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           N8103-225 RAID Controller PSOC Firmware Update Module
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Software name    : N8103-225 RAID Controller PSOC Firmware Update Module
Software version : PSOC Firmware : ver.31 / ver.27
Type of software : RAID Controller PSOC Firmware 
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[ About the software ]
The PSOC Firmware update module (hereinafter referred to as "this software") is 
used to update the PSOC Firmware of the N8103-225 RAID controller.

PSOC Firmware: ver.31 / ver.27  
*The version of the PSOC Firmware may vary depending on your N8103-225 RAID
 controller. Please check [Update Targets] for more details.

This PSOC Firmware addresses the following issues:
 Frequent switching of WT (WriteThrough) and WB (WriteBack) leading to temporary 
 degradation of write performance, and the frequent occurrence of WT/WB switch logs.

<About WT/WB switching logs>

 - Universal RAID Utility Log Viewer/OS Event Log/ESMPRO Alert Viewer

   Severity    : Information
   Description : <RU0417>[CTRL:X(ID=X) LD:XXX(ID=XXX)]The Cache Mode of Logical Drive was
                 changed.  Value : Write Through

   Severity    : Information
   Description : <RU0417>[CTRL:X(ID=X) LD:XXX(ID=XXX)]The Cache Mode of Logical Drive was
                 changed.  Value : Write Back

    *After switching to WriteThrough, it returns to WriteBack in about 1 minute and 30 seconds.

[ Software versions that require the update ]

  If the PSOC Part Number of the N8103-225 RAID controller falls under any of the following 
  (1) to (4), it will be subject to an update.

     PSOC Part Number：AAAAA-BB0-4GB
       *BB applies if it falls under the following conditions  
       *BB is the version of the PSOC Firmware

      (1) AAAAA = 15987: BB is less than "31"
      (2) AAAAA = 29211: BB is less than "27"
      (3) AAAAA = 29651: BB is less than "27"
      (4) If the PSOC Part Number item is not displayed

       * The PSOC Firmware can only be applied if the N8103-225 RAID controller Firmware 
         is version "5.280.02-4008" or higher. If it is below this version, using this software 
         will apply version "5.280.02-4008".

[ Precautions when updating ]

   * Incorrect update could result in the problems such as failure to boot the 
     system. Read through the instructions in this document carefully for
     performing the update to prevent erroneous operation. When the system
     malfunctions or the power is disconnected during the update due to unexpected
     accidents such as power failure, lightning strike, power interruption and
     noise, it may result in damage to the device and system malfunction in the
     worst case. Please note that in such cases, repair may be required at your
     cost.

[ How to check version / update PSOC Firmware ]

  <In case of Windows Operating System>

      * This software will create a text file in the "Windows" folder during operation. 
        It will not create files in other folders, modify existing files, or make changes 
        to the registry.

      * Although the following event is registered on the Windows Event Log 
        due to the firmware update, this event does not affect system operation.
       
         Source       Fmegasas2
         Event ID     F11
         Type         FError
         Description  FThe driver detected a controller error on \Device\RaidPort(x).

         Source       Fdisk
         Event ID     F153
         Type         FWarning
         Description  FThe IO operation at the logical block address for disk was retried.


   - How to check PSOC Firmware version:

      1) Download the software (zip file) to any location and extract it.

          (Example) The folder structure will be as follows after extracting 
                    after downloading to "c:\tmp"

                        c:\tmp\Windows
    
      2) Run "check_956N.bat"in the folder in step 1) as an administrator.

           (Example) c:\tmp\Windows\check_956N.bat


      3) Please confirm the following from the information displayed for each controller.

          ･ Confirm that the Model is as follows.
             →Model = MegaRAID 956N-8i

          ･ Check the PSOC Part Number.
             →PSOC Part Number：AAAAA-BB0-4GB
                *BB applies if it falls under the following conditions  
                *BB is the version of the PSOC Firmware

              (1) AAAAA = 15987 : BB is less than "31"
              (2) AAAAA = 29211 : BB is less than "27"
              (3) AAAAA = 29651 : BB is less than "27"
              (4) If the PSOC Part Number item is not displayed

             (Display example)

               Controller = 0
               Model = MegaRAID 956N-8i
               Firmware Version = 5.240.02-3768
               PSOC Part Number = 15987-190-4GB

               Controller = 1
               Model = MegaRAID 956N-8i
               Firmware Version = 5.240.02-3768
               PSOC Part Number = 29651-190-4GB

         The message "Press any key to continue . . ." will be displayed, and pressing 
         any key will close the tool's window.


