2009.01 - Seagate Owners Please Read - .11/ES2 Firmware Discussion

[Franklin]

This will be a merged thread of various posts - please keep the discussion in this thread.

Forum - Synology News Posting about the Seagate Issue

Common Questions about this Seagate Firmware Update

• Synology will not be providing technical assistance in this matter, please consult with Seagate for technical support to see conduct the firmware update procedure on the Seagate HDD.
• A MS-DOS Capable x86 platform is required for the update - it cannot be executed outside of this environment
  
  • As such, a PC will need to be able to have SATA connectors, and have it's SATA controller be capable of reading large capacity drives. Older SATA controllers cannot read larger (ie, 1TB) drives, these controllers will need a firmware update (if supported) so it can address the larger capacities.
  • This HDD Firmware update cannot be executed within the Synology system, it must be performed in a x86-based DOS Environment.
• Please ensure that all data is backed up before executing the firmware update on the HDD
• Updating HDD firmware is usually aimed for those who are experienced in this field, and understand all risks, implications of what will happen if the firmware update fails. Please consult with a computer technician if your are not comfortable with accepting all risks and implications of what to perform if the firmware update fails.
• There is a risk of disabling the HDD permanently or destroying all data on the HDD when executing a HDD firmware update-this applies to all HDDs from all brands - it is not limiting to Seagate itself. Please take all appropriate caution and steps necessary to reduce your risk of damaging the HDD - suggestions are...
  
  • Be sure to statically discharge yourself!
  • Make a backup! This cannot be emphasized enough.
  • Manipulate one HDD at a time
  • Follow all Directions as advised by Seagate
  • Do not reboot during firmware update
  • Ensure that the power is not interrupted during HDD firmware manipulation
  • Be sure to know the difference between soft power off and hard power off. This distinction may be required during HDD firmware update
  • These are some of the suggestions that I can remember when conducting HDD firmware manipulation - consult with a computer technician for more specific suggestions or answers

[Zouk !]

Hi all,

Potentially affected drives :
(Fixed firmware available in GREEN)***EDIT***1 February 2009, ALL DRIVES HAVE NOW A FIXED FIRMWARE

Barracuda 7200.11 :
ST31000340AS / ST3750330AS / ST3750630AS / ST3640330AS / ST3640530AS / ST3500320AS / ST3500620AS / ST3500820AS / ST31500341AS / ST31000333AS / ST3640323AS / ST3640623AS / ST3320613AS / ST3320813AS / ST3160813AS

Barracuda ES.2 SATA :
ST31000340NS / ST3750330NS / ST3500320NS / ST3250310NS

DiamondMax 22 :
STM31000340AS / STM3640323AS / STM3320614AS / STM3160813AS /STM3500320AS / STM3750330AS / STM31000340AS

Story :

An important problem has been detected for a lot of 7200.11 disks from Seagate. And it's just actually spreading.
News from theinquierer.net : Seagate Barracuda 7200.11 drives failing


No official stats are available, but at least one RMA middleman has told us there's about 30-40% failure rates.


Majority of disk which could encounter a problem, are with firmware SD15 and it's actually mainly focused on ST31000340AS, ST3750330AS and ST3500320AS but NOT ONLY. Others disks & firmware may be potentially affected too.

Consequences of this bug :

At next reboot, drives are no more detected by host BIOS, making drives unusable with all data lost.
(drives can be recovered but only with advanced knowledge and some tools, like serial interface, recovery kit, etc...)

Official Statment :

Seagate Knowledge Base 207931

The Solution for Seagate 7200.11 HDDs (final and revised version):
UnOfficial Recovery Solution for Seagate 7200.11 HDDs already DEAD (WARNING : Very advanced guide !)

The Solution for Seagate 7200.11 HDDs

_____________________________________________

Here a topic with an unofficial list of drives reported DEAD : Seagate 7200.11 fail & fine dataset, Upload your 7200.11 drive history data over here

Initial topic on official Seagate board reporting this problem started in December : Official st31000340as 1TB barracuda epic fail thread
Seagate recognized this bug only 1 month after (after that many & many drives dies) : ANNOUNCEMENT: Firmware Issues
Seagate is just joking with all customers, and effective solution is not yet diffused.
Seagate attitude is deplorable by heavy moderating/censuring user posts & topics on official board, but this growing problem can't be hidden anymore (take a look at official board related to this problem, and notice how much "Message Edited" at the bottom are present in users message => it's moderators)

An official statement finally appears a few days ago : Seagate Knowledge Base 207931
Without actually publish any firmware, requesting you to contact support online.

