Power5 Firmware

This document provides information about the installation of Licensed Machine or Licensed Internal Code, which is sometimes referred to generically as microcode or firmware.

Contents

• 1.0 Systems Affected
• 2.0 Cautions and Important Notes
• 3.0 Firmware Description
• 4.0 How to Determine Currently Installed Firmware Level
• 5.0 Downloading the Firmware Package
• 6.0 Installing the Firmware
• 6.1    Updating the Firmware
• 6.2    Upgrading the Firmware
• 7.0 Firmware History

1.0 Systems Affected

For 9119-590/595 and 9406-595 systems, the installation of this firmware level (including HMC, system firware and power code) must be completed by your IBM Service Representative (SSR).  Please contact your IBM SSR and request ECA604.

2.0 Cautions and Important Notes

The backleveling of firmware from any given release level to an earlier release level is not supported on Power5 systems. If you feel that it is necssary to backlevel the firmware on you system to an earlier release level, please contact your next level of support.

IBM has identified a potential problem with the installation of the SF230_126 level of system firmware.  Although the probability is low, this level of firmware may prevent the machine from powering on. This problem will be corrected in the next service pack.

If you have already installed this level of firmware on these systems and encounter this problem, power the system off and retry the power on.  If this does not succeed, contact your next level of support.
 

For systems that are managed by an HMC

• Before attempting to load this system firmware please ensure that your HMC software has been upgraded to Version 4, Release 5.0 (or newer) and that the Required V4R5.0 Maintenance eFix (MH00318 or newer) package has been applied." Go to this URL to access the HMC microcode packages http://techsupport.services.ibm.com/server/hmc/power5/fixes/v4r5.html.
• For 9119-590 or 595, 9406-595 or 9118-575,  power subsystem firmware level 02BP230_131 (or later) must be installed prior to installing system firmware level SF230_126.  You should also make sure that all frames of a multiple 9118-575 configuration are at 02BP230_131 (or later) before attempting to install system firmware. Go to this URL to access the power subsystem firmware package: other.html.

• Power off the managed system via the HMC before attempting a firmware installation.
• Ensure that there are no outstanding serviceable events showing on the Service Focal Point before starting the firmware installation.
• Verify that you have good network connections between the Hardware Management Console, the managed system and the power subsystem.

 

 

You can verify your network connections by running the following HMC command from an rsh window:

lssysconn -r all

Below is an example output from the lssysconn command. It shows two connections have "state = no connection" problems. If you see "state = no connection" when running the lssysconn command you should contact support to correct the problem before starting a Licensed Internal code update:

resource_type=sys,type_model_serial_num=9119-595*512884E,sp=primary,ipaddr=192.168.255.250,state=Connected
resource_type=sys,type_model_serial_num=9119-595*512884E,sp=backup,ipaddr=192.168.252.255,state=Connected
resource_type=frame,type_model_serial_num=9458-100*918000X,side=a,ipaddr=192.168.253.253, state=No Connection
resource_type=frame,type_model_serial_num=9458-100*918000X,side=b,ipaddr=192.168.254.251, state=No Connection

Note:  When attempting to install system firmware from CD media you may receive an HMC error approximately 10 seconds after starting the installation. Here are probable causes for this problem:

• ACT01712E - A failure occured while copying files from your DVD - Retry the firmware installation after burning a new CD. We recommend DVD-RAM or CD-R media to reduce the probability of media errors. We recommend you do not use CD-RW media.
• ACT01724E - The operation failed due to an internal code failure - The HMC DASD may be too full to copy the firmware images. From the HMC command line issue a "df" command to view %use of the DASD directories. If the /dev/hda5 directory is near 100% full there is no space to copy the firmware files. The cause of the high DASD utilization should be corrected first before attempting to install new firmware.

3.0 Firmware Information and Description

Support for Concurrent Firmware Maintenance

For systems that are not managed by an HMC, the installation of system firmware is always disruptive.

