Xserve RAID Admin Tools Software Release v1.5


Installation Instructions
=========================

The following new items are in this release:

	RAID Admin v1.5
	firmware-1.5-1.50.xfb
	READ ME FIRST Folder

If you installed this software via the Software Update mechanism, all of the above items will be installed in a new folder "Xserve RAID Update", located in the Applications/Utilities folder.  If you are installing from CD, drag all items to your preferred location on your host computer's hard disk.

The versions of RAID Admin and Xserve RAID firmware in this release should replace all earlier versions.  


New Procedure for Adding and Moving Drives and Arrays
=====================================================

A new procedure regarding how hard drives are added to an Xserve RAID and how RAID arrays are moved from one Xserve RAID to another is implemented in this release.  The new procedure adds a measure of safety to prevent inadvertently changing drives from a RAID set into Spares.

If an inserted drive is determined to be part of a RAID set, the drive will be flagged with a solid amber LED and marked with an "Unavailable" status.  Before the drive can be used as a Spare or in creating a RAID set, the user must use the "Make Drive Available For Use" function, under Utilities in the toolbar. 

When an entire RAID array is moved from one Xserve RAID to another, the RAID array may not be recognized due to internal conflicts with a RAID array already in the unit.  To resolve these conflicts and bring the inserted array online, use the Recognize Array function, under Utilities in the toolbar.


Procedure for Replacing a Controller Module
===========================================
Before replacing a Controller module, first attempt to upgrade to the latest firmware and see if the issue is resolved.  To upgrade the firmware on an Xserve RAID, follow the instructions in the "Xserve RAID Firmware Update Instructions" section at the end of this Read Me.  Whenever upgrading firmware or replacing a Controller module, please be sure to stop all host activity to the RAID, and to unmount any RAID volumes from all hosts.

After installing a new Controller module and making sure the Xserve RAID is fully ready with all LEDs green, it may be necessary upgrade the firmware on the new module so both Controller modules have the same firmware versions.  Next synchronize the settings in the new Controller module with the other module by holding down the System Identifier button and momentarily pressing the reset button on the back of the new Controller module.  Settings synchronized are the System Name, Location, and Contact settings, Monitoring and Management Passwords, Email notification list and server, audible alert, power failure, and SNMP settings.


What's New in this Release
==========================

- Drive information under Arrays & Drives monitoring tab now includes Spare drive indicator and drive power on hours.

- Drive cache setting is now RAID controller wide instead of per array.

- Option in Settings Performance panel to allow connected host computers to flush the RAID controller and drive Write Caches.  Disabling cache flushing may be necessary in some high bandwidth realtime data applications like video capture.  Since the frequency of Xserve RAID cache flushing to the hard drives is reduced, it is strongly recommended that an Uninterruptible Power Supply (UPS) be used with the Xserve RAID to guard against the possibility of data loss in the event of a power failure.

- Enhanced JBOD mode is supported through the Create Array panel.  In enhanced JBOD mode, each drive is visible to hosts as a separate LUN.  JBOD performance is enhanced through the use of the RAID controller's Write Cache and Read Pre-fetch.  Enhanced JBOD mode and RAID mode cannot be mixed on the same RAID controller.  Enhanced JBOD mode can only be enabled when there are no RAID arrays present.  Hardware slicing and LUN Masking are not available for enhanced JBOD.

- Utility to "scrub" a RAID array by initiating a background scan to repair or map out bad blocks.  A choice of priority to allow varying load sharing with host I/O's is provided.

- Steady Streaming Mode option in Settings Performance panel can be used to compensate for a poorly performing drive in a RAID 5 array.  If it is detected that one drive is performing more slowly than others in a RAID 5 array, a host Read request will be completed from the RAID parity data of the other array drives.  Steady Streaming Mode adds Read latency performance robustness when a slow drive is present or in an environment subject to high external vibration, but the overall array bandwidth (MB/s) is reduced by approximately 20%.

- Added Fibre Channel registration of FC-4 type (SCSI-FCP) via the name service RFC-4 request, support for Name Server Registration requests RSPN_ID and RSNN_NN (namely Symbolic Port and Node Names), and Extended Link Services PLOGI and ADISC, for better compatibility with certain Fibre Channel devices and switches.

- Menu function to reset RAID controller settings to their factory default state.



Xserve RAID Firmware Update Instructions
========================================

This release includes the latest version of firmware for your Xserve RAID.  Use the RAID Admin application to upgrade any Xserve RAID system that requires new firmware.  You can check the current version of firmware on an Xserve RAID by looking at the Firmware Version field in the Components monitoring tab in RAID Admin.  Select a system in the monitoring list, select the Components tab, and select the upper or lower controller module in the display.

IMPORTANT NOTE:
Before updating the firmware, you should have all Xserve RAID volumes unmounted from all host systems to prevent possible data loss.  The firmware update process will cause an automatic restart of the Xserve RAID that will interrupt data availability.  The new firmware will not disturb your existing RAID sets or enclosure settings including password, system name, and email notifications.

Before updating new firmware, RAID Admin will disable the disk and RAID controller caches.  This is done to prevent stale data in the controller's memory from being used in the new firmware.  Note: Do not quit RAID Admin while the firmware update process is taking place. Original cache settings will be restored by RAID Admin at the end of the firmware update process.

To update the firmware:
 - Launch RAID Admin and choose an Xserve RAID system in the monitoring list.
 - In the System menu, select "Update Firmware..." and choose the "firmware-1.5-1.50.xfb" file.

RAID Admin will determine whether your Xserve RAID system's firmware needs updating and proceed with the update when you select the Update button.  Both the management coprocessor's and RAID controller's firmware will be updated on the upper and lower controller modules.  The firmware update will require several minutes to complete.  Do not interrupt this operation until it is done.  The Xserve RAID will restart when the firmware update is complete in order for the new firmware to take effect.  Verify the new firmware versions by looking in the Components tab after the Xserve RAID has restarted.
