			       Release Notes

	  StorageWorks RAID Array 200 Online Management Utilities
			  for Alpha-Based Systems

These notes provide information not incorporated into the RAID Array 200
Family for Alpha-Based Systems User Guides.  Known restrictions of the
utilities and various specifications for these products, such as part
numbers and version levels are also identified.

COPYRIGHT Digital Equipment Corporation 1994/95/96.  All Rights Reserved.
This software is proprietary to and embodies the confidential technology of
Digital Equipment Corporation.  Possession, use, or copying of the software
and media is authorized only pursuant to a valid written license from
Digital Equipment Corporation or an authorized sublicensor.

RESTRICTED RIGHTS: Use, duplication, or disclosure by the U.S. Government
is subject to restrictions as set forth in subparagraph (c)(1)(ii) of DFARS
252.227-7013, or in FAR 52.227-19, or in FAR 52.227-14 Alt. III, as
applicable.

				   NOTE

The information contained in these Release Notes, part #AA-QGTTD-TE,
updates and supercedes prior versions of Release Notes for StorageWorks
RAID Array 200 Online Management Utilities for Alpha-Based Systems. If you
received this Note as part of an update kit, disregard any earlier version
of these Release Notes you may have received.


General Notes

Feedback 

We encourage you to send us feedback on our products.  If there
are any suggestions or comments you would like to make, please send to:
Email to: sbemgr@subsys.enet.dec.com U.S. Mail to: SBEMGR Digital Equipment
Corporation Mail Stop SHR3-2/W8 334 South Street Shrewsbury, MA 01545


Controller Terminology

In reading the accompanying RAID Array 200 documentation, please note the
following terminology associations:

This:               RAID Array 210 EISA controller

refers to:          KZESC-xA, KZESC-xB
or                  SWXCR-EA, SWXCR-EB


This:               RAID Array 230 PCI controller

refers to:          KZPSC-xA, KZPSC-xB
or                  SWXCR-PA, SWXCR-PB


The RAID Array 200 Controller documentation and software uses SWXCR for
generic references to controllers.


Number of SWXCR Controllers Supported

All Alpha-based RAID Array 200 drivers and utilities support four
controllers (in any combination of EISA or PCI).


Configuration with Shared Interrupts

We recommend using edge triggered interrupts for the SWXCR controller.
However, if you choose to use level interrupts, limit the number of boards
sharing the same interrupt to avoid performance problems.


SCSI Termination and Fault Management

The controller must be at the end of the SCSI bus for proper termination of
the SCSI signals.  Consult the appropriate documentation for your storage
enclosure to ensure it is properly terminated.  When using Fault Management
the terminators used must support Fault Management.  The SWXCR controllers
are supplied with termination that supports Fault Management.  Check with
your system supplier to be sure that system/device termination supports
Fault Management, otherwise the Fault Management option must be DISABLED on
the controller.  If a terminator that does not support Fault Management is
attached to any channel of the SWXCR, the results are unpredictable when
Fault Management is ENABLED.


Revision Matrix

The following table cross references the hardware board revision levels for
the RAID Array 200 family of controllers with the release date and revision
level of the software accompanying the board. The FW and BIOS columns refer
to firmware and BIOS revision levels; the other columns refer to the
version numbers of the respective distribution diskettes for the release of
all Alpha based utilities (KIT), the Standalone Configuration Utility
(RCU), Windows NT (NT), Digital UNIX (UNIX), and OpenVMS (VMS).


