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© Copyright IBM Corporation 2015Technical University/Symposia materials may not be reproduced in whole or in part without the prior written permission of IBM.

Power Systems Firmware Management - What You Need to Know

Tracy SmithExecutive IT Specialist (ATS)IBM Power Systems - Rochester, MN

Tues. June 2, 2015

© Copyright IBM Corporation 2015

Overview - Server Firmware: Management and Strategies

Server Firmware• What is contained within it?• Where does it reside?• How is it named and the associated terminology?• How is it managed?

• HMC • Operating System

• Where to view levels, through the HMC or Operating System command line?

• How is it distributed?• How to update or upgrade?• Release schedule expectations?• Resources for your Server Firmware Fix Strategy

1


Server Firmware Overview

All IBM POWER8, POWER7, POWER6 and POWER5 systems utilize Server Firmware (PowerVM).

• There are two sides - Temporary (T) and Permanent (P).

Server Firmware resides on the Flexible Service Processor (FSP), and it is system critical code and responsible for performing:• Service processor functions• Partitioning creation, usage, and how they are arranged on the Server

(Enterprise systems and nodal knowledge)• Dynamic Logical Partitioning (DLPAR) and resource allocation• Virtualization functions – processor core and memory usage, SR-IOV, etc• Capacity Upgrade on Demand (CUoD)• PowerVP – view of processor and memory allocations• Dynamic Platform Optimizer (DPO)

POWER8 provides additional choices on Linux scale out models: • PowerVM• PowerKVM/Open Platform Abstraction Layer (OPAL)• Bare Metal

2


The Three Pieces of POWER Systems Maintenance

HMC• Repair• Manage• Install• Exchange• Updates and Upgrades

Partition Maintenance• IBM i, AIX, Linux, VIOS, PowerVC

Server Firmware

VIOS VIOSServer Firmware

• Power Hypervisor (PHYP)• Flexible Service Processor (FSP)• Partition Firmware (PFW)• Bulk Power Code (BPC) on High

End Systems

3


POWER Server Firmware Components

Service Processor - SPClosed OS Linux based Provides diagnostics, initialization, configuration, run-time error detection & correction

Power Hypervisor - PHYPBased on iSeries (SLIC) hypervisor, enhanced for converged i/p designProvides VLAN, virtual I/O, sub-processor partitioning

Partition Firmware - PFWSupports pSeries RPA interface

Rewritten to work with PHYPHardware Management Console - HMC / Serviceability

Provides converged platform configuration, management, and service user interface

System Power Control Network - SPCNInterfaces with bulk power for power monitoring and Control no longer used on POWER7 and POWER8

Bulk Power Controller (BPC) FirmwareControls each bulk power assembly (BPA) in CEC and towers. Currently unique to the Power 595, 590 and P575, 795 systems

PHYP

PFW

Linux IBM i

LIC

Service Processor Firmware

SPCN

Server Power Hardware

Processor Subsystem

I/O

Bulk Power

HMCSFP

Firmware Components

BPC Firmware

AIX

PFWPFW

VIOS

4


Server Firmware - Naming Conventions

• Identified by: 01SVXXX_YYY_ZZZXXX = Release (Engineering Change, EC, Version)YYY = Service pack levelZZZ = Last disruptive service pack level

• POWER8 example: • SV for ship Volume (SV810)• SC for ship Consolidate (SC820)

• POWER7 example: • AL for low-end (AL740_088_042)• AM for mid-end (AM740_088_042)• AH for high-end (AH730_078_035) / (AB730_077_032 - BPC)

• POWER6 example:• EL for low-end (EL350_126_038) • EM for mid-end (EM350_126_038) • EH for high-end (EH350_126_038) / (EB350_124_034 - BPC)

5


Terminology

• Disruptive Upgrade• A release upgrade whose installation requires that the server be in a powered off state.

• Release upgrades are always disruptive.

• Concurrent Update• A service pack update whose installation can be performed with the server running.

