Atape.driver Important Installation and Upgrade Information

Contents

About this document

This document discusses important information with regards to Atape.driver special handling. Atape.driver can cause system crashes or become unusable if it is not handled properly at older versions. This document contains most of the information you will need when handling install/update situations with IBM autoloaders and libraries.

What is the Atape.driver?

Atape.driver is the device driver for all IBM brand autoloaders' special functions, specifically tape changing. The drives will work without it as an "Other SCSI Tape" but you can't move tapes around in the changer or library without it. Atape also includes the tapeutil program and its source code which is a reference utility for the various functions in the drives.

What serious defects should I be aware of?

Version 2 of Atape.driver has a defect. The error occurs when an Atape device is brought out of the available state, resulting in a system crash with Atape being the active process.

Atape.driver Versions 2 and 3 have a defect which prevents them from being updated. They have must be uninstalled and re-installed.

What other important conditions should I be aware of?

• All versions of Atape use /usr/lpp/Atape/lpp.deinst, rather than installp -u/smitty remove.
• Atape V4.2 and later only run on AIX V4, whereas the earlier versions run on both AIX V3 and V4.
• Atape and atldd are somewhat version dependent. If you are updating one, and have a 3494 on this system, then update both of them.
• Atape is somewhat microcode dependent. If you are updating microcode, update Atape as well.
• Device information is not dynamically updated. If you replace an Atape device or any of its internal components, you should rebuild the device configuration.
1. This can be done by rebooting.
2. If you used the special cabling, left the system running for the service, and you are not at Version 2 of Atape, then you can reconfigure while the system is up.
1. Enter rmdev -l rmtX.
2. Enter mkdev -l rmtX.

How to check your installed version of Atape.driver

1. Log in to your system.
2. Enter the command lslpp -l Atape.driver.
   Note the capitalization of the first "A".
3. Your version number will be displayed.

Where can I get a complete revision history, latest levels and documentation for the Atape.driver package?

1. Additional Atape.drive information is available on the Internet at ftp://ftp.software.ibm.com/storage/devdrvr.
1. Guides and programming references are available as PDF files in this directory.
2. There are device drivers in the operating system-specific directories, such as AIX, Solaris, NT, Cray, etc.
3. Release notes are in the same directory as the device drivers.

Why is Atape or atldd not available on FixDist?

• The Atape and atldd drivers are not part of AIX, nor are they maintained by the AIX developers. AIX Support will assist on a best-effort basis for Atape.driver only as is necessary to determine whether the problem is with the application, such as ADSM, tar, dd, and so on, or with the device/Atape.
• These drivers are feature code 9200 off of any supported device.
• Feature codes are hardware components which may be ordered.
• These device drivers are maintained and released by the tape product engineers, side-by-side with device microcode. AIX Support Line can usually assist with general conditions of updating and basic diagnosis. The IBM Hardware Support Center may be contacted for further information.
• What about fibre channel support?

Fibre channel support is new. You must be at the latest level of Atape and using an IBM SAN Data Gateway, which is an OEM version of the Crossroads 4200. The host-port (2 per SDG) that is attached to your system must be set to AIX mode for proper SCSI-3 protocol implementation. Enter the following:

1. Log in to the SDG through the serial port
2. For port 0, enter setHost 0, "AIX"
3. For port 1, enter setHost 1, "AIX"

NOTE: As of Feb 2000, only Arbitrated Loop is supported, not Point-to-Point or Switched Fabric.

How to upgrade Atape V2 to the current level

1. Obtain an updated copy of the driver. Complete the following steps.
   1. Go to the ftp site ftp://ftp.software.ibm.com/storage/devdrvr.
   2. Download in binary mode.
   3. Copy this to the directory /tmp/Atape.
2. Power off all Atape devices.
3. Reboot your system.
4. Remove the devices completely by entering rmdev -dl rmtX.
5. Remove the old driver. Enter /usr/lpp/Atape/lpp.deinst.
6. Install the new driver. Enter installp -acXd /tmp/Atape all.
7. Power on your Atape devices.
8. To activate the devices, enter cfgmgr.
9. Edit any device attributes you choose, such as block size.

How to upgrade Atape V3 to the current level

1. Obtain an updated copy of the driver. Complete the following steps.
   1. Go to the ftp site ftp://ftp.software.ibm.com/storage/devdrvr.
   2. Download in binary mode.
   3. Copy this to the directory /tmp/Atape.
2. Remove the devices completely by entering rmdev -dl rmtX.
3. Remove the old driver. Enter /usr/lpp/Atape/lpp.deinst.
4. Install the new driver. Enter installp -acXd /tmp/Atape all.
5. To activate them, enter cfgmgr.
6. Edit any device attributes you choose, such as block size.

How to upgrade later versions of Atape to the current version

1. Obtain an updated copy of the driver. Complete the following steps.
1. Go to the ftp site ftp://ftp.software.ibm.com/storage/devdrvr.
2. Download in binary mode.
3. Copy this to the directory /tmp/Atape.
2. Install and update by entering installp -acXd /tmp/Atape all.
3. The install process will refresh definitions.

How to recover from problems in installing the newer version directly on top of the older version

1. Make sure the old version is accessible; it comes on diskette with your drive. The support center may possibly have older versions available.
2. Obtain an updated copy of the driver. Complete the following steps.
   1. Go to the ftp site ftp://ftp.software.ibm.com/storage/devdrvr.
   2. Download in binary mode.
   3. Copy this to the directory /tmp/Atape.
3. Power off all Atape devices.
4. Reboot the system.
5. Remove the devices completely by entering rmdev -dl rmtX.
6. Remove the new drivers. Enter /usr/lpp/Atape/lpp.deinst.
7. Install the old drivers. Enter installp -acXd /tmp/Atape.old all
8. Remove the old drivers. Enter /usr/lpp/Atape/lpp.deinst.
9. Install the new drivers. Enter installp -acXd /tmp/Atape all.
10. Power on your Atape devices.
11. To activate them, enter cfgmgr.
12. Edit any device attributes you choose, such as block size.

[ Doc Ref: 92783872513676     Publish Date: Oct. 19, 2000     4FAX Ref: 4391 ]