DO NOT TRUST information saying "manufactured in December 2008", it's WRONG. A LOT of drives with different manufactured dates are actually dying, check topic reporting drives already DEAD.
***EDIT*** : Seagate has now "silently" updated the Official Statment KB 207931, they just admitted what we already all know :

"...manufactured through December 2008." instead of "...manufactured in December 2008."

I'm Ignoring if it's serious, but a class action lawsuit against seagate has been started.

WARNING : Some users try to contact support and receive OLD firmware (AD14) from them resulting of a dead of drive ! Don't try to update your disk if you try to contact support & receive this kind of firmware. If you are, at least, with firmware SD15, you will BRICK your drive !


_____________________________________________

Drive with new firmwares :

Last news is that Seagate has finally published a fixed firmware, SD1A, only yesterday (Jan 19, 2008) and not for all disks, and unfortunately it was just wrong : Updater from fixed firmware first release crashed every time (update program crash from this topic) and fixed firmware second release has bricked every unfortunate ST3500320AS owners (but reported to be working with ST31000340AS & ST3750330AS), both firmware were released at different time and it's actually no more available and offline :

**EDIT*** : Fix firmware third release appears to be working and unbricking ST3500320AS drives.
Seagate Knowledge Base 207951
Drive Family : Seagate Barracuda 7200.11
Models Affected : ST3500320AS / ST3500620AS /ST3500820AS / ST3640330AS / ST3640530AS / ST3750330AS / ST3750630AS / ST31000340AS
Firmware Affected : AD14, SD15, SD16, SD17, SD18, SD19, SD81
Recommended Firmware Update : SD1A / ONLINE / Note : You need to contact Seagate for some models

Personal note : For users information, I successfully updated 5 x ST31000340AS drives from my RAID-5 volume in a DS-508 at same time, without any problems (no rebuild or others problems). I successfully updated too a ST31000340AS used in a SATA box connected to DS-508 (with native format), no problems. HarryPotter has successful experience too with 4 x ST31000340AS on DS-408

Seagate Knowledge Base 207963
Drive Family : Seagate Barracuda ES.2
Models Affected : ST3250310NS / ST3500320NS / ST3750330NS /ST31000340NS
Recommended Firmware Update Status : SN06 / SN16*

*Now available as direct download

Seagate Knowledge Base 207957
Drive Family : Seagate Barracuda 7200.11
Models Affected : ST31500341AS / ST31000333AS / ST3640323AS / ST3640623AS / ST3320613AS / ST3320813AS / ST3160813AS
Recommended Firmware Update : SD1B / SD2B*

* Note: If your drive has CC or LC firmware, your drive is not affected and no further action is required. Attempting to flash the firmware of a drive with CC or LC firmware will result in rendering your drive inoperable.

Seagate Knowledge Base 207975
Drive Family : DiamondMax 22
Models Affected : STM31000334AS / STM3640323AS / STM3320614AS / STM3160813AS
Recommended Firmware Update : MX1B

Seagate Knowledge Base 207969
Drive Family : DiamondMax 22
Models Affected : STM3500320AS / STM3750330AS / STM31000340AS
Firmware Affected : MX15 (or higher)
Recommended Firmware Update : MX1A

No more drives left in "validation status"

DISCLAIMER :
BEFORE APPLY ANY FIRMWARE UPDATE, DOUBLE CHECK WHAT YOU'RE DOING, WAIT FIRST FOR SUCCESSFUL USERS EXPERIENCES AND ENSURE THAT YOUR MODEL NEEDS IT. BE VERY CAREFUL !

_____________________________________________

Relevant/Interesting Links

Seagate Firmware Update Bricks 500GB Barracudas (source not verified) :

(...)IF the drive is powered down when there are 320 entries in this journal or log, then when it is powered back up, the drive errors out on init and won't boot properly - to the point that it won't even report it's information to the BIOS(...)

Archives Links

21st January 2009 13:23 GMT - Seagate promises second fault fix in 24 hours


Seagate has promised to issue a fix for the latest Barracuda bricking fault within 24 hours.
This will be firmware to fix the firmware (SD1A) that was issued to fix the firmware (SD15) that caused some 1TB Barracuda 7200.11 drives and others to stop working. The SD1A firmware caused 500GB Barracuda 7200.11s to stop working.
Seagate says that: "This firmware upgrade will be available on the Seagate website within 24 hours"

_____________________________________________

I'll try to keep updated this topic when firmware will be released, last advise : Don't reboot...

[rcarrico]

If you go with the Seagate 1 - 1.5 TB drives, make sure you have the updated firmware. I just got a drive failure after just 4 months. Read this:

http://www.tomshardware.com/news/seagat ... or=RSS-181

[smbjerke]

I have been advised to use DSM 2.1-0803 (in beta) for the ST31000340AS, I guess that is in response to the problem you mention.