• In most cases, all fixes included are activated concurrently.• In rare cases, deferred fixes may be included which require a server IPL to activate.

• Deferred Fix• The installation of a deferred fix is concurrent (nondisruptive) to customer operations. However,

the fix will not become active until an IPL (system level) is performed.• Note: All other non-deferred fixes will apply when installed.

• Service Pack• A Service Pack contains a group of fixes within a specific release level. Service packs primarily

contain only fixes however, minor function changes may be released within a service pack. These fixes will be for highly pervasive, critical, or security related issues.

6

Glossary of firmware terms


Why change firmware or upgrade to new level?

New systems ship with the latest level of supported System firmware • HMC is a firmware component and must be at a compatible level• New features and functions require new levels (routine maintenance)• Example: Scale out servers need FW830 to add PCIe Gen3 I/O drawer

Software and service support• POWER8 latest supported level is 810 Scale out, 820 Enterprise (830 June 2015)• POWER7 latest supported level is based on machine type model (see table later slide)• POWER6 latest supported level is eFW350 (EL350, EM350, EH350)

Mix POWER8, POWER7, & POWER6 management under a single HMC• HMC compatibility (HMC V8R8.1.0, V8R8.2.0, V8R8.3.0 required for POWER8)• Minimum level POWER7 and/or POWER6 firmware required if also running HMC at

Version 8http://www-933.ibm.com/support/fixcentral/firmware/supportedCombinations

HMC and Power Systems firmware – IBM Fix Central

7


Firmware Release Levels for Enterprise Server

Power Server

Machine TypeModel

GA1Apr 2010

GA2Sept 2010

GA3Apr 2011

GA4 Oct 2011

GA5 May 2012GA6

Oct 2012GA7

Oct 2013GA8

Nov 2013

Firmware Level 710 720 730 740 760 770 780

795 9119-FHB n/a GA S n/a S 760.10 n/a S

775 9125-F2C n/a n/a GA 7.3.1 n/a n/a n/a n/a

780770

9179-MHB9117-MMB

GA 7.1.1 S S n/a n/a n/a S 780.0011/22/13

780770

9179-MHC9117-MMC

Added p7 IOC

n/a n/a n/a GA n/a S 770.2006/07/13

n/a

780770

9179-MHD9117-MMD

IOC added p7+

n/a n/a n/a n/a GA n/a S 780.10 4/25/14

760 9109-RMD n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a GA 770.1003/15/13

n/a

HM

C &

Firmw

are combinations

Pow

er System

code matrix

Power Server

Machine TypeModel

GA1Apr 2014

GA2Nov 2014

GA3*Jun 2015

Firmware Level 810 820 830

E880 9119-MHE n/a GA S

E870 9119-MME n/a GA S

E850 8408-E8E n/a n/a GA

POWER7

POWER8

* IBM Statement of Direction for 2015. Ann planned 2Q2015 GA 2Q2015

GA - General Availability - first release of that server modelS – Supported on this system

8


HM

C &

Firmw

are combinations

Pow

er System

code matrix

POWER8 Release Levels forScale out Server

Power Server

Machine TypeModel

GA1Apr 2014

GA2Nov 2014

GA3*Jun 2015

Firmware Level 810 820 830

S824 8286-42A GA n/a S

S814 8286-41A GA n/a S

S822 8284-22A GA n/a S

S824L 8247-42L GA n/a S

S822L 8247-22L GA n/a S

S812L 8247-21L GA n/a S

* IBM Statement of Direction for 2015. Ann planned 2Q2015 GA 2Q2015

GA – General Availability first release of that server modelS – Supported on this system

9


What’s in the latest Version ?

