ordering of A5000 patches

[Fred True]

Folks,

We've had a few problems with installing the latest IB, fcal, and disk
firmware in our A5000 systems, and I am looking for second opinions
regarding our current situation on a particular host.

On this host, we have 3 A5000s attached.  Several weeks ago, per the
instructions in the SSA support matrix, we updated the disk firmware on
all our FC disks (106129-01).  We subsequently found out that the SSA
matrix had an error in it regarding the order in which the patches should
be installed.  So, we have not yet applied the 105310-05 patch (IB and
fcode firmware).  Everything is working fine now, but I am a bit wary of
moving forward with the IB and Fcode firmware until someone can confirm
that this order of firmware updating will not do something nasty.

We are currently at the following firmware levels:
	Disks: 117*
	IB: 1.03
	Fcode: 1.10

We have the following patches installed:

104708-09  SSD driver, luxadm and etc.
105310-04  IB, Fcode firmware and SOC-AL ucode.
106129-01  Download util and the disc firmware.

So, we need to install:

104708-12
105310-05

Given the strict orders to install these in the listed order (see attached
note), and the fact that we followed an erroneous procedure and installed
106129-01 first, what do you think we should do from here?

My plan was to try to be safe and avoid any incompatible disk/firmware
interaction by doing the following:

. Suspending all disk access (vxvx etc.)
. Spinning down all FC disks and physically unplugging them
. Install the two remaining patches, updating the IB and Fcode f/w
. Power cycle the A5000's, plugging the disks back in when off
. Rebooting the system

Anyone think this is a bad plan?  Attached below are the notes which make
me wary about this.

thanks,
Fred



---------- Forwarded message ----------

	PROBLEM DESCRIPTION:

	Recently a series of patches have been released to support the A5000
	Enterprise Storage Array.  These patches need to be applied in a given
	sequence or problems could be encountered.  Portions of the SOC-AL ucode
	and the disc firmware make certain assumptions of each other, so if they
	are not installed at the same time, problems can result (incompatibilies
	between the disc firmware and the SOC-AL ucode).


	CORRECTIVE ACTION:

	The system is *NOT* to be rebooted during this sequence, it should only
	be booted at the completion of installing all the patches.  The patches
	should be applied in the following sequence:

	Solaris 2.5.1   Solaris 2.6     Content
	-------------   -----------     ------------------------------------
	104708-12       105356-02*      SSD driver, luxadm and etc.
	105310-05       105375-05*      IB, Fcode firmware and SOC-AL ucode.
	106129-01/02**  106129-02**     Download util and the disc firmware.

	Now Reboot The System....

	*  These patches will be release approximately 30 Mar 98.
	** The 106129-01 patch is presently released, the 106129-02 will be
	   released approximately 15 Mar 98

	   Patch 106129-01 may abort with a segmentation fault during install.
	   This can occur when A5000s are not installed with consecutive
	   controller numbers (c1, c2).  This could happen when other scsi
	   devices are present or the A5000s were installed as add ons. You
	   would have to reconfigure the c#s to fix (NOT recommended for a
	   production system!), or wait for the -02 rev of the patch which
	   fixes this bug.

--
Fred True				"My name is Ozymandias, King of Kings:
AT&T Labs Network Mathematics Research	 Look on my works, ye Mighty,
ft@research.att.com			 and despair!"
						-P. B. Shelley