Server p5 Systems - Firmware Update
This update provides firmware for use on eServer p5 Systems only.
Do not use on any other systems. The instructions that follow are
for systems where the managed system has only one logical partition and no
HMC attached.
If your system has multiple partitions or an HMC attached, you must
update the firmware using the HMC.
NOTE: To update firmware on a Linux system, you must first download
and install the following service tools on your server: Platform Enablement
Library, Service Aids, and Hardware Inventory. To obtain the service tools,
go to URL: http://techsupport.services.ibm.com/server/lopdiags. Follow
the instructions on this web site for downloading and installing the service
tools.
For information about System Firmware Update Descriptions and History see
DescHist_CD.htm in the /microcode/SqnP5 directory on the CD.
Configuration Steps
You must complete the following tasks:
Note:
Installing the server firmware fixes through the operating
system is a disruptive (nonconcurrent) process if you are running AIX or
Linux on the server. That is, the system is automatically powered off and
powered on during the installation process. Therefore you will be instructed
to shut down all of your applications before you start to install the server
firmware fixes through the operating system.
- Determine the existing level of server firmware.
- Download and install the server firmware fixes.
Step 1: Determine the existing level of server firmware
Use one of the following methods to determine the existing level of server
firmware on the server:
- Advanced Systems Management Interface (ASMI)
On the ASMI Welcome pane, view the existing level of server firmware in the
upper right corner below the copyright statement. For example, SF220_005.
- AIX command line
You must have AIX diagnostics installed on your server to perform this task.
AIX diagnostics are installed when you install the AIX operating system on
your server. However, it is possible to deselect the diagnostics. Therefore,
you need to ensure that the online AIX diagnostics are installed before proceeding
with this task.
At an AIX command line, type
lsmcode -r -d sys0
The existing levels of server firmware are displayed.
For example, you might see output similar to the following:
system:SF220_005 (t) SF220_004 (p) SF220_005 (t)
The following table provides descriptions for
each of the server firmware levels displayed in the output.
| Server firmware levels
displayed |
| SF220_005 (t) |
SF220_004 (p) |
SF220_005 (t) |
- The installed level.
- Also known as the temporary level.
|
- The backup level.
- Also known as the permanent level.
|
- The activated level.
- The level on which the server is currently running.
|
Linux command line
For a server running Linux, you must have the Platform Enablement Library,
Service Aids, and Hardware Inventory service tools on your server.
Type the following at a Linux command line:
lsmcode -r -d sys0
The existing levels of server firmware are displayed.
For example, you might see output similar to the following:
system:SF220_005 (t) SF220_004 (p) SF220_005 (t)
The following table provides descriptions for
each of the server firmware levels displayed in the output.
| Server firmware levels
displayed |
| SF220_005 (t) |
SF220_004 (p) |
SF220_005 (t) |
- The installed level.
- Also known as the temporary level.
|
- The backup level.
- Also known as the permanent level.
|
- The activated level.
- The level on which the server is currently running.
|
Step 2: Download and install the server firmware fixes
The method you use to download and install the server firmware fixes depends
on your operating system:
- AIX or Linux
To download and install the server firmware fix, follow these steps:
Note:
When you install a server firmware fix, it is installed
on the temporary side of the service processor. However, the server firmware
fix is installed on the temporary side only after the original contents of
the temporary side are permanently installed on the permanent side. (The
service processor performs this process automatically when you install a
server firmware fix.) If you want to preserve the contents of the permanent
side, you need to remove the current level of firmware (copy the contents
of the permanent side to the temporary side) before you install the fix.
(see Appendix A)
- Follow the instructions that come with the Microcode Update Files
and Discovery Tool CD. Information about severity and impact is also available.
The file, fwlevel.rpm (example 01SF220_006_006.rpm), you download from
the CD will be put in the /tmp/microcode/RPM directory.
- You will need to move the fwlevel.rpm file to the /tmp/fwupdate
directory.
At a command line, type the following:
mkdir /tmp/fwupdate
Note:
If the /tmp/fwupdate directory
already exists, be sure it is empty before
proceeding.
cd /tmp/microcode/RPM
mv fwlevel.rpm /tmp/fwupdate
cd /tmp/fwupdate
Where fwlevel is the specific server firmware level, such as 01SF220_006_006.
- Unpack the RPM file to obtain the server firmware fix file.