Hardware Software/Documentation Rev Matrix for ALPHA Platforms


Product  Board Rev    FW     BIOS   KIT   RCU   NT    UNIX  VMS

KZESC    C01 (4/94)   1.99   1.17   N/A   1.0   1.0   1.0   1.0
KZESC    C02 (3/95)   2.15   1.17   1.0   2.0   2.0   2.0   1.0
KZESC    C02 (4/95)   2.15   1.17   1.1   3.0   2.1   2.1   2.0
KZESC    C03 (7/95)   2.16   1.19   1.2   3.1   2.1   2.2   2.1

KZPSC    A02 (3/95)   2.19   1.02   1.0   2.0   2.0   2.0   N/A
KZPSC    B01 (4/95)   2.19   1.02   1.1   3.0   2.1   2.1   2.0
KZPSC    B01 (6/95)   2.19   1.02   1.2   3.1   2.1   2.2   2.1
KZPSC    C01 (1/96)   2.36   1.20   1.3   3.2   2.1   2.3   2.2

N/A = Not Available under this kit release.



Kit/Board Compatibility

As a general rule, the latest kit can be used with any board revision and
provided upgrade paths. Older kit revisions cannot be used with newer board
revisions, because they are not compatible.


			       Part Numbers

CK-SWXCR-AA
Cable kit for KZESC-xB (SWXCR-EB) includes 
internal and external "Y" cables

BN21H-02
8 bit SCSI cable (2m) for KZESC

BN31L-1E
8 bit SCSI cable (1.5m) for KZPSC

BN31K-0E
16 bit internal cable w/bulkhead (0.5m) for 
KZPSC-xB third channel external connections

BN31M-1E
16 bit SCSI cable for KZPSC to BA346

BN31S-1E

16 bit SCSI right angle cable (1.5m) for KZPSC to 
BA356 StorageWorks enclosure

KZPSC-UB
Battery backup for KZPSC cache memory

MS100-AA
16MB Cache memory for KZPSC and KZESC

MS100-AB
32MB Cache memory for KZPSC and KZESC


Write Back Cache

If you plan to use write back cache on the SWXCR-Px controllers you should
use the Battery backup option for the controller to avoid data loss under
circumstances where the controller is unable to complete a write operation
to disk (for example, power failure).  Also we recommend that the disk
drives attached to the controller have their write cache disabled; contact
your drive vendor for more information.


		  Standalone Configuration Utility Notes

Standalone Configuration Utility File Descriptions

SRLMGR.EXE        Serial RAID configuration utility
SWXCRMGR.EXE      RAID configuration utility v3.11
SWXCRFW.EXE       Firmware download utility for EISA and PCI controllers


				  WARNING

Make sure you use the correct firmware file for the type of controller to
be upgraded.  Using the wrong firmware file can render your controller
inoperative. The SWXCRFWA.216 file is for EISA controllers and the
SWXCRFWP.236 file is for PCI controllers.


SWXCRFWA.216	2.16 Firmware for the EISA RAID controller
SWXCRFWP.236	2.36 Firmware for the PCI RAID controller
!MLX0075.CFG	Windows NT EISA configuration file
                  for the 3 channel EISA raid controller. 
!MLX0077.CFG	Windows NT EISA configuration file
                  for the 1 channel EISA raid controller. 
AMLX0075.CFG	VMS/Digital UNIX EISA configuration file 
                  for the 3 channel EISA RAID controller.
AMLX0077.CFG	VMS/Digital UNIX EISA configuration file
                  for the 1 channel EISA RAID controller.


Version 2.36 Firmware for PCI RAID controllers

File Description: SWXCRFWP.236

SWXCRFWP.236 is a version of the PCI RAID controller firmware which fixes a
RAID 5 write problem seen under Digital Unix AdvFS file systems. The
problem would manifest where the controller would lock up and cause the
system to hang or crash.  We also recommend that customers apply the patch
for a new Digital Unix driver that fixes a related problem.  The
description for the patch is "Timing problem during rebuild".  Contact your
Digital Service Representive for more information on obtaining this patch.

Before upgrading to V2.36 it is recommended that the RAID configuration is
saved to a floppy using the Backup/Restore option provided in the Tools
menu option of the Standalone Configuration Utility. Refer to the Saving
Configuration to Diskette section of a StorageWorks RAID Array 200
subsystems Controller Installation and StandAlone Configuration Utilities
Users Guide section 7.3.6.