[Franklin]

Greetings smbjerke

I believe rcarrico's post is related to this article on Seagate's website.

[bartmans]

Are there instructions on how to update the firmware on a HD already built in to a Synology (DS 107+ in this case)?

Bart

[HarryPotter]

Are there instructions on how to update the firmware on a HD already built in to a Synology (DS 107+ in this case)?

Bart

No, this is not possible. You have to attach your HDD to the internal SATA connector of a PC.

[bartmans]

Okay, the plot thickens.

Synology has issued a press release encouraging users to upgrade the firmware. Upgrading isn't easy, you have to hook the HD to your PC's SATA connection.

And now Seagate has retracted the new firmware!
http://seagate.custkb.com/seagate/crm/selfservice/search.jsp?DocId=207951

Note: This file has been temporarily taken offline as of Jan 19, 2008 8PM CST for validation.

Now what? To upgrade or not, thats the question.

[micky76ag]

I just purchased a DS207+ in late Dec along with two 1 TB Seagate Barracuda drives.

They all arrived two weeks ago and I set up the system as a RAID 0.

Now it looks like I need to update the firmware in the drives.

I have seen in other threads that I must remove the drives from the NAS and put them into the PC to do the update.

My question:

(with the NAS powered down) Can I just pull one, put it in the PC, flash the firmware and return it to the NAS and then do the other without redoing any of the NAS setup?

Will this affect the data on the drives?

Thanks!

[Franklin]

@micky76ag
In theory, updating the HDD firmware should not affect your HDD system - HOWEVER THERE IS NO GUARANTEE that this will be the case.
Please consult with Seagate for further assistance.
Please also refer to the post above yours for further "common questions" about this Seagate .11/ES2 Firmware Issue.

@Zouk !
Nice Compilation of information there, it's much appreciated!

[prinsron]

Hi,

I am using 2 times the ST31000340NS in my ST209+ in a raid 1 set-up. I have firmware version SN05. When I enter my serial number in the tool on the Seagte site to find out if I am effected by the bricking firmware bug I get the message that one is effected and the other one not.
So it seems that the firmware version as such is not the only differentiator if you are at risk for your disk.

Any comments from you on this?

Br

Ronald with still (for how long??) 2 disks up and running

Update 22-02-2009:
I aquired the SN06 Firmware update and applied it. Succesfull sofar. No data loss, speed not effected as far as I can determine (around 40MB/Sec) with the 209+ directly connected to a PC to prevent influence from the Switch.
Upgrading the firmware was a piece of cake.
What is dissapointing is that I had to get the software from someone else for Seagate has not reacted since 36 hours when I send them a mail requesting the FW update.
I would have expected better for the enterprise class Disks for they are used normaly in a high availability bus. enviroment and RAID configurations are only mildly effective with a bug like this.

Well lets hope and keep the fingers crossed it will be still running tomorrow..

Ronald

[Zouk !]

I am using 2 times the ST31000340NS in my ST209+ in a raid 1 set-up. I have firmware version SN05. When I enter my serial number in the tool on the Seagte site to find out if I am effected by the bricking firmware bug I get the message that one is effected and the other one not.
So it seems that the firmware version as such is not the only differentiator if you are at risk for your disk.

For information, some users on others forums with already dead drives, has tried to check their drives serial with online tool from Seagate : Seagate tool has just reported that drives are not affected. What a shame.
For remind, drives are already dead with no BIOS detect symptoms.
For me, it's simple : They just don't know which drives exactly are affected.
In my opinion, don't trust this tool. Go for update when it will be available... (and after have read some successful flashing for your model)

Note : And I'm Seagate fan for years and years...

***EDIT***

I found original messages & topic :

Hey, I found a serial of someone who said their drive died and the checker does find it to be affected! Saying that I have 6 drives, all on the KB list of drive that may be affected, and the checker says none are affected.

[Franklin]

Mod Note--The posting order of this thread was change to have "read-me's" at the top of the thread.

[mouse_1]

Sorry Franklin (and all others..) but english is not my language, This problems with Seagate Es.2 is related with the problems of raid5 in CS-407? Finally did I have to upgrade my firmware. Thanks...

[cbarbara]

I guess I am lucky as having just bought 4x 1TB ST31000340NS (ES.2 model) drives.
I'm kind of afraid to shut down the NAS, incase on boot the problem happens to one (or more) of the drives.

I am going to contact seagate to try and get the latest firmware for the drives. I know i will have to shutdown the nas, take each one out and plug them into another computer to update the firmware one by one, then start the nas back up and hope for the best.

There is the new c854x_408_0731 firmware available for the DS408, do you have and advice as to what you would upgrade first? The hard drives or the NAS?