Re: ITDT: IBM Tape diagnostic Tool

Hello Rob,

Am 03.03.2025 um 13:11 schrieb Rob Berendt <robertowenberendt@xxxxxxxxx>:

Tape drives (native or not), SAN storage, disk drives hosted by VIOS, even FC adapters hosted by VIOS all do not get their firmware from IBM i.

You did not state if your install was VIOS based in your original post. Hence my remark.

Adapters hosted by VIOS? Well, just slapping on the latest version of VIOS doesn't just fix that. Often one has to run a special tool to check the firmware levels of all your adapters, download the updates and apply them.
Quite a process.
There's a lot one takes for granted with IBM i.

HPE (formerly DEC) is my preferred example on how updates should work in the year 2025. Insert prepared bootable USB stick, have the machine boot from there. It contains a "special Linux". The browser-based software there generates an inventory of found hardware vs. firmware levels in the devices, and those found on the stick. Next, you'll be presented with a list of updatable devices and possible additional ToDos.

Most often, it's click on "update all", leave the machine do its thing for half an hour, and you're set.

I simply can't comprehend why IBM still makes it so hard for admins to cope with updates. I have a computer! It can compute what's needed much more precisely and reliably than my wobbly, flakey brain!

:wq! PoC