2040 firmware version check

HPE MSA Upgrade

Today we have a guest post covering the HPE MSA firmware upgrade process in excellent detail. If you fancy writing a guest post check out this post.

Introduction

Hi Guys,

First, let me introduce myself:

My name is Armin Kerl, I have been a HPE Master ASE for 20 years in Server & Storage starting at 1992 with Compaq Server Technology. I’m living with my Wife and Son in Germany and working for the last 15 Years for SWS Computersysteme AG (Member of ACP Group). In 2014, I got a nomination to the “HPE Partner Ambassador Program”. My primary focus is HPE Storage and Server as Senior Consultant. After Years of HP EVA Systems, today I am installing and managing around 50 3PAR Systems at 20 customer Sites. You can learn more about me by connecting on LinkedIn.

HPE MSA Upgrade Background

Now let me share some tips for updating your HPE MSA & P2000 Storage Systems. HPE has released a new Microsite for “HPE MSA Storage Firmware & Release Notes” http://www.hpe.com/storage/MSAFirmware Well done HPE, I wish we could of had this for the last 20 Years. From here you can find and download all the necessary firmware for the MSA.

Before starting the Update, remember, it is always a good Idea to have a Backup. I have had issues where multiple drives have a malfunctioned after the update and data was put at risk. In addition, you should have a support contract if the system production, best is 4h response Time. I have had experience of where one controller goes down during a firmware update.

All the Issues I have had were with P2000 systems, until now I have seen no firmware update problem with MSA204x or MSA205x Systems and have read that the newer MSA Storages HPE updates are improved.

As today, you have still search and download for every Drive Type the Firmware Version. If you scroll down the new MicroSite you can find the “HPE MSA Hard Disk Drives – Hard Drive Model Number Matrix”.

For the P2000 Systems HPE Support told, that is best practice to have no IOs (or minimum IOs) during the Update. Even if Online Update is supported. I have had many Issus by Updating and always shut down all Systems, if in Production.

For MSA204x and MSA205x, I decide not to Shut Down all Systems, but shutdown databases (Exchange, SQL, Oracle,…) and doing it to Low IO Times. So long, I have no trouble.

Now here is my Action Plan:

1 Prepare the System

Connect via putty:

1a Check if System is OK

#show version

#show network

#show system

System Information

------------------

System Name: P2k05

System Contact: xxxxxxxxx

System Location: xxxxxxxxxxxxxx

System Information: P2000 G3

Midplane Serial Number: xxxxxxxxxxxx

Vendor Name: HP StorageWorks

Product ID: P2000 G3 FC

Product Brand: MSA Storage

SCSI Vendor ID: HP

SCSI Product ID: P2000 G3 FC

Enclosure Count: 2

Health: OK

Note health shows as OK

1b Check if all VDisks are “Fault Tolerance Online” (FOTL) and have no Job:

Output from vdisk FTOL commandIf Disk Scrub (VRSC) active, then abort

#abort scrub vdisk BKRSDS1_RG2-0

Info: Scrub was aborted on vdisk BKRSDS1_RG2-0. (BKRSDS1_RG2-0)

Success: Command completed successfully. (2014-10-15 09:53:46)

Another example

vdisk is initalising

This Disk is Initializing:

If other jobs active or volumes are not FTOL than, cancel update and schedule new, if system is OK then continue

1c Check if disks are OK:

show disks output

Example:This disk is initializing:

1d     Check if unwritten Data is in Cache

# show unwritable-cache

Percent not written Cache in Controller A: 0

Percent not written Cache in Controller  B: 0

If there is:

# clear cache volume (Name)

1e Disable Partner Firmware Update

# set advanced-settings partner-firmware-upgrade off

1f you powered off hosts and check, there are no IOPS. Below we can see IOPs are still present, we would like to see this at zero

This is all the pre-upgrade steps

2 Firmware Update Controller

Download ” Online ROM Flash Component for Windows – HP P2000 / MSA 1040/2040 Storage Arrays”.

http://www.hpe.com/storage/MSAFirmware

Always use the Windows EXE for Firmware Update; this is using special Script’s.

The Firmware Update Tool connects to the Controller over IP and takes aprox 30 min. per Controller.

Running the Windows online ROM flash component for MSA firmware update

3 After Update check if it is OK

After the Update login to the Web GUI go to Tools > Firmware Update. Check, if both Controllers have identical Firmware versions.Often on P2000 Systems with older firmware sometimes, parts of Firmware were not updated.

This is P2000 with c2 GUI:

Checking firmware versions, post upgrade

checking firmware version for the MSA controller

And here in the newer v3 GUI:

MSA2040 update firmware

2040 firmware version check

4 Firmware Update Disk Shelf

Download the ” Online ROM Flash Component for Windows – HP MSA 2040/P2000 Dual I/O LFF or SFF Drive Enclosure”.

This Process is only OFFLINE supported; meaning no IOPS. Each IO Module need around 15 minutes.

update expansion modules

5       Firmware Update Disks

Login to the Web GUI and go to Tools > Firmware Update

Look at the Disk Types, than download the „Firmware Flash Component for Windows – HP MSA 1040/2040, P2000 G3 and MSA2000 …..”, if there is some newer.The Disk Firmware Update Tool connects over the IP to the Controller and does an update of the disk.

If different Disk Types are installed, than repeat this for every type. Per Disk it will need about 5 Minutes

6  Check if Disk Update is OK

update disk drives firmware

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5 thoughts on “HPE MSA Upgrade

  1. Hi,

    This is very good post and much more information.

    Same like this can we have OS up gradation for 3PAR Storage systems?

  2. Hi Richard!
    Do you have firmware files for HP MSA 2000 10 GbE SCSI?
    Could you pls send it to my email.
    Unfortunally our warranty time expired(

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