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update
License Internal Code (LIC) upgrade process
Nitin Thorve (nithorve@in.ibm.com)
Senior Associate IT Specialist - UNIX
IBM China
26 March 2013
Background
Overview of IBM Power Systems servers
Hardware Management Console can be a desktop or a rack-mounted appliance that manages
the servers, and is used for partitioning and as a service tool.
Copyright IBM Corporation 2013
Step-by-step guide to IBM Power Systems firmware update
Trademarks
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A managed system is a single physical server. It can have I/O expansion units, towers,
drawers, and storage area network (SAN) resources.
HMC communicates to the managed system through the service processor.
The service processor is an embedded controller that monitors and controls the entire system
and is running the bare metal Linux.
The IBM POWER Hypervisoris a layer of system firmware that supports virtualization
technologies, logical partitioning (LPAR), and dynamic resource movement across multiple
operating system environments.
Figure 1.
Introduction
The flexible service processor (FSP) firmware provides diagnostics, initialization, configuration,
run-time error detection, and correction. It is required to periodically update the firmware on the
Power Systems server. Keeping the firmware up-to-date can help in attaining the maximum
reliability and functionality from your systems.
Firmware releases enable new function and might also contain fixes or enhancements.
Firmware service packs provide fixes and enhancements within a specific release.
This tutorial provides the following information:
1. Current firmware details
2. Different kinds of code download and update methods
3. Steps to obtain the relevant firmware code updates or releases from the IBM FixCentral
website
4. Steps to update the firmware concurrently using DVD media, that is, the fixes that can be
deployed on a running system without rebooting partitions or performing an initial program
load (IPL) within a specific release
Step-by-step guide to IBM Power Systems firmware update
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5. Steps to update the firmware disruptively, that is, update requiring the system IPL within a
specific release
6. Advanced code update options from the Change Licensed Internal Code wizard
7. Steps to upgrade to recent firmware releases disruptively using the File Transfer Protocol
(FTP) method
8. Steps to upgrade the firmware disruptively through the IBM Service website to a required level
In the following sections, let's go through in detail covering all the topics highlighted above.
Figure 1.1
The following figure shows the currently installed firmware levels on the system.
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Figure 1.2
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This displays the latest or highest LIC level that contains unactivated deferred updates. This refers
to the updates selected on the system.
A deferred update requires a system restart to activate.
Platform IPL Level
This displays the LIC level on which the hypervisor and partition firmware were last restarted.
When concurrent LIC updates are performed, the activated level will change, but the platform IPL
level will remain unchanged.
Update Control
This displays the current owner of LIC update control. It can be either HMC or operating system.
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Figure 3.0
Example in Figure 3.1 shown below is for the system firmware only. Similarly, you can explore
other options too.
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Figure 3.1
If users are aware of the specific firmware level, then users can select the necessary option
directly. If not, users can also take help from the recommendations that the website can provide
about the latest and the best-suited firmware levels. If you need help, select the I need guidance.
I am not sure what level of firmware is recommended option as shown in Figure 3.2.
Choose the specific level or get the recommended level as shown below:
Figure 3.2
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Figure 3.3
Decide whether your system needs firmware update to the latest fix pack or upgrade to a new
release based on the current levels installed on the system as obtained from View system
information in the above section.
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Figure 3.4
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Figure 3.5
As an example, let us continue to get the firmware service pack within the current release, as
shown in Figure 3.6.
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Figure 3.6
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Figure 3.7
Similarly, users can get the upgrade code, that is, newer release using the second option. Note
that this will be a disruptive code install, that is, system power recycles.
Note:
Download the update code, if you are planning an update within the current release.
Download the upgrade code if you are planning for an upgrade to a newer release itself.
Figure 3.7 lists the latest, recommended, and available updates to your current release. Select the
appropriate option and proceed further.
Continue with downloading the ISO file if you want burn it to a DVD to proceed with the firmware
update using the DVD media, or get the code to a remote FTP-enabled system to perform update
using the FTP method. The firmware update procedure is explained in detail in the following
sections.
Step-by-step guide to IBM Power Systems firmware update
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Figure 3.8
Figure 3.9
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Figure 3.10
Figure 4.0
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Figure 4.1
In the Specify LIC Repository section (as shown in Figure 4.2), select the location of the LIC
update repository.
Figure 4.2
Figure 4.3
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Select the DVD-RAM drive option,where you have the DVD placed and proceed with code update
concurrently, as shown in Figure 4.3.
Note: Place the DVD in the HMC's DVD drive (and not in the system's DVD drive).
Figure 4.4
Click OK to proceed further to the subsequent steps to perform code update. It verifies whether
the system is ready for code update by performing the health check and if everything fine, we can
proceed further.
The following screen captures show the step-by-step procedure to perform concurrent
code update.
Figure 4.5
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Figure 4.6
Figure 4.7
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Figure 4.8
Figure 4.9
Figure 4.10
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We use the Select advanced features option to perform advanced operations, such as Remove
and activate and Reject fix.
Remove and activate option
The Remove and activate option brings the system back to the update level that is on the
permanent side. You can use this option to back off an update level.
Figure 6.0
Figure 6.1
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Figure 6.2
Figure 6.3
Click OK and then Close to remove and activate the permanent side update level.
Figure 6.4
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Figure 6.5
Figure 6.6
Figure 6.7
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In this section, let us learn how to use the FTP method to upgrade the system using the firmware
code stored in a remote repository.
The following screen captures shows the steps to upgrade to newer firmware releases disruptively
using the FTP method.
Figure 7.0
Figure 7.1
Figure 7.2
Figure 7.3
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Figure 7.4
Figure 7.5
Figure 7.6
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Figure 7.8
Figure 7.9
Clicking OK starts the disruptive upgrade. System will be on the applied release level after the
upgrade operation completes.
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Figure 8.0
Make sure that your target server is in the shutdown mode, and if not, switch off the server.
Now, click the Upgrade Licensed Internal Code to a new release link at the bottom of the page
as shown in the following figure.
Figure 8.1
After clicking the link, you will be directed to the web page which will show information about the
readiness check. If there is no errors found, you can click OK and proceed further, as shown in the
following figure.
Figure 8.2
After clicking OK, you will be directed to the Specify LIC Repository page. Here, you need to
select the location of the code. The options shown in the following figure are available.
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Figure 8.3
If you are setting a new server configuration, the best practice at this prompt is always to select the
IBM service web site option and you need not worry about the need to power off and power on
the managed systems in this method.
After selecting the IBM Service web site option, you will have a new web page opened, which
will show you the available LIC level details. Here, the best practice is to select the latest available
code (that is, the latest available version). Most of the fixes are added by IBM and your Power
Systems server will be upgraded to the latest level. Then, select the best as per your requirement,
or the latest supported.
Be patient here and follow the prompts to complete the upgrade. The firmware upgrade activity
will need time depending on your Internet bandwidth speed. Do not forget to switch on the server,
so that the latest firmware gets activated and reflected in the navigation pane, as shown in the
following figure.
Figure 8.4
Now you are done with the upgrade. Remember if you select multiple systems, you can upgrade
them as well.
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Resources
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Priyanka Jade
Priyanka Jade is a Staff Software Engineer, having more than five years of experience
with IBM India. She has experience in IBM pSeries-based system testing, IBM
AIX administration, virtualization technologies, hardware administration tools , and
Smart Cloud Entry. Priyanka is currently involved in Power Systems customer test,
which includes Power Systems firmware testing, HMC testing, and Systems Director
Management Console (SDMC) testing.
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