From 5d770d2defabf762ca16f9b36ee777b0729c6a8a Mon Sep 17 00:00:00 2001 From: Jane Alesi Date: Thu, 2 Apr 2026 10:57:12 +0200 Subject: [PATCH] docs(tech): correct firmware target GXA7801Q (non-SED) and update status - Key discovery: GXA7802Q is SED-only (00B07), our drive needs GXA7801Q (00B00) - Updated all references from GXA7802Q to GXA7801Q - Added firmware naming convention table (1Q=non-SED, 2Q=SED) - Updated procedure with correct GitHub source and slot-based update - Marked firmware update as applied (reboot pending) - Added SHA256 checksum for GXA7801Q.bin --- docs/tech/firmware-update-research.md | 49 ++++++++++++++++++--------- 1 file changed, 33 insertions(+), 16 deletions(-) diff --git a/docs/tech/firmware-update-research.md b/docs/tech/firmware-update-research.md index 339a485..1e4ba90 100644 --- a/docs/tech/firmware-update-research.md +++ b/docs/tech/firmware-update-research.md @@ -16,7 +16,7 @@ last_updated: '2026-04-02' | Component | Current Version | Latest Version | Update? | Risk | |-----------|----------------|----------------|---------|------| | Motherboard BIOS | F53 (2025-10-28) | F53 | **No** | - | -| NVMe SSD (PM9A1) | GXA7401Q | **GXA7802Q** | **Yes** | Medium | +| NVMe SSD (PM9A1) | GXA7401Q | **GXA7801Q** | **Yes (applied)** | Medium | | SATA SSD (840 EVO) | EXT0BB6Q | EXT0BB6Q (EOL) | **No** | - | | GPU VBIOS (GTX 1050 Ti) | 86.07.39.00.50 | 86.07.39.00.50 (EOL) | **No** | - | | NIC (RTL8111) | rev 0c, r8168 driver | Kernel-integrated | Via kernel | Low | @@ -48,21 +48,31 @@ last_updated: '2026-04-02' | Field | Value | |-------|-------| | Current | GXA7401Q | -| **Latest** | **GXA7802Q** | -| Source | [OVHCloud Firmware Guide](https://support.us.ovhcloud.com/hc/en-us/articles/22361371147923-Advance-Dedicated-Servers-Upgrading-Your-Samsung-NVMe-PM9A1-Firmware) | +| **Latest** | **GXA7801Q** (non-SED, `00B00`) | +| Source | [GitHub: samsung-nvme-firmware](https://github.com/lolyinseo/samsung-nvme-firmware) | -**Status**: **Update available.** GXA7802Q is newer than GXA7401Q. Fixes unmap handling issues introduced in GXA7702Q. +**Status**: **Update applied 2026-04-02.** GXA7801Q is the correct firmware for non-SED PM9A1 drives (model `00B00`). Reboot pending to activate. -### Firmware Changelog (GXA7401Q → GXA7802Q) +> **Important**: GXA7802Q is for SED drives (model `00B07`) only. Our non-SED drive (MZVL2512HCJQ-**00B00**) requires GXA7801Q. +> The OVHCloud mirror only hosts GXA7802Q, which was rejected as "Invalid Firmware Image". + +### Firmware Naming Convention + +| Suffix | Type | Model Suffix | +|--------|------|-------------| +| `GXA***1Q` | Non-SED (standard) | `00B00` | +| `GXA***2Q` | SED (Self-Encrypting) | `00B07` | + +### Firmware Changelog (GXA7401Q → GXA7801Q) | Version | Key Changes | |---------|-------------| | **GXA7401Q** (current) | Fixed Pyrite spec violation (prevented user data erase during TCG revert). Improved write performance drop beyond 70% capacity usage via foreground GC in SSB area. | | **GXA7602Q** | Changed LPN per Unmap Range from total device LPN to 1000. Improved free block generation, reduced unnecessary migrations and TLC writes. | | **GXA7702Q** | Increased LPN per Unmap Range to 10,000. Introduced **side effects**: lengthened FW time for Unmap operations, slower free block generation, increased unnecessary migrations. Samsung recommended **holding** this version. | -| **GXA7802Q** (latest) | **Fixes all GXA7702Q side effects.** Corrects unmap handling, restores free block generation performance. Released ~Nov 2022 after internal qualification. Overall stability and performance improvements. | +| **GXA7801Q** (latest, applied) | **Fixes all GXA7702Q side effects.