I was hoping someone could elaborate on DOWNLOAD MICROCODE

Hello guys,

I am a bit confuessed about the DOWNLOAD MICROCODE command.
It was introduced in one of the older ATA and enhanced with subcommand in ATA8.

Although I read alot of info on this command im still confused and was hoping for some clearity from you guys.

The DOWNLOAD MICROCODE command as currently defined wii not work in some environments. The current version of this command will only transfer the firmware file in single transfer.

Sooohh, .., subcommand 03h in ATA8 should resolve the porblem with the 32KB transfer in a single file?

If someone could give me a more detailed breakdown of the command and an example this would be great. I read the breakdown on e04132r0 and e05164r2 but I am still a bit lost. :roll:

Also, what exactly can be done on which drives with this command?

I see the feature rgisters
01h
02h
03h
07h
but I am a bit puzzled on how to properly use the command and I have not bee able to find an example, code snippet, etc..
In theory I should be able to transfer microcode to the drive with this command is this correct?

Can this command now be used for all ATA8 drives, or are there other vendor limitations?

What format must the microcode file be in order to work with this command?

Why is there no UPLOAD MICROCODE command?

Any help is apresiated.

can someone please provide some help :?:

The download microcode command is in the ATA standard, but you should read carefully, the behavior is totally vendor specific.

It will be difficult to find any good source of information, since each manufacturer use their own proprietary, protocol/file format.

IBM protocol is (was) more or less cmd:x92, feat:0x07, sc&sn:#of512bytes block to transfer. The buffer contains the *.BD0 file of your model not the .BIN (in fact a .BIN with some header). Try hfui*** /B to build a BD0 from your .BIN file.

May be other people can give you some hint on other brand/model.

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Thanks for the reply doekia.

It will be difficult to find any good source of information, since each manufacturer use their own proprietary, protocol/file format.

Yeah, I know, I have been searching the net like crazy trying to find some more info on this. You said is or was 0x92. So, is this for the older models or those this still work with newer IBM drives?
Which IBM models can I test this with?

Thank you for your help.

The command is 92h, no doubt. I said is/was regarding the described protocol I mention. Things can evolve at light-speed. DARA, DJSA, Moraga PATA seems to follow this protocol. I haven't look at any other models so far.

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