How to Upgrade Storage Array Firmware (No Submirrors)

Use this procedure to upgrade storage array firmware in a running cluster, when your arrays are not configured to support submirrors. To upgrade firmware when you are using submirrors, see How to Upgrade Storage Array Firmware When Using Mirroring. Firmware includes controller firmware, unit interconnect card (UIC) firmware, and disk drive firmware.

Perform this procedure on one storage array at a time. This procedure requires that you reset the storage arrays that you are upgrading. If you reset more than one storage array at a time, your cluster loses access to data.

For all firmware installations, always read any README files that accompany the firmware patch for the latest information and special notes.

1. On one node that is attached to the storage array, detach the submirrors. This storage array is the storage array that you are upgrading.

   For more information, see your Solaris Volume Manager or Veritas Volume Manager documentation.

2. Apply the controller, disk drive, and UIC firmware patches.

   If you use the Solaris 8, Solaris 9, or Solaris 10 Operating System, Sun Connection Update Manager keeps you informed of the latest versions of patches and features. Using notifications and intelligent needs-based updating, Sun Connection helps improve operational efficiency and ensures that you have the latest software patches for your Sun software.

   You can download the Sun Connection Update Manager product for free by going to http://www.sun.com/download/products.xml?id=4457d96d.

   Additional information for using the Sun patch management tools is provided in Solaris Administration Guide: Basic Administration at http://docs.sun.com. Refer to the version of this manual for the Solaris OS release that you have installed.

   If you must apply a patch when a node is in noncluster mode, you can apply it in a rolling fashion, one node at a time, unless instructions for a patch require that you shut down the entire cluster. Follow the procedures in How to Apply a Rebooting Patch (Node) in Sun Cluster System Administration Guide for Solaris OS to prepare the node and to boot it in noncluster mode. For ease of installation, consider applying all patches at the same time. That is, apply all patches to the node that you place in noncluster mode.

   For a list of patches that affect Sun Cluster, see the Sun Cluster Wiki Patch Klatch.

   For required firmware, see the Sun System Handbook.

3. Reset the storage array, if you have not already done so.

   For the procedure about how to reboot a storage array, see the Sun StorEdge T3 and T3+ Array Installation, Operation, and Service Manual.

4. Reattach the submirrors to resynchronize the submirrors.

   For more information, see your Solaris Volume Manager or Veritas Volume Manager documentation.