Note:  The concurrent levels of system firmware may, on occasion, contain fixes that are known as deferred. These deferred fixes can be installed concurrently, but will not be activated until the next IPL.  Deferred fixes, if any, will be identified in the "Firmware Update Descriptions" table of this document.  For deferred fixes within a service pack, only the fixes in the service pack  hich cannot be concurrently activated are deferred, all fixes which can be concurrently activated will be activated.

Note: Only upgrading within a release level can be done concurrently; updating to a new release level is a disruptive process.

Please note the following regarding the naming convention for system firmware that supports CFM.

System Firmware Level = 01SFxxx_YYY_ZZZ

• xxx is the release level
• YYY is the level of this service pack
• ZZZ is the level of the last (or latest) disruptive service pack
• If your system is at a service pack level lower than ZZZ the service pack is disruptive.  Example:  01SFxxx_YYY_ZZZ,  where YYY is equal to ZZZ (i.e. SF230_120_120), this identifies a disruptive install, meaning that an IPL is required to install and activate the changes.
• If your system is at a level equal to or greater than ZZZ (the last disruptive service pack) the service pack can be installed concurrently.  Example:  01SFxxx_YYY_ZZZ,  where YYY is greater than ZZZ (i.e. SF230_126_120). This identifies a concurrent install, meaning an IPL is not required to install and activate the changes as long as your system is currently at service pack level ZZZ.

4.0 How to Determine Currently Installed Firmware Levels

Select your country, then under Hardware select English.
In the left-hand panel, select
--> Service, support and troubleshooting
--> Service and support
--> Getting fixes
--> Firmware (Licensed Internal Code) fixes
--> Managing firmware (Licensed Internal Code) fixes
--> View existing firmware (Licensed Internal Code) levels

5.0 Downloading the Firmware Package

       download.html

Follow the instructions on this web page. You must read and agree to the license agreement to obtain the firmware packages.

In the table for System Microcode, scroll down to the entry for 9110-510, etc.
 

Note: If your HMC is not internet connected you will need to download the new firmware level to a CD-ROM media or ftp server.

If you are using CD-ROM media you can download the system firmware files from this location p5 and i5 iso and create a CD-ROM to use with your HMC. The CD contains both the system and power subsystem firmware files.

Another method is to download the individual .rpm and .xml files from this location to an ftp server or CD-ROM media (both files are required).  If using CD-ROM media you then copy the .rpm and .xml files to the CD using a local CD-ROM burner utility.

For 9119-590/595, 9406-595, or 9118-575 models the ftp server or CD must contain both the system and power subsystem firmware files.You can obtain the .rpm and .xml files for the power subsystem by accessing this site other.html

6.0 Installing the Firmware

Example: 01SFXXX_YYY_ZZZ

Where XXX =  release level

 
• If the release level will stay the same (Example: Level 01SF222_075_075  is currently installed and you are attempting to install level 01SF222_081_081) continue to paragraph 6.1.
• If the release level will change (Example: Level 01SF222_081_081 is currently installed and you are attempting to install level 01SF225_096_096), skip to paragraph 6.2.

6.1 Updating the Firmware

Select your country, then under Hardware select English.
In the left-hand panel, select
--> Service, support and troubleshooting
--> Service and support
--> Getting fixes
--> Firmware (Licensed Internal Code) fixes
--> Applying firmware (Licensed Internal Code) fixes

Choose the options that match your server setup, and follow the instructions provided.

6.2 Upgrading the Firmware

Note: this method will require that the update be performed using CD media.

Select your country, then under Hardware select English.

In the left-hand panel, select
--> Service, support and troubleshooting
--> Service and support
--> Getting fixes
--> Firmware (Licensed Internal Code) fixes
--> Applying firmware (Licensed Internal Code) fixes
--> Upgrading to a new server firmware release

Choose the options that match your server setup, and follow the instructions provided.

7.0 Firmware Revision History