /tmp
chmod +x web_microcode.bin
To expand the web_microcode.bin file use the following command:
./web_microcode.bin
Note: The previous command is dot(.) slash(/) to insure the command executed is the command in the /tmp directory as some systems do not look for the command to be executed in the current directory.
This will put the following files in the /tmp/web_microcode directory:

genucode.README
genucode
genucode.cat
cpcat

Check File Checksum

To insure Genucode downloaded correctly to the system do the following AIX command:
sum /tmp/web_microcode/genucode
The output of the command will be the checksum and it must match the following, if it does not match then redo the download and file extraction.
28882 21 /tmp/web_microcode/genucode

Copying Files

Note: All AIX commands and file names are case sensitive, be sure to use the commands and file names exactly as listed here. Errors in spelling or case will cause the commands or Genucode not to work properly.

Copy cpcat, genucode.cat, and genucode to the /tmp directory by executing the following AIX commands:
cp /tmp/web_microcode/cpcat /tmp/cpcat
cp /tmp/web_microcode/genucode.cat /tmp/genucode.cat
cp /tmp/web_microcode/genucode /tmp/genucode

Step 3: Install Genucode

Genucode requires a catalog entry that is not standard with AIX. To add this catalog entry the script cpcat will copy the required entry to the appropriate catalog.

Execute the cpcat script to copy genucode.cat to /usr/lpp/diagnostics/catalog/default (This only needs to be done once per system) by issuing the command:
cd /tmp
./cpcat
Note: The previous command is dot(.) slash(/) to insure the command executed is the command in the /tmp directory as some systems do not look for the command to be executed in the current directory.

Step 4: Updating the drive microcode

Note: Do not power the drive off immediately after the microcode says it is complete as the drive may be still doing internal processing that will take a few minutes to complete.

If the drive has just been powered on and no other AIX commands have been issued to the drive genucode may indicate a failure to download the microcode. The workaround to this is to retry the microcode download.
If genucode returns an error on completion, retry the command as this may clear the error condition.

Special Notice for 7205-311

Before doing a microcode update to the tape drive remove any tape cartridge from the drive and close the tape drive door.

When genucode indicates successful completion of the microcode download on the 7205-311, wait until all LEDs stop flashing and the Green Open Door LED is the only LED on before powering off or using the drive.

Microcode update instructions:

If the drive to be updated is a tape drive remove any tape cartridge from the tape drive before doing a microcode update.
If the cleaning LED is ON on the tape drive, clean the drive prior to attempting microcode download. Microcode download may fail if the drive is indicating it needs to be cleaned when the microcode download is attempted.
Genucode will use the DSDATA file and the microcode previously downloaded in step 1.
There are several ways to run genucode but the simplest is to use the command line form detailed next. Be aware the command line form will not prompt you before executing. Issue the following commands to update the drive microcode:
cd /tmp
./genucode -s rmt0
Where the rmt0 is the drive to be updated. If the drive is other than rmt0, change the name to the appropriate drive name, such as rmt2 or cd1, etc..

Step 5: Update the Vital Product Data(VPD)

Update the Vital Product Data(VPD) data in the system for the drive.

To update the systems VPD data to show the microcode in the drive do the following AIX commands:
rmdev -l rmt0
mkdev -l rmt0
Where the rmt0 is the drive to be updated. If the drive is other than rmt0, change the name to the appropriate drive name, such as rmt2 or cd1, etc..

Note: For most drives is not necessary to recycle the system or the drive to have the drive microcode active. If it is necessary to recycle the drive this will be in the information provided with the drive microcode.
If you are going to recycle the system or the drive, MAKE SURE the microcode download IS COMPLETE before recycling the system or the drive.

Genucode Return Codes

Program failed with Return_code: -xx

 NO INIT ODM     (-1)
 EXIT MAIN PANEL (-2)
 EXIT SELECT RES (-3)
 NO OPEN DSDATA  (-4)
 DSDATA ERROR    (-5)
 EXIT SELECT DEV (-6)
 INQUIRY FAILED  (-7)
 MISMATCHED PARM (-8)
 EXIT CONF DL    (-9)
 DOWNLOAD FAILED (-10)
 NO RES DEVS     (-11)
 EXIT CFGRES DEV (-12)
 CFGREQ FAIL     (-13)
 EXIT RES FAIL   (-14)
 RESTORE FAIL    (-15)
 NO DL DEVS      (-16)
 NO OPEN DEV     (-17)
 BAD INPUT PARM  (-18)

Sample DSDATA files:

Dsdata files are unique to each drive. The attached samples show the dsdata file for some of the eServer pSeries and RS/6000 drives.

Note: The * at the front of the line in the dsdata file denotes this is a comment only, the information in the line is not used by the program. The comments are used to provide information for the user.

13GB 1/4"(QIC-5010) Tape Drive

* dsdata - Drive Specific Data for microcode download * Format * LINE1:(continued) timeout_value(decimal) write_buffer_type{4 or 7} * LINE1:(continued) {PdDVLn string found from odmget -qname=devicex CuDv} * LINE2: (vendorname) inquiry_page page_offset field_length value * LINE3: (firmware level) inquiry_page page_offset field_length value * LINE4: (loadid) inquiry_page page_offset byte_length hexvalue 008000 000000 524464 0180 07 tape 00 10 08 IBM-6100 00 20 04 0106 00 2C 04 A0B00E11

The microcode file name would be: IBM-6100.0106.A0B00E11

60GB 8mm Tape Drive

* Mammoth 2 Dsdata File 60GB 8mm Tape Drive * September 6, 2002 V:01 * dsdata - Drive Specific Data for microcode download * * The dsdata file is used by both AIX Diagnostics, level 5.1 and higher, * and the separate program "Genucode" available from the IBM pSeries * external WEB site. * * Format of the data: * LINE1: blocksize(3-hex) buffer_offset(3-hex) binary_filesize(decimal) * LINE1:(continued) timeout_value(decimal) write_buffer_type{4 or 7} * LINE1:(continued) {PdDVLn string found from odmget -qname=devicex CuDv} * LINE2: (vendorname) inquiry_page page_offset field_length value * * Note: * "Genucode" requires the firmware level in line 3 to match the * firmware level you wish to download. * * Naming conventions for Genucode are: * Microcode file: /tmp/Mammoth2.07pR.A1700295 * dsdata file: /tmp/dsdata * * AIX Diagnostics "Microcode Download" does not require the firmware * level to match the firmware level you wish to download. * * Naming conventions for AIX diagnostics are: * Microcode file: /etc/microcode/Mammoth2.A1700295.07pR * dsdata file: /etc/microcode/Mammoth2.A1700295.dsdata * * LINE3: (firmware level) inquiry_page page_offset field_length value * LINE4: (loadid) inquiry_page page_offset byte_length hexvalue * 008000 000000 1201664 0600 07 tape 00 10 08 Mammoth2 00 20 04 07pR 00 2C 04 A1700295

The microcode file name would be: Mammoth2.07pR.A1700295

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