This is some additional info that I got after I sent the first SUMMARY:
(In my original SUMMARY it was not my intent to mislead anybody into
believing that if you weren't running RAID 5 you didn't need to upgrade.
Just that if you were running RAID 5, you MUST upgrade in order for it
to work properly! And again, thanks to all who responded! - Gonzo)
>From Jim Hebert (SunService):
>Hi Gonzo,
>
> Please resend your SUMMARY as it looks like mshons reply
> may have been misinterpreted. While it's true that certain
> RAID 5 configurations were more apt to see problems, there are
> also several good reasons to keep the hardware up to spec.
>
> As with any vendors hardware, we have made some minor changes
> to the firmware that may require an upgrade. All arrays should
> be upgraded, regardless of Volume Management Software or RAID
> level on a periodic basis to the latest versions available.
>
> The main reason is that new Software being developed is tested
> using the most recent firmware. Keeping up to date now will make
> upgrading later that much easier. Another is that newer firmware
may
> include performance enhancements.
>
> The correct levels as of 6/24/96 are:
>
> SBus Optical Card = 1.33
> SSA model 1xx firmware = 3.6
> 2.1G ST32550w Disks = 0418
>
> As always, if you are unsure how to check or upgrade, please
contact
> 1-800-USA-4-SUN or your local Sun or Authorized Sun Reseller for
> more assistance.
>
>Enjoy!
>
>Jim Hebert
>SunService
--------- Original SUMMARY ---------------------
First, let me thank all those who responded:
gardelec@phu017.sbphrd.com
mshon@sunrock.East.Sun.COM
rogerio@jessica.bvl.pt
allan.williams@anu.edu.au
fletcherc@postoffice.ttmc.com
roberts@pwl-sparc2.pwl.com
Garry.Robbins@labatt.com
jnapier@soemail.ucsd.edu
roy@bluestone.com
afinkel@pfn.com
Summary:
Well, what I found out is that RAID 0, 1, 0+1, and 5 all work as
advertised on Sun Arrays. HOWEVER, there is a catch. RAID 0, 1, and 0+1
are all fine as they are. RAID 5 on the other hand must be patched and
the SSA firmware upgraded. In order for it to work as it should, follow
the advise that mshon@sunrock.East.Sun.Com gave me:
>If RAID-5 performance is good enough for your application, then
>stick with it , but please upgrade your firmware and OS, and check the
>rev level on the FOMs too (sorry , I forget what level they have to be,
>but if they are IBM they have to be replaced).
>
>Please get
>
>Patch-ID# 103290-02
>Keywords: pln pln.conf soc ssd ssafirmware SSA SUNWssaop SUNWssadv
>Synopsis: SPARCstorage Array 2.0: SSA Jumbo patch for Solaris 2.4 11/94,
HW395
>Date: Apr/15/96
>
>Solaris Release: 2.4 (HW395 and 11/94)
>
>SunOS Release: 5.4
>
>Unbundled Product: SPARCstorage Array
>
>Unbundled Release: 2.0
>
>
>Thanks for not taking any shots at Sun.
>With current firmware, the product is solid.
>
>Also - if you have any 2.1Gb drives, they need an upgrade too:
>
>
>
>Patch-ID# 103451-01
>Keywords: ST32550 barracuda 2.1GB 0418 0416 ssa sparcstorage array disk
> firmware
>Synopsis: Hardware, Disk: Download program and firmware 0418 for ST32550
disk
>Date: May/03/96
>
>*************************************************************************
*
>*************************************************************************
*
>**WARNING:****WARNING:****WARNING:****WARNING:****WARNING:****WARNING:**
>
>1. THIS PATCH IS REQUIRED ONLY FOR SYSTEM CONFIGURATIONS THAT USE THE
> THE SUN 2.1GB DISK OF THE FOLLOWING DISK TYPES, NAMELY SEAGATE
ST32550N
> AND THE ST32550WC.
>
>2. This package will not function on "non-Sun" ST32550 disks. It will
>work
> only on Seagate ST32550N and ST32550WC disks having Sun Labels and
> installed in Sun SPARCservers and SPARC desktops.
Jim Napier (jnapier@soemail.ucsd.edu) also wrote telling me of a patch to
Volume Manager. That patch is 102403-04.
Patch 103290-02 by the way, contains the firmware code to upgrade your
SSA firmware to V3.6.
Thanks again to all who responded,
Gonzo Bushman, TSgt, USAF
Lead, Systems Administration Team
WWOLS-R Project
Tinker AFB, OK USA 73145
Phone: 405-734-3283 Ext. 22
E-Mail: bushman@comswsys.tinkernet.af.mil
This archive was generated by hypermail 2.1.2 : Fri Sep 28 2001 - 23:11:02 CDT