Latest firmware for HGST Helium drives?

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MuscleLazy

Member
Apr 30, 2022
43
2
8
I contacted WD and they told me they don't offer support for OEM disks. Anyone knows where I can download the latest firmware for HGST Helium drives (e.g disk model HUH728080ALE601)? I will use Hugo to install the firmware, I currently have two firmware versions installed into all drives:
Code:
# hugo show --hgst-firmware

     Manuf.       Model               Serial                Interface       Capacity  Type  Firmware
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
  1) HGST         HUH728080ALE601     [REMOVED]             SATA            8001  GB  HDD   A4GL0003
    HGST Firmware: A4GL0003
  2) HGST         HUH728080ALE601     [REMOVED]             SATA            8001  GB  HDD   A4GL0001
    HGST Firmware: A4GL0001
I managed to find Hugo 7.4.5 and created a resource on TrueNAS forums, so others can download it. I tried uploading it here also, but the uploaded file is too large for the server to process. So far, I formatted the drives to 4Kn (Hugo was the only tool that allowed me to do it (very familiar with sg_format or hdparm) and I just need the latest firmware.
 
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MuscleLazy

Member
Apr 30, 2022
43
2
8
@olhachycher If you find a link to that, share it because nobody else can. I’ve been searching for a solution for weeks, since I only have OEM drive serial numbers.
 

MuscleLazy

Member
Apr 30, 2022
43
2
8
@UhClem thanks I appreciate the info, also I'm very familiar with hdparm and sg_format. These Helium drives require a proprietary WD tool either Hugo or WDCKit. I managed to find Hugo 7.4.5 and created a resource on TrueNAS forums, so others can download it. So far, I formatted the drives to 4Kn (Hugo was the only tool that allowed me to do it) and I just need the latest firmware, but since these are OEM drives, WD tells me to walk away.

Technically, we need someone who has access to firmware downloads or at least owns He8 datacenter drives supported by WD, so we can get the latest firmware. @napalm_atx , if you have access to HUH728080ALE601 latest firmware, please DM me with a link and also let me know if I can share it here with the community. These drives are all over the internet now, eBay, Amazon and all the usual vendor sites sell them refurbished with 5 years warranty.
 
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MuscleLazy

Member
Apr 30, 2022
43
2
8
Can you tell firmware version in HGST notation?
These are the only two firmware versions I have in all 24 disks:
Code:
# hugo show --hgst-firmware

     Manuf.       Model               Serial                Interface       Capacity  Type  Firmware
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
  1) HGST         HUH728080ALE601     [REMOVED]             SATA            8001  GB  HDD   A4GL0003
    HGST Firmware: A4GL0003
  2) HGST         HUH728080ALE601     [REMOVED]             SATA            8001  GB  HDD   A4GL0001
    HGST Firmware: A4GL0001
Here is big collection of firmwares
I did search for HUH728080ALE601 but could not find anything, is there a specific firmware version I can use?

Edit: Someone reported on Reddit a more recent firmware version, A4GLXAD2. Looks like these disks require specifically the A4GL prefix.
 
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MuscleLazy

Member
Apr 30, 2022
43
2
8
Yes, but i dont know from what vendor this drives
They are datacenter OEMs, I bought them from Amazon. When I reached at the seller asking them for the firmware, they replied:
We have double check with our vendor. Unfortunately, we do no have the link for latest firmware.
The customer ID is GL:
Code:
# hugo show --customer-id

     Manuf.       Model               Serial                Interface       Capacity  Type  Firmware
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
  1) HGST         HUH728080ALE601     [removed]             SATA            8001  GB  HDD   A4GL0003
    Customer ID:   GL
    HGST Firmware: Not Applicable
 

CyklonDX

Well-Known Member
Nov 8, 2022
1,183
405
83
i must ask - is something not working correctly that you want to upgrade their firmware?
Since they are OEM its likely you are going to find firmware for them on oem site. (i.e. dell, lenovo, hp, netapp etc)
(or you could ask whom was the oem - if oem is something really small then likely you won't have any new firmware at all.)
// If thats the case your best bet would be here -

but again if you have no issues then why.
 

CyklonDX

Well-Known Member
Nov 8, 2022
1,183
405
83
From my understanding, newer firmware adds performance enhancements and fixes. My disks are 601s not 604s.
in terms of performance does it state that anywhere? If you are getting 120MB/s then you are good for sas hdd.

(reading firmware upgrades from dell on 604 previous versions, none added performance only fixed cache state behavior with their backplanes and raid controllers.)

Fixes? for what - do you have any problems?

Looks like they are same disks (cylinders/heads etc) 04 and 01 appear to be oem codes on first look.
(600 seems to be the non-oem part)
 

mr44er

Active Member
Feb 22, 2020
135
45
28
The third and fourth letter is indeed customer id.

Any contribution welcome:

  1. 3P = 3PAR
  2. DS
  3. DL = Dell
  4. EC = EMC
  5. EG
  6. EQ
  7. ES
  8. FJ = Fujitsu
  9. FS
  10. GC
  11. GM
  12. GN = Generic (this is what you want without possible vendor locks/hardcoded mode pages (ex. drive temp alarm @50°C, where the true limit/spec is @85°C)
  13. HH
  14. HN
  15. H7
  16. H8
  17. HC
  18. HM
  19. HP = Hewlett Packard
  20. HT
  21. IP
  22. LE
  23. NA = NetApp
  24. NE
  25. NP
  26. NU
  27. SU
  28. XS
 

CyklonDX

Well-Known Member
Nov 8, 2022
1,183
405
83
The third and fourth letter is indeed customer id.

Any contribution welcome:

  1. 3P = 3PAR
  2. DS
  3. DL = Dell
  4. EC = EMC
  5. EG
  6. EQ
  7. ES
  8. FJ = Fujitsu
  9. FS
  10. GC
  11. GM
  12. GN = Generic (this is what you want without possible vendor locks/hardcoded mode pages (ex. drive temp alarm @50°C, where the true limit/spec is @85°C)
  13. HH
  14. HN
  15. H7
  16. H8
  17. HC
  18. HM
  19. HP = Hewlett Packard
  20. HT
  21. IP
  22. LE
  23. NA = NetApp
  24. NE
  25. NP
  26. NU
  27. SU
  28. XS
Most likely
LE = Lenovo