Mike,
     We are looking at these issues as well. Best idea for SCSI cards is to have the firmware upgraded before you go to 6.5.
      The issue with the Nike disks as ldevs 2,3 etc. is apparently a problem for others as well. We use an EMC disk array and are being told that we will need to follow these special upgrade procedures. We will be attempting to upgrade one our systems this weekend to 6.5. Should be interesting. I'll let everyone know how it goes.

Tom Burger
CDPHP

>>> Michael Hurdle <[log in to unmask]> 10/19/00 10:17AM >>>
I was provided the following information from my HP Acct Support Engineer
yesterday regarding issues involving updating to MPE/iX 6.5. Has anybody
else seen these issues surface? If you haven't already updated to MPE/iX
6.5, it would be a good idea to read this carefully:

Issue #1:

  Customers with Nike disks configured as ldev 2, 3, etc. will see an
  AVR error during START NORECOVERY on 6.5 and these disks will not
  mount.  A fix from the 5.5 patch MPEKXT8 did not make it into 6.5.
  A 6.5 patch, MPEKXD1, has been created to address this issue.  However,
  MPEKXD1 can only be installed after 6.5 is up and running, so a
  special binary patch needs to be installed to allow the disks to
  mount when booting 6.5.

Issue #2:

  Fast/Wide SCSI device adapter firmware can't be updated after moving
  to 6.5.  This may not impact the customer immediately, but if they
  need to update it later they will find that FWSCSIPB does not work
  properly on 6.5 (CR 8606144043).  They will need to remove the device
  adapters from the 6.5 system and take them to a 5.5 or 6.0 system
  to perform the update.  All FWSCSI DA's should be updated to revision
  3944 firmware prior to updating to 6.5 so this problem can be avoided.


Recommendations for addressing these two issues:


Issue #1 (Nike mount problem):

The procedures that need to be done for the 6.5 systems that have a
Nike disk configured as ldev 2 (and maybe others) are as follows:

 1.  Test the remote console (parallel console) facility prior to
     starting the update process.

 2.  Perform update from 6.5 CSLT.  Do not perform START NORECOVERY.

 3.  HP will establish remote console (parallel console) and use
     the passworded utility, SADPATCH, to install a binary patch to
     the START program.  An alternative it to have an HP person
     onsite to perform the binary patch since this is a passworded
     utility.

 4.  A START NORECOVERY can be performed and all disks should mount.

 5.  Install beta patch MPEKXD1 (A).  Update from the CSLT created,
     but do not perform START NORECOVERY.

 6.  HP will establish remote console (parallel console) and use
     the passworded utility, SADPATCH, to remove the binary patch
     that was installed in step 2.

 7.  A START NORECOVERY can be performed and all disks should mount.

 8.  The customer should create a new CSLT tape reflecting installation
     of the MPEKXD1 fix along with removal of the special binary fix.


Issue #2 (FWSCSI device adapter firmware):

 One option is to notify a CE and request that they arrange to acquire
 the firmware update file and perform the update.  All device adapters
 should be updated to this firmware level.

 The CE can do the update either remotely or onsite.  An alternative
 would be to request that the response center assist remotely.  The
 system needs to be idle during the update.  It is not necessary to be
 logged onto the remote console to perform this function.  The update
 is performed using the FWSCSIPB utility.