** Non-SED variant. Corrects unmap handling, restores free block generation performance. Released ~Nov 2022 after internal qualification. Overall stability and performance improvements. | -**Key benefit for workstation**: The GXA7401Q → GXA7802Q jump fixes unmap/TRIM performance regression chain from GXA7702Q intermediate versions. Since this is a root NVMe drive with heavy I/O, improved unmap handling and write stability are relevant. +**Key benefit for workstation**: The GXA7401Q → GXA7801Q jump fixes unmap/TRIM performance regression chain from GXA7702Q intermediate versions. Since this is a root NVMe drive with heavy I/O, improved unmap handling and write stability are relevant. **Note**: No official Samsung changelog exists publicly. Information sourced from Samsung internal PDF (gzhls.at), OVHCloud deployment guide, and Win-Raid community. @@ -75,12 +85,14 @@ sudo pacman -S nvme-cli # 2. Verify current firmware nvme list -# 3. Download firmware binary (OVHCloud mirror) -wget https://last-public-ovh-baremetal.snap.mirrors.ovh.us/hardware/PM9A1/GXA7802Q_Noformat.bin +# 3. Download firmware binary (GitHub mirror - correct for non-SED drives) +wget -O /tmp/GXA7801Q.bin \ + "https://raw.githubusercontent.com/lolyinseo/samsung-nvme-firmware/main/PM9A1/ASUS/GXA7801Q/GXA7801Q_20221102.bin" # 4. Apply firmware (ensure NVMe is /dev/nvme0n1) -sudo nvme fw-download --fw=GXA7802Q_Noformat.bin /dev/nvme0n1 -sudo nvme fw-activate --slot=0x1 --action=0x1 /dev/nvme0n1 +sudo nvme fw-download --fw=/tmp/GXA7801Q.bin /dev/nvme0n1 +sudo nvme fw-commit -s 2 -a 0 /dev/nvme0 # Install to slot 2 +sudo nvme fw-commit -s 2 -a 2 /dev/nvme0 # Activate slot 2 # 5. Reboot to apply sudo reboot @@ -89,9 +101,13 @@ sudo reboot nvme list ``` -**Risk**: Medium. NVMe firmware update can brick the drive if interrupted (power loss). Ensure UPS or stable power. The `_Noformat` variant preserves data. +**Update applied**: 2026-04-02 10:51 CET. All three nvme-cli steps succeeded. Reboot pending. -**Recommendation**: Schedule during maintenance window. **Backup critical data first.** +**Firmware file**: SHA256 `76ad2b0c35581cb71bd4c5a5fd358a15c4432aa38e9e983acc2349d2b24b5a11` + +**Risk**: Medium. NVMe firmware update can brick the drive if interrupted (power loss). Original firmware GXA7401Q preserved in slot 1 as fallback. + +**Pre-firmware benchmark**: See `docs/tech/nvme-benchmark-pre-gxa7802q.md` --- @@ -204,7 +220,7 @@ nvme list No updatable devices ``` -Samsung does not publish PM9A1 or 840 EVO firmware on LVFS. The NVMe firmware update to GXA7802Q (see §2) must be done via `nvme-cli` with the OVHCloud firmware binary. +Samsung does not publish PM9A1 or 840 EVO firmware on LVFS. The NVMe firmware update to GXA7801Q (see §2) must be done via `nvme-cli` with firmware from the [samsung-nvme-firmware GitHub repo](https://github.com/lolyinseo/samsung-nvme-firmware). The OVHCloud mirror only has GXA7802Q (SED variant, incompatible with non-SED drives). ### New Discovery: AMD TPM 2.0 @@ -235,7 +251,7 @@ fwupdmgr update # Apply available updates | # | Action | Risk | Downtime | |---|--------|------|----------| -| 4 | Update NVMe firmware to GXA7802Q | Medium (power loss risk) | ~5 min + reboot | +| 4 | ~~Update NVMe firmware to GXA7801Q~~ | ~~Medium (power loss risk)~~ | **Applied 2026-04-02, reboot pending** | ### No Action Needed @@ -252,7 +268,7 @@ fwupdmgr update # Apply available updates ## Risk Assessment -### NVMe Firmware Update (GXA7401Q -> GXA7802Q) +### NVMe Firmware Update (GXA7401Q -> GXA7801Q) - APPLIED 2026-04-02 | Risk | Mitigation | |------|------------| @@ -278,4 +294,5 @@ fwupdmgr update # Apply available updates - [linux-firmware.git](https://git.kernel.org/pub/scm/linux/kernel/git/firmware/linux-firmware.git) - [Samsung PM9A1 Firmware PDF (gzhls.at)](https://gzhls.at/blob/ldb/1/a/2/a/90ce739915b765d7fdae4620177253f0056e.pdf) - [Win-Raid PM9A1 Discussion](https://winraid.level1techs.com/t/samsung-pm9a1-firmware-update/37242) +- [GitHub: samsung-nvme-firmware (correct GXA7801Q source)](https://github.com/lolyinseo/samsung-nvme-firmware) - [GitHub: samsung-nvme-firmware issues](https://github.com/lolyinseo/samsung-nvme-firmware/issues/10)