IBM provides several tools that can assist in determining microcode levels and updating systems with the latest available microcode.

  • MDS Microcode Discovery Service (web based)
  • MDT Microcode Discovery Tool (CD/DVD based)
  • Microcode Update Tool (WebSM based)

Most customers use IBM web based services to monitor and update their microcode, however for those who cannot be internet connected, a DVD-ROM disk image is available.

How to determine which tool to use

Use the information in the following tables to determine which tools to use in your environment.

If you have a graphics display WITH a browser:
Connectivity AIX Tool
Internet 5100-4 ML or
5200-2 ML or later		 Microcode Update Tool to acquire microcode level information and update files from the Internet
V4 at 4.1.5 or later
V5.1 at less than
  AIX 5100-4 ML
V5.2 at less than
  AIX 5200-2 ML		 Microcode Discovery Service from the internet
Below oslevel 4.1.5 Manually copy microcode files from DVD-ROMs
No internet 5100-06 ML or
5200-02 ML or later		 Microcode Update Tool to acquire microcode level information, and copy files from DVD-ROMs
V5.2 at less than
 AIX 5200-02 ML
V4 at 4.1.5 or later
V5.1 at less than
 AIX 5100-04 ML
V5.2 at less than
 AIX 5200-02 ML		 Microcode Discovery Tool (MDT) on DVD-ROM using the Java GUI interface.
below 4.1.5 Manually copy microcode files from DVD-ROM

If you have a graphic display WITHOUT a browser or a text-only display:
AIX Tool
4.3.3 or later Microcode Discovery Tool (MDT) on DVD-ROM, using the AIX command-line interface
Below 4.3.3 Manually copy microcode files from DVD-ROM

Microcode Discovery Service (MDS)

Microcode Discovery Service (MDS) is provided as both an internet and a DVD-ROM based service. MDS on DVD-ROM is called Microcode Discovery Tool (MDT). MDS captures your machine data in order to:

  • Determine the microcode levels installed on your system
  • Compare the levels on your system with the latest levels available from IBM
  • Generate a comparison report listing microcode subsystems that may need to be updated

The Internet MDS service compares microcode levels on your system to the latest available on-line. The report generated by this service provides links to retrieve the latest levels from IBM. The DVD-ROM based service (MDT) compares levels to the microcode available on the disc. The DVD-based report provides a link to copy microcode from the disc to the local filesystem.

For some older microcode, you may be directed to contact your Service Representative for assistance in obtaining the microcode update.

To use both MDS and MDT, an AIX utility called Inventory Scout must be installed on your system. Inventory Scout runs on AIX Version 4.1.5 and higher. It can be downloaded from the Web or installed from the AIX 4.3.3 or higher product update media.

For more information, visit the Internet or DVD-based Microcode Discovery Service.

Microcode Update Files on DVD-ROM

For systems not connected to the Internet, a DVD-ROM is available containing

  • Microcode for all IBM-supported systems and devices
  • Microcode Discovery Tool (MDT)

The levels of microcode on the DVDs are the latest levels available on the date that they were created.

There are three ways to access the microcode update files on the disks:

  • Use the Microcode Update Tool, which provides full microcode management capability including installation. It can get microcode files on the ROM disks instead of the Internet.
  • Use the Microcode Discovery Tool on the disks to determine the microcode levels installed on your system and compare these levels with those on the DVD. MDT can also copy microcode files that you choose to upgrade from the DVD to the local filesystem. There is a copy of MDT on the DVD-ROM disk.
  • Manually copy microcode files from the disks to your local filesystem.

The Microcode DVD-ROM disk image is available for download here, or by contacting the software or hardware support center.

For more information on MDT see: DVD-ROM Based MDS.

Microcode Update Tool

The Microcode Update Tool is a WebSM graphical interface to Inventory Scout Version 2. The tool uses V2 Inventory Scout to provide full microcode management capability, including microcode installation. It can perform the following tasks:

  • Survey the microcode levels installed on your system
  • Compare these levels with the latest levels available from either the Internet or from the microcode DVD-ROM set.
  • Retrieve the microcode from any of the following: the Internet; the Microcode DVD-ROM; or an FTP server on your network to which the microcode files have been copied.
  • For systems announced after December 2001, this tool can also update the microcode on your system.

For some older microcode, you may be directed to contact your Service Representative for assistance in obtaining the microcode update.

The Microcode Update Tool is available with AIX 5100-4 ML and higher and AIX 5200-2ML and higher. To access the WebSM interface:

  1. Install the invscout.websm fileset.
  2. Run the following command:
    websm /usr/bin/wsm
  3. Select the WebSM Microcode Updates icon, and then follow the instructions on the interface.

Microcode packages not detectable by Inventory Scout and MDS

The following is a list of microcode packages that Inventory Scout is unable to match with a device. You will need to manually copy and install files onto your system for these devices

If your system or device is on this list you can still run any of the microcode tools above on the system to detect microcode packages for other devices.

System Microcode

Blade Servers
7025-F40
7026-H10
7043-140
7043-240
7247-821/822/823 ThinkPad-820
6040-821/822/823 ThinkPad-820
7249-851 ThinkPad-850
6042-851 ThinkPad-850
7596-001 AIX Server Module

Service Processor Microcode

7024-E30
7025-F30
7025-F40
7026-H10

Adapter Microcode

10/100 Mbps Ethernet PCI Adapter II(FC 4962)
Auto Token-Ring LAN Streamer MC 32 (FC 2972)
SysKonnect SK-NET-FDDI-PCI (FC 2741,2742,2743)
SSA MCA Enhanced RAID Adapter (FC 6219)
SSA MCA RAID Adapter (FC 6217)
SSA PCI Enhanced RAID Adapter (FC 6215,6219)
SSA PCI RAID Adapter (FC 6218)
SSA MCA 4-Port Adapter (FC 6214)
SSA Enhanced Microchannel Adapter (FC 6216)

DASD Microcode

SSA Disk Drive (DGHC)
SSA Disk Drive (DRHC)
SSA Disk Drive (DRVC)
SSA Disk Drive ST37340
SSA Disk Drive ST31830
SSA Disk Drive ST33660
SSA Disk Drive (UCPR)

Tape Drive Microcode

8mm Tape Library (7334-410)
VXA 80GB Tape Drive (7206-VX2)

Other Code

DVD-ROM Drive 32X