Rolling updates in a cluster

The Virtual I/O Server (VIOS) Version 2.2.2.0 supports rolling updates for clusters.

You can use the rolling updates enhancement to apply software updates to the VIOS logical partitions in the cluster individually without causing an outage in the entire cluster. The updated logical partitions cannot use the new capabilities until all logical partitions in the cluster are updated and the cluster is upgraded.

To update the VIOS logical partitions to use the new capabilities, ensure that the following conditions are met:
  • All VIOS logical partitions must have the new level of software installed. You can verify that the logical partitions have the new level of software installed by typing the cluster -status -verbose command from the VIOS command line. In the Node Upgrade Status field, if the status of the VIOS logical partition is displayed as UP_LEVEL, the software level in the logical partition is higher than the software level in the cluster. If the status is displayed as ON_LEVEL, the software level in the logical partition and the cluster is the same.
  • All VIOS logical partitions must be running. If any VIOS logical partition in the cluster is not running, the cluster cannot be upgraded to use the new capabilities.
The VIOS logical partition that is acting as the database primary node (DBN) periodically checks whether an upgrade is required. This check is done in 10-minute intervals. Only the DBN is allowed to initiate and coordinate an upgrade.
Restrictions: When an upgrade is being performed, the following cluster configuration operations are restricted:
  • Adding a VIOS logical partition to the cluster
  • Adding a physical volume to the shared storage pool
  • Replacing a physical volume in the shared storage pool
  • Removing physical volumes from the shared storage pool
Parent topic: Getting started with shared storage pools by using the VIOS command line


Last updated: Thu, October 15, 2020