The 830 GA3 code stream is the latest version and due to release on Friday• Added support for model 8408-E8E, a new IBM Power System E850• Added support for PCIe Gen3 expansion drawers to new/existing on specified systems:

• PCIe Gen3 I/O Expansion Drawer on 8284-22A, 8286-41A, 8286-42A, 8408-E8E (#EMX0)• PCIe Gen3 I/O Expansion Drawer on 8247-21L & 8247-22L (#ELMX)

• Added support for new Processor Features on specified systems:• 8-core 4.15 GHz POWER8 Processor Card on 8284-22L (#ELPF)• 8-core 4.15 GHz POWER8 Processor Card on 8284-22A (#EPXL)

• Added support for new memory points on existing processor features to 8286-41A, 8286-42A, 8247-42L• Added support for new memory points on existing processor features to 9119-MME, 9119-MHE• Increased System nodes on new/existing processor features to 9119-MHE• Added support for #EJ12, a new PCIe3 FPGA Accelerator Adapter, on systems 8286-41A, 8286-42A,

8247-42L• Added support for #EJ13, a new PCIe3 FPGA Accelerator Adapter, on systems 8247-21L, 8247-22L, 8284-

22A

10


POWER7 Release Levels forScale out Server

Power Server MTMs GA1Apr 2010

GA2Sept 2010

GA3Apr 2011

GA4 Oct 2011

GA5 May 2012GA6

Oct 2012GA7

Oct 2013GA8

Nov 2013

710 720 730 740 760 770 780

710/730 8231-E2B n/a GA S n/a n/a n/a n/a

7R2Linux

8246-L2B(iListed RPQ - Never Announced)

n/a n/a GA n/a n/a n/a n/a

710/730 8231-E1C; 8231-E2C n/a n/a n/a GA n/a n/a n/a

7R1/7R2Linux

8246-L1C; 8246-L1S8246-L2C; 8246-L2S

n/a n/a n/a GA740.40

n/a n/a n/a

710/730 8231-E1D; 8231-E2D n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a GA 770.0002/20/13

n/a

7R1/7R2Linux

8246-L1D; 8246-L1T8246-L2D; 8246-L2T

n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a GA 770.0002/20/13

n/a

720/740 Analytics

8202-E4B; 8205-E6B8492-DW2; 8493-SV2

n/a GA S n/a n/a n/a n/a

720/740 Analytics

8202-E4C; 8205-E6C8492-DW3; 8493-SV3

n/a n/a n/a GA n/a n/a n/a

720/740 8202-E4D; 8205-E6D n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a GA 770.0002/20/13

n/a

750/755HPC 8233-E8B; 8236-E8C GA 7.1.0 n/a S n/a n/a n/a n/a

750 8408-E8D n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a GA 770.1003/15/13

n/a

7R4Linux

8248-L4T n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a GA 770.2108/07/13

n/a

HM

C &

Firmw

are combinations

Pow

er System

code matrix

11


How to determine your MTMMachine Type and Model

12

http://www-304.ibm.com/webapp/set2/sas/f/flrt/determinelevels.html#1


Why change firmware or upgrade to new level?

Upgrades – moving from POWER6 to POWER7 or POWER8• LPAR migration may require a minimum firmware level for switching

New hardware or feature may require firmware to enable • POWER7 - Example SR-IOV (Single Root I/O Virtualization)

• Requires firmware AM780_056 or higher level on the Power 770-MMD or 780-MHD (also known as 780.10)

• POWER8 - Requires firmware level 830• SR-IOV• PCIe Gen3 I/O drawer on scale out systems• E880 – to add third or fourth system node• E880 for more than two I/O drawers on a system node

How will you know if new changes are required?• Work with your Business Partner / IBM account team / Service• Identify feature codes / MTM (Machine Type Model) for new hardware• Review PreReq / CoReq database to identify minimum Firmware, OS, VIOS,

PowerVC, and HMC requirements:

https://www-912.ibm.com/e_dir/eServerPrereq.nsf13


Power PreReq tool

14


Power PreReq tool

15


Server Firmware – HMC managed

16


Server Firmware – HMC managed

HMC Managed• POWER6 most systems (with an HMC attached).• POWER7 all systems (with an HMC attached).• POWER8 all systems (with an HMC attached).• Benefit of Concurrent Firmware Maintenance (CFM)

• no System/frame IPL required to activate.

