Power7 System Firmware
Applies to: 8202-E4D; 8205-E6D;
8231-E1D; 8231-E2D; 8246-L1D; 8246-L2D;
8246-L1T and 8246-L2T .
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
This
package provides firmware for Power 710 (8231-E1D), Power
720 (8202-E4D), Power 730
(8231-E2D), Power 740 (8205-E6D), PowerLinux 7R1 (8246-L1D, 8246-L1T)
and PowerLinux
7R2 (8246-L2D, 8246-L2T) servers only.
The firmware level in this package is:
1.1 Minimum HMC Code Level
This section is intended to describe the "Minimum HMC Code Level"
required by the System Firmware to complete the firmware installation
process. When installing the System Firmware, the HMC level must be
equal to or higher than the "Minimum HMC Code Level" before starting
the system firmware update. If the HMC managing the server
targeted for the System Firmware update is running a code level lower
than the "Minimum HMC
Code Level" the firmware update will not proceed.
The
Minimum HMC Code level for
this firmware is: HMC V7 R7.7.0
(PTF MH01343) with Mandatory efix (PTF MH01345).
For information concerning HMC releases and the latest PTFs,
go
to the following URL to access Fix Central:
http://www-933.ibm.com/support/fixcentral/
For specific fix level
information on key components of IBM
Power Systems running the AIX, IBM i and Linux operating systems, we
suggest using the Fix Level Recommendation Tool (FLRT):
http://www14.software.ibm.com/webapp/set2/flrt/home
NOTES:
-You must be logged in as hscroot in order for the
firmware
installation to complete correctly.
- Systems Director Management Console (SDMC) does not support this
System Firmware level.
2.0 Important
Information
F/C 5260, 5899, and EL11 (4-Port
Gigabit Ethernet PCI-Express Adapter) added to a system running AL770
system
firmware
If
a 4-Port Gigabit Ethernet PCI-Express Adapter (F/C 5260, 5899, or EL11)
is taken
from an existing system and installed in an 8202-E4D, 8205-E6D,
8231-E1D, 8231-E2D, 8246-L1D, 8246-L2D, 8246-L1T, or 8246-L2T system
running AL770 system firmware, there is a potential issue with the
adapter microcode. To resolve this issue, install the latest
Ethernet adapter firmware, version 10050160 (or higher), feature codes
5260, 5899, EL11.
This adapter firmware addresses a problem that causes IBM i network
install to fail (with SRC B2006110) on partitions running with AL770
system firmware on the models listed above. This fix is also
recommended for partitions running AIX, VIOS, and Linux operating
systems.
Downgrading firmware from any
given release level to an earlier release level is not recommended.
If you feel that it is
necessary to downgrade the firmware on
your system to an earlier release level, please contact your next level
of support.
IPv6 Support and Limitations
IPv6 (Internet Protocol version 6) is supported in the System
Management
Services (SMS) in this level of system firmware. There are several
limitations
that should be considered.
When configuring a network interface card (NIC) for remote IPL, only
the most recently configured protocol (IPv4 or IPv6) is retained. For
example,
if the network interface card was previously configured with IPv4
information
and is now being configured with IPv6 information, the IPv4
configuration
information is discarded.
A single network interface card may only be chosen once for the boot
device list. In other words, the interface cannot be configured for the
IPv6 protocol and for the IPv4 protocol at the same time.
Concurrent Firmware Updates
Concurrent system firmware update is only supported on HMC Managed
Systems
only.
Memory Considerations for
Firmware Upgrades
Firmware Release Level upgrades and Service Pack updates may consume
additional system memory.
Server firmware requires memory to support the logical partitions on
the server. The amount of memory required by the server firmware varies
according to several factors.
Factors influencing server firmware memory requirements include the
following:
- Number of logical partitions
- Partition environments of the logical
partitions
- Number of physical and virtual I/O devices
used by the logical partitions
- Maximum memory values given to the logical
partitions
Generally, you can estimate the amount of memory required by server
firmware to be approximately 8% of the system installed memory. The
actual amount required will generally be less than 8%. However, there
are some server models that require an absolute minimum amount of
memory for server firmware, regardless of the previously mentioned
considerations.
Additional information can be found at:
http://publib.boulder.ibm.com/infocenter/powersys/v3r1m5/topic/p7hat/iphatlparmemory.htm
3.0 Firmware
Information
and Description
Use the following examples as a reference to determine whether your
installation
will be concurrent or disruptive.
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 and/or Partition-Deferred. Deferred
fixes can be installed
concurrently, but will not be activated until the next IPL.
