active firmware 7.0 Release Notes (434889-002, February 2007)

ManualsBrandsHP ManualsStorageHP StorageWorks Modular Smart Array 1000

Critical: Do not upgrade to this version of firmware without first fully reviewing the following

technical documents located on the Technical Documents page of the following HP websites:

ttp://www.hp.com/go/msa1000 or http:/ /www.hp.com/go/msa1500:

• Migrating to active/active controllers in HP-UX environm ents

• Migrating to active/active controllers in Windows environments

• Migrating to active/active controllers in Linux environments

• Migrating to active/active controllers in NetWare environments

• Migrating to active/active controllers in OpenVMS environments

• Migrating to active/active controllers in Tru64 UNIX environments

• Migrating to active/active controllers in VMware environments

• MSA1000/1500 firmware updating guide

• MSA1000/1500 Command Line Interface user guide

• MSA1500cs installation guide

• MSA1500cs active/active compatibility guide

• MSA1000 installation guide

• MSA1000 active/active compatibility guide

Critical: On the MSA1000, downgrading from active/active firmware version 7.00 to active /passive

firmware 4.x is not suppor ted and will result in the loss of the array configuration. If migration back to

active/passive firmware is necessary, a full data backup and recording of the array configuration on the

MSA1 0 00 is required. (Note: Downgrading from active/active firmware version 7.00 to a ctive/passive

5.10 does not affect the MSA1500.)

Critical: Secure Path for Linux and Secure Path for Windows software does not work with firmware

version 6.x or later.

See the migrating to active/active guides for instructions on moving to the suppor ted multi-path software

utilities.

Critical: Before upgrading to firmware 7.00, the MSA1000/1500 Support Software CD version 7.6x

or later must be d ownloaded and used to update host drivers and utilities that are compatible with the

active/active firmware.

See the MSA1000 or MSA1500 installation guide for installation instructions.

Critical: Hot removing an operational array controller from the MSA1000 or MSA1500 is not s upported

and could cause the surviving controller to be come unresponsive. For instructions on how to properly

disable and remove an operational array controller, see the MSA1000 or MSA1500 maintenance

and service guide, available on the following HP websites: h

ttp://www.hp.com/go/msa1000 or

ttp://www.hp.com/go/msa1500cs.

Critical: A s with any firmware update, be sure that there is a current g ood backup available first.

Critical: When upgrading firmware to version 7.00 using the MSA command line interface (CLI) method,

use of the CLI command ’download ﬁrmware online’ i s not supported. If you choose to use the MSA CLI

method to update firmware, only use the ’download ﬁrmw are ofﬂine’ CLI command.

Important: After migrating to active/active firmware, LUNs should be distributed between two controllers

for best performance. See the Redundancy Settings section of the Array Configuration Utility user

guide or the Show/Set preferred path CLI command in the MS1000/1500 Command Line Interface

user guide for additional instructions.

Important: For best per formance, do not enable host-side HBA load balancing if the host-specific

multi-path software supports this feature. Due to the single Fibre Channel port p er controller design

of the MSA1000 and MSA1 500, enabling host-side HBA load balancing could actually decrease

overall per formance. See the host-specific multi-pa th software documentation for instructions on

enabling/disabling the HBA load-balancing features.

Important: Do not turn off p ower to the MSA1000 or MSA1500 or connected d rive shelves while hosts

connected to the MSA1000 or MSA1500 are online and processing host I/Os. HP recommends the

1000/1500 Modular Smart Array active/active firmware 7.0