EVA 6400 Fimrware mis-match

[jlangmead]

 Hi

If I add some more Shelves to an EVA 6400 I understand that the EVA will automatically upgrade the shelf firmware to match that of the other shelves correct?

However, I'm running old firmware as I need to support some legeacy Windows 2003 hosts and so there is a potential that the new shelves will have a higher version of firmware than the existing shelves. What would happen in this scenarion? Would the EVA downgrade the new shelf firmware to match the existing shelves or will it just display a firmware error? Or could it even cause major issues and potentially take the array offline?

thanks

[Torsten.]

>> the EVA will automatically upgrade the shelf firmware to match that of the other shelves correct?

Yes, the EVA will upgrade/downgrade the chassis I/O modules firmware.

What version does the EVA run?

[jlangmead]

Hi Torsten

Thanks for getting back to me.

The EVA is currently running 11001100 and the IO modules are at 0112

So are you saying that if I install a new shelf which is running a firmware higher than 0112 then it will be downgraded to 0112 to match the existing shelves? That would be fine if that was the case.

If I'm adding 2 shelves do I need to wait for the first one to complete before adding the second?

thanks

[Torsten.]

Remember, XCS 11001100 is obsolete and unsupported since 30 Apr 2015.

I would consider to go to 1130000 first.

However, insert a single disk in an enclosure, open one loop and connect the chassis, wait some mintes, then connect the second loop. Once the I/O modules are up/downgraded, insert the remaining disks, one by one, wait 2-3 minutes between.

[Mike Texter]

To corroborate what Torsten has said, yes, the EVA heads will downgrade the I/O modules to whatever version is extant in the system. 

I've seen issues where adding too new of a shelf to too old of an environment (meaning the HSV controllers are at 09530000 or something) there is/was a bug where the I/O modules would say "loading firmware" forever.  It didn't seem to affect anything, other than constantly showing your array in a degraded state. 

Definitely upgrade HSV firmware if you have that ability, but since HPE has that code locked down tight not everyone can do that anymore.  If you have a few grand that's taking up too much space in your wallet you could open a billable call with HP who could do it for you...

[jlangmead]

Thanks both

I'm going to have t stick with the 11001100 as it's something to do with support for Windows 2003 hosts..... not sure what - perhaps multipathing?

All the same the EVA is only a short term repository until we can get everything moved over to a 3Par - I just need a bit more space right now.... heence the need for a couple more shelves

thanks again

[Torsten.]

I don't know if there are changes related to windows 2003 ...

However, do what I suggested and watch the status of the I/O modules - they will be downgraded if needed.

[jlangmead]

Perfect  - thanks very much.

I'll let you know how it goes.

kind regards

[jlangmead]

Just one more thing.

As I'm doing two shelves - do I add the first shelf with a single disk in (one loop at a time and wait for firmware to complete the upgrade\downgrade), then add the second shelf (again with one disk in, doing one loop at a time and allow firmware to complete) before I add any extra disks to either shelf?

Or should I do the first shelf (using the process above) and then fully populate with disks (leaving a couple of minutes between disk insertions) before I start any work with the second shelf?

thanks

[Mike Texter]

You probably should wait until the firmware has synced up on one before starting the other one.  If you disconnect a cable while a firmware upload is in progress it could cause trouble.  It shouldn't take very long, and you don't have to populate the shelf with disks before connecting the next one.  To be honest, i've always just added a shelf with disks already installed, the shelves are usually programmed to not stress the power bus too much and will spin up one or two disks at a time anyway until they're all running.  That said, it can never hurt to add one disk at a time, except from a temporal perspective :)