Firmware Updates; Troubleshooting The Storage Subsystem - IBM DS3500 Installation, User & Maintenance Manual

Note: For PFA flags, the system-error LED and hard disk drive status LEDs are not
Recovering from a storage-subsystem failure might require you to perform
procedures other than replacing the component (such as backing up the logical
drive). The DS Storage Manager software provides these procedures.
Attention:
In addition, always replace a failing component as soon as possible to minimize
additional failures that might occur, causing loss of data access.

Firmware updates

Attention:
or ESM firmware upgrades. Save the profile and all configuration (.cfg) files to a
server disk that will remain accessible in the event of a DS3500 storage
configuration failure. Do not save these files only to a LUN in the storage
subsystem.
To ensure the optimal operation of the storage subsystem and its attached
expansion enclosures, the ESM firmware, controller firmware, hard disk drive
firmware, and the NVSRAM firmware must be up-to-date. Go to
http://www.ibm.com/servers/storage/support/disk/ to get the latest updates.
Always see the readme files that are included with the firmware packages for the
most up-to-date information about firmware prerequisites, firmware update
instructions, download-sequence information, and host I/O restrictions, if any. Apply
the necessary updates before you configure the storage subsystem arrays and
logical drives. Subscribe to My Support for automatic notifications of firmware or DS
Storage Manager software updates or any important information about the DS3500
storage subsystems (see "Product updates" on page 5).
Attention:
dependencies in the readme file might result in a loss of data access.
Unless the readme file contains special requirements for the sequence in which you
upgrade firmware, perform firmware upgrades in the following sequence:
1. ESM firmware for the expansion enclosures
2. Controller firmware
3. Controller NVSRAM
4. Drive firmware

Troubleshooting the storage subsystem

The DS Storage Manager software is the best way to monitor the storage
subsystem, diagnose a problem, and recover from a hardware failure. Run the DS
Storage Manager software continuously, and frequently check the configuration
status.
To check the status of and identify a problem with the storage subsystem, complete
the following steps. If a problem has occurred, use the DS Storage Manager
software and the LEDs on the storage subsystem to help locate a failed component.
1. Open the Subsystem Management window.
2. Click the Summary tab, and view the status of the storage subsystem.
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System Storage DS3500 and EXP3500: Installation, User's, and Maintenance Guide
lit, so checking the LEDs will not notify you of the failure, even if the risk of
data loss is high.
Not following the software-recovery procedures can result in data loss.
Save the storage subsystem profile before you perform any controller
Failure to observe the limitations, prerequisites, sequences, and