RS/6000 7024-E30 Service Processor Firmware Update

Applies to : IBM RS/6000 7024-E30, 7025-F30, 7025-F40, 7026-H10

Contents


 1.0  Systems Affected

This update provides new Service Processor (SvP) firmware (FW) for the following RS/6000 systems only. The firmware level contained in this update is: There is no dependency between the Service Processor firmware and the System firmware.


2.0  Firmware Description and Revision History

Table 2.1 lists the levels and descriptions for Service Processor firmware.
 
 
Table 2.1: Service Processor Firmware Update Descriptions and History
97206
  • Enhanced menus for better feature access.
  • Added restart/reboot policy functions.
  • Miscellaneous minor functional enhancements and corrections.
96248
  • Added support for 7025-F40 and 7026-H10.
Note (2)
  • Added support for 7025-F30
Note (1)
  • Original (GA) level for 7024-E30

        Notes:
        (1)  Various levels as early as 96001 that differed only by minor corrections.
        (2)  Various levels as early as 96060 that differed only by minor corrections.


3.0  Cautions and Important Notes

New Instructions

Please read and use these instructions.  They have been revised and corrected.

Firmware Update Installation Is Not Concurrent

Installation of this firmware is done from Service Processor menus.  These menus are available only while the system is in standby power mode (i.e., the system is powered down but is not unplugged).  Therefore, all user operations should be gracefully terminated before firmware updates are to be applied.

Avoid Potential Firmware Update Corruption

Never power OFF the system during the firmware update process!
The update will be incomplete and will fail.  Depending on where in the update process the power was lost, a recovery attempt will often succeed.  One recovery attempt is worthwhile.

Replacement parts may require updating.

When a Service Processor card is replaced, the firmware on the new card must be checked to ensure it is at an acceptable level.  Updating to the latest level is recommended.  Table 3.1 lists the update levels history.
 
Table 3.1:  Service Processor Firmware Updates, File Sizes and Checksums
Distribution Date Filename Size Checksum
Jul 1997 srecover.img  210048 48791
Aug 1996 srecover.img 154268 47020

Note:  Checksums can be used to verify the FW files have not been corrupted or altered during
            transmission.

            The checksum can be computed for any file by using the AIX 'sum' command, as follows.
            At the AIX command line, enter:

              sum {filename}

          Example:  Calculate the checksum of a file, 'srecover.img'.

           You will enter ---------------->  sum  srecover.img

           The output will look like this ------->  48791  206  srecover.img

           The checksum is --------------> 48791

AIX Instructions are CASE SENSITIVE

In the instructions that follow are specific AIX and DOS commands.  AIX commands are CASE (lower and upper) SENSITIVE, and  must be entered exactly as shown, including the filenames.  DOS commands are not case sensitive, and may be entered without regard to the cases shown.

How to Determine the Firmware Release Date from the File Name

Level identifiers for this SvP FW uses the 5-digit Julian date code method in terms of day number in a year (such as 1997206 -- 206th day of 1997 or July 24, 1997).


4.0  How to Determine Currently Installed Firmware Levels

Service Processor is standard on 7026-H10.  It is optional on the other members of this family of servers.

To learn if your server includes a Service Processor, execute the following command at an AIX prompt.

    Enter:

        lsdev -Cs isa_sio

From the list of ISA devices displayed, if the following device is in an available state,

        supp0 Mini-Support Processor

the optional Service Processor is not installed, and no update is needed.

If the list shows the following device is available instead,

        supp0 Support Processor

Service Processor (once called Support Processor) is installed.  You should consider applying this update.

DO NOT rely on the part number or firmware level marking/label on the EPROM/FLASH module because the content of the module may have been updated to a different level. To be safe, always check the firmware level electronically.

4.1  Reading Firmware Level When Entering Service Processor Menus

An ASCII terminal on the server's serial port 1 or 2 must be used to access Service Processor menus.  Reading the firmware level on these menus depends on the vintage of the installed firmware.

Service Processor menus are available after entering standby mode, either by powering down the server or by plugging in the A/C connector.

On servers with early (1996) vintage firmware, the level is shown in the heading of the general-user password update screen. Unless a general-user password is in effect, this screen will not appear.

               Service Processor Firmware
                    Eprom  97099xxxxxx             <== Second line
                    Flash  97045xxxxxx
               Copyright 1996 IBM Corporation


If the leading numbers of the second line do not agree with the latest update level available for your server, you should consider installing the update.

See the Support Processor Installation and User's Guide for information about setting and clearing passwords.  If you do not have a general-user password in effect, skip to paragraph 4.2.

On servers with later (1997) vintage firmware, the level is shown in the heading of the first menu.

               Service Processor Firmware
                    Eprom  97099xxxxxx             <== Second line
                    Flash  97045xxxxxx
               Copyright 1997 IBM Corporation


If the leading numbers of the second line do not agree with the latest update level available for your server, you should consider installing the update.

4.2  Reading Firmware Level Using Service Processor Menu Selections

Starting at the Service Processor's Main Menu,

    1)  Choose 'System Maintenance Menu'.
    2)  Choose 'Read VPD'
    3)  Continue to press Enter, until you see the section with the heading 'SP VPD'
    4)  Look for the line that appears similar to:

           RM............96248                    <=== SvP Firmware Level
If the number on the RM line does not agree with the latest update level available for your server, you should consider installing the update.


5.0  Downloading and Unpacking the Firmware Update Package

Instructions for downloading and unpacking the firmware update package follow.

