NOTICE BEFORE LOADING M2 FIRMWARE V02M OR ABOVE


                            IMPORTANT 
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If you are currently using an early version of M2 firmware and plan 
to load the latest code over the SCSI bus or with a codeload tape, 
you may need to load an intermediate version of the firmware first.

If you are planning to load firmware over the tape drive's serial port 
using M2 Monitor, you can disregard the instructions on this page and 
proceed to load the latest version. 
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Note: For M2, the firmware version is indicated by the last four characters 
of the firmware file name. For example, firmware files 8ck3v02m and 8ch3v02m 
are version v02m of the firmware (for LVD and HVD, respectively). 

WHY YOU MAY NEED TO LOAD ADDITIONAL FIRMWARE

M2 tape drives that use firmware version v02a or below (v01a through v01m 
or v02a) cannot accept versions v02m and above over the SCSI bus or from a 
codeload tape until an intermediate level of firmware is loaded. Firmware 
versions v02a and below were limited to a certain file size. Starting with 
v02b, larger file sizes were permitted. Versions v02m and above now exceed 
the original size limit and cannot be loaded over versions prior to v02b.

To permit an M2 tape drive currently using firmware v02a or below to accept the 
most recent firmware over the SCSI bus or from a codeload tape, you must first 
load an intermediate version of code.

BEFORE LOADING V02M OR ABOVE

If your tape drive is currently using v02b or above (v02b through v02j and 
all later releases), you can proceed to load the latest firmware available 
from exabyte.com.

If you are loading firmware over the serial port (regardless of current 
firmware level), you can proceed to load the latest firmware available from 
exabyte.com.

If your tape drive is using v01a through v01k, AND you are loading firmware 
over the SCSI bus or from a codeload tape, follow these steps: 

1.  Load firmware version v01m into your tape drive. You can download the 
    appropriate file from exabyte.com: 
    - 8ck3v01m for LVD drives 
    - Not applicable for HVD drives 
2.  Load firmware version v02j into your tape drive. You can download the 
    appropriate file from exabyte.com: 
    - 8ck3v02j for LVD drives 
3.  Load the latest firmware release into your tape drive. You can proceed 
    to load the latest firmware available from exabyte.com. 

If your tape drive is using v01m through v02a, AND you are loading firmware 
over the SCSI bus or from a codeload tape, follow these steps: 

1.  Load firmware version v02j into your tape drive. You can download the 
    appropriate file from exabyte.com: 
    - 8ck3v02j for LVD drives 
    - 8ch3v02j for HVD drives 
2.  Load the latest firmware release into your tape drive. You can proceed 
    to load the latest firmware available from exabyte.com. 

IF A PROBLEM OCCURS

If you use the SCSI bus or a codeload tape to load the latest firmware into 
an M2 tape drive that is currently running firmware v02a or below, the drive 
will be inoperable. The bottom LED will be on solid and the top two LEDs will 
be flickering dimly. To correct this situation, you will need to load the 
latest firmware over the tape drive's serial port using Exabyte M2 Monitor.