To view current levels, install instructions, and get more information:Select ‘Server Firmware: ‘HMC Managed Systems’ from:

http://www-912.ibm.com/s_dir/slkbase.nsf/recommendedfixes

17


HMC Managed - rpm & xml files

The .rpm file contains the server firmware code: AM780_071_040.rpm

The .xml contains an index of the fixpack details: AM780_071_040.xml

The .xml file viewed from a PC shows the contents of that Server Firmware level. Alternatively, the Server Firmware Readme can be reviewed via the web.

18

http://www-912.ibm.com/s_dir/slkbase.nsf/ibmscdirect/b871e720ba7f47fe86257dd3005e767a?OpenDocument&ExpandSection=2&TableRow=3.3#3.


Recommended Fixes

19https://www-947.ibm.com/support/entry/portal/support


Recommended Fixes



HMC Managed - Install options

Where to load Server Firmware:• IBM Service Website:

• Specifies the IBM service Internet site as the repository location.

• Removable Media: • Specifies removable media on the HMC as the repository location.

Examples of removable media include a USB flash memory device.

• FTP site: • Specifies a remote file transfer protocol (FTP) server site as the

repository location and allows you to type the remote FTP server site, user ID, and password.

• Client provided FTP site

• Hard Disk on the HMC• Specifies the internal hard disk drive on the HMC as the repository

location.

23


HMC Managed - View levels

24


HMC Managed - View levels

25

For VIOS, AIX and

Linux users. View IO levels


Update Access Key Expiration

26

Management of POWER8 Update Access Keys

Update access keys include an expiration date, and system firmware updates will not be processed if the calendar date has passed the update access key’s expiration date.

POWER8 Update Access Keys Q&A

POWER8 servers have a new hardware service entitlement component called update access keys. Similar to server software entitlement, which is used to verify access to newer versions of system software, IBM has introduced the concept of hardware entitlement for system firmware updates

Verifying access keys before you get the server firmware fixes


Server Firmware Levels

27http://www-304.ibm.com/webapp/set2/flrt/liteTable?prodKey=fw


Server Firmware Levels

28

http://www-912.ibm.com/s_dir/slkbase.NSF/DocNumber/390479644?OpenDocument&TableRow=1.3#_Section1


Firmware Levels by Server

http://www-912.ibm.com/s_dir/slkbase.nsf/ibmscdirect/B871E720BA7F47FE86257DD3005E767A29



30http://www-912.ibm.com/s_dir/slkbase.nsf/ibmscdirect/B871E720BA7F47FE86257DD3005E767A



31http://www-912.ibm.com/s_dir/slkbase.nsf/ibmscdirect/B871E720BA7F47FE86257DD3005E767A


Server Firmware and HMC Code Wizard

32


HMC Managed – Update or Upgrade

• Update within Current Release (AM730_066_035 to AM730_087_035)• Concurrent Firmware Maintenance (CFM)

• Code is applied and activated with partitions active.• If there are deferred updates in the fixpack (see .xml or readme), a system IPL is required to activate

those fixes, while the level will show as deferred in the mean time.

OR

Upgrade to a New Version (AM730_066_035 to AM780_035_028)– Disruptive process.– Requires a system (Entire frame) IPL to activate the level.– Both temp and permanent sides get updated to new Version

33


HMC Managed – Update the Current Release

Select Change Licensed Internal Code for the current release

34


HMC Managed – Update the Current Release

Select Change Licensed Internal Code for the current release

35


HMC Managed – Upgrade to a New Release

Select Upgrade Licensed Internal Code to a new release

36


HMC Managed - Advanced Features

Advanced Features• Retrieve

• Allows you to copy updates from the selected repository location to either the hard drive on the HMC or to the DVD drive on the HMC. If the updates are copied to the hard drive, they are available to be installed.

• Install and activate (implied Retrieve) • Installs and activates available LIC updates from the selected repository location.