5.1 Internet Package

The Service Processor Firmware, in AIX and DOS packages, is located at the web site

            http://www14.software.ibm.com/webapp/set2/firmware/gjsn

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

In the drop-down box, choose the entry for your specific machine type and model.

        Note: AIX Instructions are CASE SENSITIVE
                    In the instructions that follow are specific AIX and DOS commands.

                    AIX commands are CASE (lower and upper) SENSITIVE, and must be
                    entered exactly as shown, including the filenames.

                    DOS commands are not case sensitive, and may be entered without
                    regard to the cases shown.
 

The download choices at that entry are:

You will want a copy of the instructions document and one of the download choices. You may transfer files to the target system in one of several ways. Detailed download/unpacking instructions follow.

5.1.1 Downloading the AIX Package

Use this method to download directly to an  AIX system.

   a) Provide a directory on your AIX system to receive the download.

      Enter:
        mkdir  /tmp/fwupdate

        Note: If the directory /tmp/fwupdate already exists,
             make sure it is empty before proceeding.

   b) Transfer the AIX package to the /tmp/fwupdate directory.
       You'll see that the filename is 7024E30S.BIN

   c) Unpack the FW package by executing the 7024E30S.BIN file as shown below.
 
       Enter the commands:

        cd   /tmp/fwupdate
        chmod   +x   7024E30S.BIN
        ./7024E30S.BIN

       [Don't overlook the periods (.) in the above command.]

       This update file will be placed in /tmp/fwupdate.

     srecover.img    (Service Processor Firmware update)
   d) Now transfer the  srecover.img  file to a 2MB (HD) new or freshly DOS formatted
        diskette as follows.

       Note: The following procedure requires the doswrite command, which
                  is included in bos.dosutil (an installation option of AIX). If this is
                  not loaded on your machine, see your system administrator.

    With the diskette loaded in the drive,

    Enter the commands:

      cd /tmp/fwupdate
      doswrite srecover.img  srecover.img

   Label the resulting diskette,

        "Image: SvP FW 97206 for IBM 7024-E30, 7025-F30, 7025-F40, 7026-H10"

Proceed to Section 6.0, Updating the Firmware.

5.1.2 Downloading the DOS Package

Use this file to download to a Windows workstation.

   a) Prepare a directory for receiving the DOS package.
       This directory can be in any partition with 3MB available space.
       Executing in such a partition, called [path] in these instructions
       (ex. c:\download),

      Enter:
        md  [path]\fwupdate

      Note: If the directory [path]\fwupdate already exists,
                 make sure it is empty before proceeding.

   b) Transfer the DOS package to the [path]\fwupdate directory (using "Save as ...").
       You'll see the filename is 7024E30S.EXE

   c) Unpack the file by executing the following instructions.
 
      Enter the commands:

         cd  [path]\fwupdate
         7024E30S

       The following file will be added to the fwupdate subdirectory:

   24E30S_D.exe   (Service Processor firmware update)
   d) Prepare a 2MB (HD) new or freshly formatted diskette as follows.

      Enter the commands:

        cd  [path]\fwupdate
        24E30S_D

      Label the resulting diskette,

        "Image: SvP FW 97206 for IBM 7024-E30, 7025-F30, 7025-F40, 7026-H10"

Proceed to Section 6.0, Updating the Firmware.


6.0  Updating the Firmware

This section describes the method for transferring the new firmware into the target system.

***
WARNING:

Do not power off the target system at any time before the update process completes.
***

An ASCII terminal on the server's serial port 1 or 2 must be used to access Service Processor menus.

Service Processor menus are available after entering standby mode, either by powering down the server or by plugging in the A/C connector.

Update methods for the two vintages of servers are described below.

Additional methods are described in the system's User Guide.

6.1  Updating 96xxx Service Processor Versions

From the Service Processor Main Menu:

  1) Choose 'System Maintenance Menu'.
  2) Choose 'Reprogram SP Flash EPROM'.
  3) Follow the instructions on the screen.

When asked to choose the update file, choose srecover.img.

When the update has completed, the server will reboot, and bring up AIX.

Verify the update, paragraph 6.3, and retrieve any diskettes from the drive.

6.2  Updating 97xxx Service Processor Versions

From the Service Processor Main Menu:

  1) Choose 'Service Processor Setup Menu'.
  2) Choose 'Reprogram Service Processor Flash EPROM'.
  3) Follow the instructions on the screen.

When asked to choose the update file, choose srecover.img.

When the update has completed, the server will reboot, and bring up AIX.

Verify the updates, paragraph 6.3, and retrieve any diskettes from the drive.

6.3  Verifying the Updates

To verify your firmware update was successful, return to Service Processor menus.

Service Processor menus are available after entering standby mode, either by powering down the server or by plugging in the AC connector.  The menus heading containing the firmware level looks similar to:

               Service Processor Firmware
                    Eprom  97206xxxxxx             <== Second line
                    Flash  97045xxxxxx
               Copyright 1997 IBM Corporation


The leading numbers of the second line should match the level you just installed, namely, 97206.  The numbers on the third line are not important to this update process.

6.4  Archiving the Update Files

In the event it becomes necessary to restore your system to a certain microcode level, it is suggested you identify and archive the materials for each update you install.

If the download process produced diskettes, label and store them in a safe place.

If the download process produced only update image files, archive and identify the files for convenient retrieval.


End of Installation Instructions