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TBU: How to update the firmware of an LTO tape drive using the ITDT (IBM Tape Diagnostic Tool)

Summary: It is important to keep the firmware up to date on your Dell EMC system. Learn how to update the firmware of an LTO tape drive using the IBM Tape Diagnostic Tool in this article.

This article applies to This article does not apply to This article is not tied to any specific product. Not all product versions are identified in this article.
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Instructions

In order to ensure system reliability and overall performance, keep the firmware on your Dell EMC system up to date. Firmware is developed to improve performance and stability or to increase the number of features. Sometimes, firmware may fix critical issues before it causes downtime. See below for instructions to update the firmware of an LTO tape drive using the ITDT (IBM Tape Diagnostic Tool).

  

Note: ITDT is needed to complete the following steps. ITDT is a tool developed by IBM which is a quick and efficient method for performing drive firmware updates and completing drive memory dump retrievals. The tool can be downloaded here. Install ITDT as an administrator on the server in order to complete the update.

 

  1. Log in to the server as an administrator, stop all background backup processes and run the itdt.exe (or ./itdt in Linux).
     
  2. Download the latest firmware for the drive from Dell Drivers & Downloads or downloads.dell.com.
     
  3. Rename the itdt.exe to itdt.zip and unpack the file. Only the *.ro or the *.fmrz file is needed. Paste this file in the "Input"-folder directly within the ITDT installed folder.

     
  4. Select "L" to go to the last page of the license agreements, then confirm with "i."
    ITDT license information
     

  5. Select "S" to search for available drives.

    ITDT available drives
     

  6. Select the number of the drive requiring update. (in this example 4)

    Select the number of the drives
     

  7. The X in column # shows the selected drive. Press "F" to access the Firmware Update function.

    Firmware Update function
     

  8. All firmware versions installed are visible here. This information was previously imported into the "Input" folder.
    In the example below, we need the LTO6 firmware. Select the number of the firmware which you want to update. (in this example "1")

    All firmware versions currently installed
     

  9. The X in column # shows the selected firmware version. Press "C" to continue. An overview of all current settings is displayed.

    Shows the selected firmware version
     

  10. Check everything and confirm with "S." The firmware update now begins.

    firmware update beginning
     

  11. After the firmware update has finished the drive reboots.

    the drive will reboot

    SLN313991_en_US__10ITDTUpdate09

     

  12. Select "R" to return to drive selection and the new firmware version is now visible.

    The new firmware version will be visible

Affected Products

PowerVault 110T LTO2-L, PowerVault 110T LTO3, POWER VAULT 114X LTO5 140, PowerVault 110T LTO (Tape Drive), PowerVault 110T LTO2 (Tape Drive), PowerVault LTO3-060, PowerVault LTO3-080, PowerVault LTO4-120HH, PowerVault LTO5-140, Powervault LTO6 , PowerVault LTO7, PowerVault LTO8, PowerVault LTO9, PowerVault TL2000, PowerVault TL4000, PowerVault TL1000 ...
Article Properties
Article Number: 000130254
Article Type: How To
Last Modified: 30 Oct 2024
Version:  5
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