To upgrade the firmware refer to the firmware upgrade section of the
StorageWorks RAID Array 200 Subsystems Controller Installation and
StandAlone Configuration Utilities Users Guide section 7.7.2


SWXCR RAID Configuration Utility and ARC Console Firmware v4.x

The RCU provided with this kit must be used if you have one of the systems
listed below with an ARC Console at the listed version or higher.  The
controller may be rendered inoperative if a prior revision of the RCU
SWXCRMGR utility is used with these systems. 

     Platform             ARC Version

     AlphaServer 2100     4.25 
     AlphaServer 1000     4.26 
     AlphaStation 400     4.28

 For other platforms, please contact your Digital representative.


				  WARNING

The SWXCRMGR utility in this kit (version 3.11) should not be used on
DEC2000 and DECpc aXp 150 series systems.  Owners of these systems should
contact their Digital Service Representive or call 800-STORWORK to obtain
the appropriate RCU for their needs.


SWXCRMGR Override Option

The RAID configuration utility has an override option which allows the user
to enter the utility without waiting for the drives to timeout in the event
of either a dead logical drive or an unwanted configuration.  To use the
override option, type 'SWXCRMGR -o' when starting the utility.  You can
then make failed drives OPTIMAL or completely change your RAID
configuration.  This option should only be used when using the Tools or New
Configuration menu options of the SWXCRMGR utility.  


Serial Utility

The Standalone utility for the SWXCR controller can be run using a VTxxx
terminal and serial connection to the host system by typing a:\SRLMGR.EXE
at the Run a Program: menu option of the ARC console. The SRLMGR.EXE
version of the utility has character cell terminal support while providing
the same interface and functionality as the VGA version of the Standalone
utility.  For correct operation using the VTxxx terminal characteristics
should be set as follows:
	
1)	Check your system manual on how to setup your system for serial mode.
2)	Set to No Cursor mode
3)	Set to VTxxx Mode, 8 Bit Controls

The Escape key is Ctrl-[. When the utility prompts the user to hit escape
to continue, the Ctrl key should be pressed and held down while the [ key
is pressed. This will invoke the escape function.


Failing A Drive

Failing a drive with the SWXCRMGR utility will spin the drive
down. Selecting Format under the Rebuild option will not spin the drive
up. Reselecting the controller under the Select SWXCR option will spin the
drive up and allow a format under the rebuild option.



			    Digital UNIX Notes

Subset Names

SWXCRMGR111                     StorageWorks RAID Array 200 Online 
                                 Management Utility  version 1.1.1 
SWXCR122                        StorageWorks SWXCR Utility for Digital UNIX
                                 version 1.2.2


Performing Rebuilds with the SWXCRMGR

When performing rebuilds across multiple controllers with the GUI, rapidly
changing back and forth between controllers can cause the utility to
crash. The utility crash does not otherwise affect system operation and all
rebuilds will continue. We recommend not switching controllers after the
last rebuild has started until all rebuilds complete.


SWXCRMGR Does Not Report Automatic Rebuilds

The GUI does not report rebuilds which the controller automatically
initiates. If an automatic rebuild is occurring, the GUI will mark the drive
as WOL. Do not start a second rebuild on a controller that is currently
doing an automatic rebuild.


Canceling a Parity Check or Rebuild with the SWXCRMGR

You can cancel a parity check or rebuild that is in progress by reselecting
the Parity Check or Rebuild function from the Management menu, and then
clicking the cancel button on the main window.


SWXCRMGR Does Not Update Error Counters

The device error counters are read from the controller at the time the
SWXCRMGR GUI is invoked. Inspection of the error counters after the GUI has
been running for a period of time may result in error counts that have not
been updated. The SWXCR monitor utility will however continue to provide
updated error reporting.


