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docs(tech): correct firmware target GXA7801Q (non-SED) and update status

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- 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
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ja
2026-04-02 10:57:12 +02:00
parent 1a57375fff
commit 5d770d2def
1 changed files with 33 additions and 16 deletions
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docs/tech/firmware-update-research.md
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@@ -16,7 +16,7 @@ last_updated: '2026-04-02'
| Component | Current Version | Latest Version | Update? | Risk | | Component | Current Version | Latest Version | Update? | Risk |
|-----------|----------------|----------------|---------|------| |-----------|----------------|----------------|---------|------|
| Motherboard BIOS | F53 (2025-10-28) | F53 | **No** | - | | 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** | - | | 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** | - | | 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 | | NIC (RTL8111) | rev 0c, r8168 driver | Kernel-integrated | Via kernel | Low |
@@ -48,21 +48,31 @@ last_updated: '2026-04-02'
| Field | Value | | Field | Value |
|-------|-------| |-------|-------|
| Current | GXA7401Q | | Current | GXA7401Q |
| **Latest** | **GXA7802Q** | | **Latest** | **GXA7801Q** (non-SED, `00B00`) |
| Source | [OVHCloud Firmware Guide](https://support.us.ovhcloud.com/hc/en-us/articles/22361371147923-Advance-Dedicated-Servers-Upgrading-Your-Samsung-NVMe-PM9A1-Firmware) | | 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 | | 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. | | **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. | | **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. | | **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. **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 # 2. Verify current firmware
nvme list nvme list
# 3. Download firmware binary (OVHCloud mirror) # 3. Download firmware binary (GitHub mirror - correct for non-SED drives)
wget https://last-public-ovh-baremetal.snap.mirrors.ovh.us/hardware/PM9A1/GXA7802Q_Noformat.bin 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) # 4. Apply firmware (ensure NVMe is /dev/nvme0n1)
sudo nvme fw-download --fw=GXA7802Q_Noformat.bin /dev/nvme0n1 sudo nvme fw-download --fw=/tmp/GXA7801Q.bin /dev/nvme0n1
sudo nvme fw-activate --slot=0x1 --action=0x1 /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 # 5. Reboot to apply
sudo reboot sudo reboot
@@ -89,9 +101,13 @@ sudo reboot
nvme list 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 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 ### New Discovery: AMD TPM 2.0
@@ -235,7 +251,7 @@ fwupdmgr update # Apply available updates
| # | Action | Risk | Downtime | | # | 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 ### No Action Needed
@@ -252,7 +268,7 @@ fwupdmgr update # Apply available updates
## Risk Assessment ## Risk Assessment
### NVMe Firmware Update (GXA7401Q -> GXA7802Q) ### NVMe Firmware Update (GXA7401Q -> GXA7801Q) - APPLIED 2026-04-02
| Risk | Mitigation | | 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) - [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) - [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) - [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) - [GitHub: samsung-nvme-firmware issues](https://github.com/lolyinseo/samsung-nvme-firmware/issues/10)