    - How to update PSOC Firmware:

       * The PSOC Firmware can only be applied if the N8103-225 RAID controller Firmware 
         is version "5.280.02-4008" or higher. If it is below this version, using this 
         software will apply version "5.280.02-4008".

      1) Run the "fw_956N.bat" file stored in the unzipped folder as "Administrator". 
         The PSOC Firmware will be updated.

         The following message will be displayed when the update is complete:
         (X = controller number)

         ###############################################################
             RAID Firmware update successful.(Controller X)
         ###############################################################

         ###############################################################
             PSOC Firmware update successful.(Controller X)
             Please power cycle the system for changes to take effect.
         ###############################################################

        Once all the update tasks are complete, the message "Press any key to continue . . ."
        will appear. Pressing any key will close the tool's window.


      2) After the PSOC Firmware update, turning the AC off and on is necessary. 
         Please wait 10 seconds after turning off the AC before turning it back on.

      3) After turning on the AC and booting the server and OS, run "check_956N.bat"
         as an administrator again. If it shows the version below, the PSOC Firmware 
         update is complete.

             PSOC Part Number：AAAAA-BB0-4GB

              (1) AAAAA = 15987 : then BB is "31"
              (2) AAAAA = 29211 : then BB is "27"
              (3) AAAAA = 29651 : then BB is "27"

             (Display example)

               Controller = 0
               Model = MegaRAID 956N-8i
               Firmware Version = 5.240.02-3768
               PSOC Part Number = 15987-310-4GB

               Controller = 1
               Model = MegaRAID 956N-8i
               Firmware Version = 5.240.02-3768
               PSOC Part Number = 29651-270-4GB


         The message "Press any key to continue . . ." will be displayed, and pressing 
         any key will close the tool's window.

      4) Delete the "Windows" folder and downloaded files that are no longer needed.

      5) The update work is complete.



  <In case of Linux Operating System>

      * Please run this tool using an account with root privileges. If you do not 
        have the necessary permissions, the tool will not function correctly. 

       * This software will create a text file within the "Linux" directory 
         during operation. It will not create files in any other directories or 
         make changes to existing files.


   - How to check PSOC Firmware version:

      1) Download and decompress this software (gzip file) to any location.

         (Example) When the software is downloaded to "/tmp"
          
           # cd /tmp
           # tar -zxvf Linux.tar.gz

      2) Navigate to the directory where the software was extracted and run 
         check_956N.sh.

          (Example)
             #cd /tmp/Linux
             #./check_956N.sh

      3) Please confirm the following from the information displayed for each controller.

          ･ Confirm that the Model is as follows.
             →Model = MegaRAID 956N-8i

          ･ Check the PSOC Part Number.
             →PSOC Part Number：AAAAA-BB0-4GB
                *BB applies if it falls under the following conditions  
                *BB is the version of the PSOC Firmware

              (1) AAAAA = 15987 : BB is less than "31"
              (2) AAAAA = 29211 : BB is less than "27"
              (3) AAAAA = 29651 : BB is less than "27"
              (4) If the PSOC Part Number item is not displayed

             (Display example)

               Controller = 0
               Model = MegaRAID 956N-8i
               Firmware Version = 5.240.02-3768
               PSOC Part Number = 15987-190-4GB

               Controller = 1
               Model = MegaRAID 956N-8i
               Firmware Version = 5.240.02-3768
               PSOC Part Number = 29651-190-4GB


   - How to update PSOC Firmware:

       * The PSOC Firmware can only be applied if the N8103-225 RAID controller Firmware 
         is version "5.280.02-4008" or higher. If it is below this version, using this 
         software will apply version "5.280.02-4008".

      1) Run fw_956N.sh in the directory where you extracted this software.

          (Example)
             #./fw_956N.sh

         The following message will be displayed when the update is complete:
         (X = controller number)

         ###############################################################
             RAID Firmware update successful.(Controller X)
         ###############################################################

         ###############################################################
             PSOC Firmware update successful.(Controller X)
             Please power cycle the system for changes to take effect.
         ###############################################################


      2) After the PSOC Firmware update, turning the AC off and on is necessary. 
         Please wait 10 seconds after turning off the AC before turning it back on.