SWXCRMON Utility

The accompanying disk contains version V1.2.2 of the SWXCR monitor utility
for Digital UNIX.  Version 1.2.2 of the monitor utility for Digital UNIX
incorporates changes from earlier versions of the utility to allow event
notification via a mail client's Subject: line when the the utility is used
to log messages via the mail facility.

Installation and usage of this utility is as described in the document
"StorageWorks RAID Array 200 Online Management Utility for Digital UNIX
User's Guide".  Prior to installing the utility, you should remove any
prior installations of the utility. The following instructions are a quick
summary of the steps to install the utility.  Consult your Digital UNIX
documentation if you need further explaination.

1. Identify any previous installations of the SWXCR Utility for Digital
   UNIX ( OSF/1 ).  Use the 'setld -i' command to determine if previous
   versions of the utility are installed.

          for example:  setld -i | grep -i swxcr

This command may identify subsets for either the 'StorageWorks RAID Array
200 Management Utility' or the StorageWorks SWXCR Utility for Digital UNIX
(or OSF/1)'.  You should note the subset name of any 'StorageWorks SWXCR
Utility for Digital UNIX (or OSF/1)' for use in the following step.

2. Remove any "SWXCR Utility for Digital UNIX (or OSF/1)" subsets that are
   identified in step 1.  This is accomplished using the 'setld -d' command
   with the subset name(s) identified in step 1.  For example using the SWXCR
   Utility for Digital UNIX v1.2.1 subset's name SWXCR121, you would type

                        setld -d SWXCR121

You are now ready to install the new monitor utility.

3. Mount the accompanying distribution disk to a convenient filesystem
mount point such as /mnt.

4. Install the monitor utility using the 'setld -l' command.  Using the
example mount point /mnt, you would type:

                        setld -l /mnt

5. Select the monitor utility's subset, SWXCR122, when prompted and confirm
your choices. The utility will then be installed.

6. Dismount the utility disk and you are done.


			       OpenVMS Notes

File Descriptions
DEC-AXPVMS-SWXCR-V0102--3.PCSI		PCSI installable Extended Utilities
                                          for OpenVMS V6.1
DEC-AXPVMS-SWXCR-V0300--1.PCSI		PCSI installable GUI and Extended
                                          Utilities for OpenVMS V6.2 and later
INVOKE_PCSI.COM                         Installation file for the utilities


Utilities Provided with this Kit

This kit contains an extended command line utility, SWXCR, used for
monitoring the RAID array and performing parity checks on its
devices. SWXCR is supported on OpenVMS version 6.1 and higher.  A GUI based
RAID management utility, SWXCRMGR, is supported on OpenVMS version 6.2 and
higher. Prior to installing the extended utilities on systems running
OpenVMS V6.1, you should install the SWXCR kit found on the OpenVMS V6.1
distribution media.


Performing Rebuilds with the SWXCRMGR

When performing rebuilds across multiple controllers with the GUI, rapidly
changing back and forth between controllers can cause the utility to
crash. The utility crash does not otherwise affect system operation and all
rebuilds will continue. We recommend not switching controllers after the
last rebuild has started until all rebuilds complete.


SWXCRMGR Does Not Report Automatic Rebuilds

The GUI does not report rebuilds that the controller automatically
initiates. If an automatic rebuild is occurring the GUI will mark the drive
as WOL. Do not start a second rebuild on a controller that is currently
doing an automatic rebuild.  


Canceling a Parity Check or Rebuild with the SWXCRMGR

You can cancel a parity check or rebuild that is in progress by reselecting
the Parity Check or Rebuild function from the Management menu, and then
clicking the cancel button on the main window.


