FC HBAs driver version and firmware version

[Gary L]

Hi

My company wanna do the SAN upgrade, I wanna check the LINUX server's FC HBA version, see whether those need upgrade. I wanna ask you some questions:

1. how to check currect FC HBAs's version, which linux command?

2. how to check current firmware version, I heard, could through main menu to check, but this way but reboot the system, right? which command could list server's firmware version?

3. maybe my server's HBAs's version is 7.05.00, because i through find / -name *qla2x00* found out /opt/hp/src/hp_qla2x00src/qla2x00src-v7.05.00.tar, whether it is HBAs's current version?

4. whether I need upgrade my current version?

thank you very much !

[Matti_Kurkela · Accepted solution]

1 and 2)
That depends a bit on the type of the card and the driver version used. At least for QLogic and Emulex HBAs I have around, the driver will provide the version information in the /proc/scsi/ directory.

For QLogic 2xxx series cards, the directory is /proc/scsi/qla2xxx. For Emulex LightPulse 9xxx series, the directory is /proc/scsi/lpfc.

The directory will have one file for each HBA in the system. As it is a "virtual" file, it appears to have zero size. But if you view the contents of the file, it will actually have the information. (The content is actually generated at the time you open the file for reading.)

For example:
# cd /proc/scsi/qla2xx
# ls
0 1
# cat 0
QLogic PCI to Fibre Channel Host Adapter for QLA2342:
Firmware version 3.03.20 IPX, Driver version 8.01.04-d7
ISP: ISP2312, Serial# D09113

[...lots of statistics snipped]

Here are the adapter type, firmware version and driver version numbers.
Emulex's listing is formatted a bit differently, but it contains all the essential information too.

3.) It's possible but not certain. That file could be a left-over from an earlier version. Check the subdirectories of /proc/scsi/ to be certain.

4.) That's where you get to do your "homework"... or perhaps hire a consultant to do it for you, if you so desire.

You'll need to inventory the OS's, HBA's, switches and storage systems you'll be using, get the compatibility information from your SAN storage device manufacturer(s), and then sort it out.

For example, EMC has a Web application on their web pages that can determine the compatibility requirements for a given set of devices. There is also a huge set of PDFs with the same information, but the application is more convenient. All information about every device EMC has tested with their storage systems is in there. If there are driver or firmware version requirements, they will be documented.

[Gary L]

Hi Matti

How are you doing?
You help me again, I know you. yesterday you gave me a very very detail explanations on FC, FC HBAs in HP-UX forum, now you give me another concept and practice explanations, thanks again!

We used HP's SAN solution, and this time, I will work with HP consultant to do the upgrade job, maybe I wanna do more homework.

three more question:
1. On HP-UX 11.11, how to check the Firmware version

2. Do HP-UX have another simple command like linux cat 0 to show the FC HBA's driver version info and other details like Linux. So far I only use: swlist / ioscan / fcmsutil to check FC HBA's version B.11.11.09 and Driver Patch PHSS_28509.

3. Whether I need upgrade those current B.11.11.09 version to B.11.11.12 PHSS_31326 for SAN upgrade. If yes, there is patch PHKL_34161, whether I should install it with PHSS_31326?

thank you very much!!!

[Matti_Kurkela]

Sorry, wrong forum.

Let's put the HP-UX questions into the HP-UX forum, so that others who might need the same information can better find it if they search for it.
OK?

(Yes, the forum's own search engine has not been very good. Google can search inside the ITRC forums too.)

[Matti_Kurkela]

Answers attached to your previous HP-UX thread:
http://forums1.itrc.hp.com/service/forums/questionanswer.do?threadId=1106167

[Gary L]

Yes, Matti

you are right!

happy weekend.