Partition-Deferred fixes can be installed concurrently, but will not be
activated until a partition reactivate is performed. Deferred
and/or Partition-Deferred
fixes,
if any, will be identified in the "Firmware Update Descriptions" table
of this document. For these types of fixes (Deferred and/or
Partition-Deferred) within a service pack, only the
fixes
in the service pack which cannot be concurrently activated are
deferred.
Note: The file names and service pack levels used in the
following
examples are for clarification only, and are not
necessarily levels that have been, or will be released.
System firmware file naming convention:
01ALXXX_YYY_ZZZ
- XXX is the release level
- YYY is the service pack level
- ZZZ is the last disruptive service pack level
NOTE: Values of service pack and last disruptive service pack
level
(YYY and ZZZ) are only unique within a release level (XXX). For
example,
01AL720_067_045 and 01AL770_032_032 are different service
packs.
An installation is disruptive if:
- The release levels (XXX) are different.
Example: Currently installed release is AL710, new release is AL720
- The service pack level (YYY) and the last disruptive
service
pack level (ZZZ) are the same.
Example: AL720_120_120 is disruptive, no matter what level of AL720 is
currently
installed on the system
- The service pack level (YYY) currently installed on the
system
is
lower than the last disruptive service pack level (ZZZ) of the service
pack to be installed.
Example: Currently installed service pack is AL720_120_120 and new
service
pack is AL720_152_130
An installation is concurrent if:
The release level (XXX) is the same, and
The service pack level (YYY) currently installed on the system
is the same or higher than the last disruptive service pack level (ZZZ)
of the service pack to be installed.
Example: Currently installed service pack is AL720_126_120,
new
service pack is AL720_143_120.
Firmware Information and Update Description
| Filename |
Size |
Checksum |
01AL770_032_032.rpm
|
41506496 |
50975 |
Note: The Checksum can be found by running the AIX sum
command against
the rpm file (only the first 5 digits are listed).
ie: sum 01AL770_032_032.rpm
4.0
How to Determine Currently Installed Firmware Level
For HMC managed systems:
From the HMC, select Updates in the navigation (left-hand) pane, then
view the current levels of the desired server(s).
For
standalone system running IBM i
without an HMC:
From a command line, issue DSPFMWSTS.
For standalone system running IBM AIX
without an HMC:
From a command line, issue lsmcode.
Alternately, use the Advanced System
Management Interface (ASMI) Welcome pane. The current server
firmware appears in the top right
corner.
Example: AL710_yyy.
5.0
Downloading the Firmware Package
Follow the instructions on Fix Central. You must read and agree to
the
license agreement to obtain the firmware packages.
Note: If your HMC is not internet-connected you will need
to
download
the new firmware level to a CD-ROM or ftp server.
6.0 Installing the
Firmware
The method used to install new firmware will depend on the release
level
of firmware which is currently installed on your server. The release
level
can be determined by the prefix of the new firmware's filename.
Example: ALXXX_YYY_ZZZ
Where XXX = release level
- If the release level will stay the same (Example: Level
AL710_075_075
is
currently installed and you are attempting to install level
AL710_081_075)
this is considered an update.
- If the release level will change (Example: Level AL710_081_075 is
currently
installed and you are attempting to install level AL720_096_096) this
is
considered an upgrade.
HMC Managed Systems:
Instructions for installing firmware updates and upgrades on
systems
managed by an HMC can be found at:
http://publib.boulder.ibm.com/infocenter/powersys/v3r1m5/index.jsp?topic=/p7ha1/updupdates.htm
Systems not Managed by an HMC:
p Systems:
Instructions for installing firmware on systems that are not
managed
by an HMC can be found at:
http://publib.boulder.ibm.com/infocenter/powersys/v3r1m5/index.jsp?topic=/p7ha5/fix_serv_firm_kick.htm
IBM i Systems:
See "IBM Server Firmware and HMC Code Wizard":
http://www-912.ibm.com/s_dir/slkbase.NSF/DocNumber/408316083
NOTE: For all systems running
with
the IBM i Operating System, the following IBM i PTFs must be applied to
all IBM i partitions prior to installing AL770_032:
- V7R1M0 - MF51869
- V6R1M1 - MF51864
NOTE: For all systems running
with the IBM i Operating System and without an HMC attached, the
following IBM i PTFs must be applied to all IBM i partitions in
addition to the PTFs listed above, prior to installing AL770_032:
- V7R1M0 - MF51814 and SI41153:
- V6R1M1 - MF51225
These PTFs can be ordered through Fix Central.
7.0 Firmware History
The complete Firmware Fix History for this Release Level can be
reviewed at the following url:
http://download.boulder.ibm.com/ibmdl/pub/software/server/firmware/AL-IOCp-Firmware-Hist.html