SWXCRMGR Does Not Update Error Counters

The device error counters are read from the controller at the time the
SWXCRMGR GUI is invoked. Inspection of the error counters after the GUI has
been running for a period of time may result in error counts that have not
been updated. The SWXCR monitor utility will however continue to provide
updated error reporting


SWXCRMGR VMScluster Support

Previous version of these utilities would not operate properly in a
cluster environment when the SYSGEN parameter DR_UNIT_BASE number was
non-zero. However, in a cluster environment, multiple servers could not
both be set to zero. SWXCR Utilities have been modified so that they will
operate properly when DR_UNIT_BASE is non-zero.

The modifications made to the utilities affect the SWXCR Monitor, the
SWXCR Parity Check utility, and the SWXCR Manager.

The DR_UNIT_BASE number on any given node in a VMScluster environment
should be set at least eight apart from all DR_UNIT_BASE numbers on other
nodes in the VMScluster environment, in order to avoid naming conflicts.


SWXCRMGR

The SWXCRMGR program has been modified to allow examination of controllers
on systems that have non-zero DR_UNIT_BASE values.


 SWXCR MONITOR

The process name is changed from SWXCR$MON_DRx (where `x' is the
controller letter of the device specified in the `SWXCR MONITOR' command),
to a name composed as follows:

  "SW$" + DECnet-node-name + "$" + allocation-class + controller-letter

 For example, if the user types the following command:

     $ SWXCR MONITOR DRA10

on node ASTRO, where the allocation class is set to 5, the process name
will be set to:

     SW$ASTRO$5A

This naming convention, used above for the process name, is propagated to
the log file name and the mailbox name, as well.

Using the example above, the log file name would be:

     SW$ASTRO$5A.LOG

and the mailbox name would be:

     SW$ASTRO$5A_MBX

Note that when you are running SWXCR MONITOR in a VMScluster environment,
only those controllers that are local to the current node can be monitored
from that node.  In order to monitor a controller connected to a different
node in the cluster, you must log into that particular node and start a new
monitor process for that particular controller.  If you attempt to monitor
a controller which is not local to the current node in the cluster, an
error is returned.

SWXCR CHECK

In a VMScluster environment, you may only perform a parity check operation
on a device that is local to the node from which you are operating. In
order to perform a parity check (with our without repair) on a logical
drive associated with a controller connected to a different node in the
cluster, you must log into that particular node and then issue the
appropriate "SWXCR CHECK" command. If you attempt to perform a check
operation on a logical drive unit that is not local to the current node in
the cluster, an error is returned.


			     Windows NT Notes


Installation of NT on SWXCR Boot Partitions with Multiple Logical Drives

There is a limitation in the Windows NT installation mechanism which
results in a failure to successfully complete an installation to a SWXCR
boot device when more than one logical drive is defined on that device.


Partition Restrictions under Windows NT

The Windows NT boot partition size cannot exceed 2024 MB in size.  Please
see Microsofts Windows NT documentation for further details.


Passthru Device Support on the SWXCR Controller

Windows NT v3.1 does not support passthru devices such as tape drives and
CD-ROMs.  Windows NT v3.5 and later support any number of passthru devices
without restrictions.  System Services Version of the SWXCRMON Utility
There is provided an alternative version of the SWXCRMON utility that
operates as system service under Windows NT.  This version will start
automatically whenever the NT system is booted.  Otherwise, the system
service monitor is identical in functionality to the standard version
provided through the SETUP routine.  You may use each version separately or
together. We welcome any comments you have regarding this utility; please
see the address shown under the feedback section of the General release
notes.  The files for the system service monitor utility are located on the
NT release disk under the directory \serv_mon.  The instructions for
installation and removal of the utility are contained in the file
SWXCRSRV.REL located in that directory. 


Utility Version Numbers

The revision levels for the Windows NT utilities are:

	SWXCRMON		v1.35
	SWXCRMGR		v1.26


StorageWorks RAID Array 200 Online Management Utilities for Alpha-Based Systems

Copyright StorageWorks RAID Array 200 Online Management Utilities
Digital Equipment Corporation	for Alpha-Based Systems
1995 All Rights Reserved



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