At a command line, type the following:
rpm -ihv --ignoreos fwlevel.rpm
Where
fwlevel is the specific
server firmware level, such as 01SF220_006_006.
The server firmware fix file will be added to the /tmp/fwupdate
directory.
If the RPM file is called 01SF220_006_006.rpm, the server firmware fix file
will be called 01SF220_006_006. (Note that the server firmware fix file
does
not have a file extension).
Note: If you receive a warning that a user/group does
not exist, you can ignore it.
- Install the server firmware fix to the temporary side of the server.
Note:
Installing the server firmware fixes through the
operating system is a disruptive (nonconcurrent) process if you are running
AIX or Linux on the server. That is, the system is automatically powered off
and powered on during the installation process. Therefore, you need to shut
down all of your applications before proceeding with this step.
- AIX
To install the server firmware fix to the temporary side of the server:
Note:
To perform this task, you must have root user
authority.
With the server firmware fix file in the /tmp/fwupdate subdirectory,
type the following at an AIX command line:
cd /tmp/fwupdate
/usr/lpp/diagnostics/bin/update_flash -f fwlevel
Where fwlevel is the specific server firmware fix file name, such
as 01SF220_006_006.
Linux
To install the server firmware fix to the temporary side of the server:
Note:
To perform this task, you must have root user
authority.
With the server firmware fix file in the /tmp/fwupdate subdirectory,
type the following at a Linux command line:
cd /tmp/fwupdate
/usr/sbin/update_flash -f fwlevel
Where fwlevel is the specific server firmware fix file name, such
as 01SF220_006_006.
During the server firmware installation process, reference codes
CA2799FD and CA2799FF are alternately displayed in the control panel. After
the installation is complete, the system is automatically powered off and
powered on.
Verify the installation
At a command line, type:
lsmcode -r -d sys0
The existing levels of server firmware are
displayed. For example, you might see output similar to the following:
system:SF220_006 (t) SF220_005 (p) SF220_006 (t)
The following table provides descriptions for each of
the server firmware levels displayed in the output.
| Server firmware levels
displayed |
| SF220_006 (t) |
SF220_005 (p) |
SF220_006 (t) |
- The installed level.
- Also known as the temporary level.
|
- The backup level.
- Also known as the permanent level.
|
- The activated level.
- The level on which the server is currently running.
|
Verify that the first level and third level
indicated in the output match the level that you installed.
(Optional) Install the server firmware fix permanently.
After you download and install a server firmware fix, the fix is temporarily
installed until you install it permanently. You might want to use the new
level of server firmware for a period of time to verify that it works correctly.
When you are sure that the new level of server firmware works correctly, you
can permanently install the server firmware fix. Be aware the if you install
the server firmware fix permanently (copy the temporary firmware level from
the temporary side to the permanent side, so that the temporary and permanent
sides contain the same level of firmware), you cannot return to the level
that was previously on the permanent side.
Note:
You might recognize the process of installing the server firmware fix permanently
by different terms, depending on the type of hardware or software you use.
For example, if you use AIX or Linux, you might refer to this process as
committing the fix.
You can permanently install the server firmware fix in different ways,
depending on the operating system you use to download and install the server
firmware fix:
- AIX
Note:
To perform this task, you must have root user
authority, and you must start your server from the temporary side.
To permanently install the server firmware fix, type the following at an
AIX command line:
/usr/lpp/diagnostics/bin/update_flash -c
Then use the manual process to shut down and restart the server.
Linux
Note:
To perform this task, you must have root user
authority, and you must start your server from the temporary side.
To permanently install the server firmware fix, type the following at a
Linux command line:
/usr/sbin/update_flash -c
Then use the manual process to shut down and restart the server.
Appendix A: Remove Current Level of Server Firmware
You can remove the current level of server firmware if you want to return
to a previous level of server firmware. Use one of the following methods to
remove the current level of server firmware, depending on your service operating
system:
Note:
To perform this task, you must have root
user authority, and you must start your server from the
permanent side.
To permanently install the server firmware fix, type the following
at an AIX command line:
/usr/lpp/diagnostics/bin/update_flash -r
Note:
To perform this task, you must have root
user authority, and you must start your server from the
permanent side.
To permanently install the server firmware fix, type the following
at an AIX command line:
/usr/lpp/diagnostics/bin/update_flash -r
END of DOCUMENT