When you upgrade Data ONTAP, disk firmware is updated automatically if the firmware on the disks is older than the firmware that is bundled with the Data ONTAP system files. You can also update disk firmware by downloading the most recent firmware package from the NetApp Support Site and installing the files.
Disk firmware updates are applied from the /etc/disk_fw directory.
Data ONTAP scans the /etc/disk_fw directory for new disk firmware every two minutes.
Disk firmware updates are often included with an upgrade to a new release family. Disk firmware updates are occasionally included in Data ONTAP upgrades within release families.
You might be directed to download a disk firmware update from the NetApp Support Site if you encounter problems with certain disk types or you receive a notice from NetApp.
You must download and install the latest disk firmware before upgrading Data ONTAP.
Automatic background disk firmware updates are enabled by the raid.background_disk_fw_update.enable option, which is set to on by default. You should not change the default value unless you are directed to do so by technical support.
Automatic background disk firmware updates are overridden when the disk_fw_update command is issued. This command makes disks inaccessible for up to two minutes. In earlier Data ONTAP releases, the command was required for certain disk firmware updates. It is no longer recommended that you use this command unless you are directed to do so by technical support.
Each disk drive manufacturer has its own disk drive firmware. Therefore, disk firmware updates can include updates to firmware for one or more disk drive types. Because your storage system might use drives from multiple drive manufacturers, whether you are affected by a disk firmware update depends on the types and numbers of drives on your system.