      3) After turning on the AC and booting up the server, once the OS has started, 
         run "check_956N.sh" again. If it has the version below, the PSOC Firmware 
         update is complete.

             PSOC Part Number：AAAAA-BB0-4GB

              (1) AAAAA = 15987 : then BB is "31"
              (2) AAAAA = 29211 : then BB is "27"
              (3) AAAAA = 29651 : then BB is "27"


             (Display example)

              #./check_956N.sh

               Controller = 0
               Model = MegaRAID 956N-8i
               Firmware Version = 5.240.02-3768
               PSOC Part Number = 15987-310-4GB

               Controller = 1
               Model = MegaRAID 956N-8i
               Firmware Version = 5.240.02-3768
               PSOC Part Number = 29651-270-4GB


      4) Delete the unnecessary "Linux" directory and downloaded files.

      5) The update work is complete.



  <In case of ESXi>

    - How to check PSOC Firmware version:

      * Please run this tool using an account with root privileges. If you do not 
        have the necessary permissions, the tool will not function correctly. 

       * This software will create a text file within the "ESXi" directory 
         during operation. It will not create files in any other directories or 
         make changes to existing files.

      1) Transfer this software (zip compressed file) to any area of ESXi from 
         applications like VMware Host Client and extract it.

         (Example) When transferred to "/vmfs/volumes/datastore1"

             #cd /vmfs/volumes/datastore1
             #unzip ESXi.zip      

      2) Navigate to the directory where the software was extracted and run 
         check_956N.sh.

          (Example)

             #cd /vmfs/volumes/datastore1/ESXi
             #./check_956N.sh

      3) Please confirm the following from the information displayed for each controller.

          ･ Confirm that the Model is as follows.
             →Model = MegaRAID 956N-8i

          ･ Check the PSOC Part Number.
             →PSOC Part Number：AAAAA-BB0-4GB
                *BB applies if it falls under the following conditions  
                *BB is the version of the PSOC Firmware

              (1) AAAAA = 15987 : BB is less than "31"
              (2) AAAAA = 29211 : BB is less than "27"
              (3) AAAAA = 29651 : BB is less than "27"
              (4) If the PSOC Part Number item is not displayed

             (Display example)

               Controller = 0
               Model = MegaRAID 956N-8i
               Firmware Version = 5.240.02-3768
               PSOC Part Number = 15987-190-4GB

               Controller = 1
               Model = MegaRAID 956N-8i
               Firmware Version = 5.240.02-3768
               PSOC Part Number = 29651-190-4GB


   - How to update PSOC Firmware:

       * The PSOC Firmware can only be applied if the N8103-225 RAID controller Firmware 
         is version "5.280.02-4008" or higher. If it is below this version, using this 
         software will apply version "5.280.02-4008".

      1) Run fw_956N.sh in the directory where you extracted this software.

          (Example)

             #./fw_956N.sh

         The following message will be displayed when the update is complete:
         (X = controller number)

         ###############################################################
             RAID Firmware update successful.(Controller X)
         ###############################################################

         ###############################################################
             PSOC Firmware update successful.(Controller X)
             Please power cycle the system for changes to take effect.
         ###############################################################


      2) After the PSOC Firmware update, turning the AC off and on is necessary. 
         Please wait 10 seconds after turning off the AC before turning it back on.

      3) After turning on the AC and booting up the server, once the OS has started, 
         run "check_956N.sh" again. If it has the version below, the PSOC Firmware 
         update is complete.

             PSOC Part Number：AAAAA-BB0-4GB

              (1) AAAAA = 15987 : then BB is "31"
              (2) AAAAA = 29211 : then BB is "27"
              (3) AAAAA = 29651 : then BB is "27"


             (Display example)

              #./check_956N.sh

               Controller = 0
               Model = MegaRAID 956N-8i
               Firmware Version = 5.240.02-3768
               PSOC Part Number = 15987-310-4GB

               Controller = 1
               Model = MegaRAID 956N-8i
               Firmware Version = 5.240.02-3768
               PSOC Part Number = 29651-270-4GB


      4) Delete the unnecessary "ESXi" directory and downloaded files.

      5) The update work is complete.

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