• Remove and Activate • Returns the system back to the update level on the permanent side. You can use this option to back off an update level.

Note: This procedure is estimated to take 60 minutes to complete. When a remove and activate procedure is disruptive, it may take up to 2 1/2 hours because of the time necessary to power off and power on the system. This is only applicable while running on the T side.

• Accept - Copy Temporary to Permanent • Copies the currently running level to the permanent side. This applies a fix permanently, which cannot be backed off the

system.

• Reject Fix - Copy Permanent to Temporary • Copies the currently running level to the temporary side. This can be used to reject a fix that has been applied. This is only

applicable while running on the P side.

• Disruptive activate • A system restart is performed. This completes the Concurrent install only, with deferred disruptive activate procedure. To

ensure your system is ready for the disruption, first quiesce, or close, all applications that are running on the system.

37


Server Firmware update and upgrade strategies

• When to update or upgrade Server Firmware varies and is dependent upon the environment. Some considerations:• Platform/Type/Model• If an HMC is attached• Features/Fixes included• Exposures/Risk• Downtime for upgrades or to apply any deferred fixes as relevant

• Business practices on staying current?• How often do you upgrade your Operating Systems Code?• AIX, IBM i, Linux, VIOS releases? • How current is your system/LPARS with cumulative PTF, fixes, Service packages?

• Use FLRT (Fix Level Recommendation Tool)• Which releases and code combinations are needed• Example: if I update firmware do I need to update HMC, OS or VIOS levels?

http://www14.software.ibm.com/webapp/set2/flrt/home38


Release schedule expectations

Server Firmware Service Packs:

• Planned to be released within the first three months of availability.

• All other Service Packs within release are planned for twice per year.

• Each release is supported for two years through planned service packs.

This information is subject to change.

39


Operating System Managed Firmware

40

http://www-912.ibm.com/s_dir/slkbase.nsf/ibmscdirect/EC24BF6B7A13BB9686257DD3007D1EB8


DSPFMWSTS

41


Summary

• All POWER5, POWER6, POWER7 and POWER8 HMC and non-HMC systems utilize Server Firmware, which consists primarily of FSP, PHYP, and PFW code.

• High-end systems (Power 795) utilize Bulk Power Code (BPC) as well.

• Server firmware consists of two sides:• Temporary (T) • Permanent (P)

42


Summary

• Server firmware may be managed through the HMC or OS:

• HMC managed

• For all POWER8 and POWER7 systems with HMC’s attached.• Benefit of Concurrent Firmware Maintenance (CFM) within most

releases due to no IPL required.• Release changes require a system IPL via disruptive upgrade.

• OS managed

• MHxxxxx PTFs.• Disruptive and activated during IPL upon applying MHxxxxx PTFs.

43


Resources

• Fix Central:• http://www.ibm.com/support/fixcentral/

• Recommended Fixes:• http://www-912.ibm.com/s_dir/slkbase.nsf/recommendedfixes

• IBM DeveloperWorks – step by step guide to firmware updates:• http://www.ibm.com/developerworks/aix/tutorials/au-power-systems-firmware-upgrade/• IBM Server Firmware and HMC Code Wizards –• http://www-912.ibm.com/s_dir/slkbase.NSF/DocNumber/408316083• Server Firmware: Update Policy Set to HMC –• http://www-912.ibm.com/s_dir/slkbase.nsf/ibmscdirect/B871E720BA7F47FE86257DD3005E767A• Server Firmware: Update Policy Set to Operating System - POWER7 -• http://www-912.ibm.com/s_dir/slkbase.nsf/ibmscdirect/EC24BF6B7A13BB9686257DD3007D1EB8

• IBM Systems Hardware Information Center:• http://publib.boulder.ibm.com/eserver/

• Fix Level Recommendation Tool:• http://www14.software.ibm.com/webapp/set2/flrt/home

• IBM Redbooks: http://www.redbooks.ibm.com/

44


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power systems firmware management - gomitec.com smith/mitec managing firmwa… · • ibm i, aix,...

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