Menu Advanced Setup: Configure Controller, Firmware Update; Menu Advanced Setup: Configure Controller, Intelligent Fault Bus; Menu Advanced Setup: Conf. Controller, Non-Intelligent Enclosures - ICP RS Series User Manual

Display <CTRL><G>
Supported BIOS
Drives
CD-ROM Boot
Memory Test
Chn. SCSI-A
Termination
SCSI-ID
J.4.3.2 Menu Advanced Setup: Configure Controller, Firmware Update
The firmware, the BIOS and the ICPCON program of the ICP Controller are stored in a
Flash-RAM which is part of the ICP Controller hardware. In contrast to EPROMs, Flash-
RAMs can be re-programmed many times and without the complicated UV-light erasing
procedure. Firmware, BIOS and ICPCON are part of the GDT_RPFW file. The file has an ex-
tension (e.g. GDT_RPFW.009) which indicates the version stepping. The latest version of the
this file can be downloaded from our Website (www.icp-vortex.com).
This menu option is not available when ICPCON is accessing the ICP Controller remotely.
J.4.3.3 Menu Advanced Setup: Configure Controller, Intelligent Fault Bus
Intelligent Fault Bus is an older subsystem standard, which is no longer used in modern
subsystems or backplanes. ICP's Ultra/Wide Disk Array Controllers were the last ICP Con-
trollers supporting this, sometimes also called "DEC™ Fault Bus".
Today's modern subsystems are either using SAF-TE (SCSI Accessed Fault Tolerant Enclo-
sures) or SES (SCSI Enclosure Services) as communication links to the controller. These
intelligent subsystems are normally build on so-called backplanes, which host hard disks
which are equipped with SCA connectors (Single Connector Attachment). The backplane
has a dedicated electronics with microprocessor and firmware which allows an intelligent
communication between the subsystem/backplane and the ICP Controller. Through this
channel the subsystem can for example report its temperature and the power supply status
to the ICP Controller. The major objective of SAF-TE or SES is to provide the Auto Hot Plug.
In contrast to the Hot Plug, with Auto Hot Plug a defective drive is simply pulled out the
subsystem and the replacement unit is plugged in again. Both, the ICP Controller and the
subsystem control this process so that problems on the SCSI/FC-AL bus are eliminated and
the rebuild of the missing data is initiated fully automatically. No further user interaction is
necessary.
A unique and special feature of ICP Controllers is the following:
J.4.3.4 Menu Advanced Setup: Conf. Controller, Non-Intelligent Enclosures
Since SAF-TE or SES subsystems are pretty cost intensive, ICP has integrated a special
functionality which can control up to 16 non-intelligent enclosures with up to 15 hard
disks, each, and provides the Auto Hot Plug. It is clearly up to the user's responsibility to
use components (e.g., disk shuttles), which are really hot pluggable.
Off <CTRL><G> not displayed at system boot level
On <CTRL><G> displayed at system boot level
2 The ICP BIOS supports 2 drives under MS-DOS
7 The ICP BIOS supports 7 drives under MS-DOS
Enabled Boot from CD-ROM enabled
Disabled Boot from CD-ROM disabled
No test No test at all
Standard Standard test
Double scan Double scan test
Intensive Intensive test (takes longer)
Off SCSI termination of the channel Off
On SCSI termination of the channel On
Auto SCSI termination according to occupied connectors
0,1,2,3,4,5,6,7 Possible SCSI IDs for the channel
136