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Managed system updates

When a managed system is selected, Updates tasks perform a guided update of managed system, power subsystem, or I/O Licensed Internal Code.

Licensed Internal Code can be changed in two ways. You can upgrade the Licensed Internal Code installed on a managed system to a new release, or update the existing Licensed Internal Code running on the system.

An update of a current Licensed Internal Code release may fix problems or add additional function. Updating the Licensed Internal Code may or may not be a disruptive process. Updates that do not disrupt the system are called concurrent updates. To update the Licensed Internal Code currently installed on the managed system, click Change Licensed Internal Code for the current release task.

A new release of the Licensed Internal Code may add support for new hardware or add new function. Upgrading the Licensed Internal Code to a new release is always a disruptive process requiring a complete shut down, power off, and restart of the system. To upgrade the Licensed Internal Code to a new release, click Upgrade Licensed Internal Code to a new release.

Concurrent updates allow the system and the applications running on the system to continue to run as the Licensed Internal Code update is applied. This appreciably lessens the system downtime associated with Licensed Internal Code maintenance. Most updates released will be concurrent. However, certain types of problems are critical to fix and can be fixed only with a disruptive update. View system information allows you to view the levels of the Licensed Internal Code available in a repository and determine which of the available updates are concurrent and which are disruptive.

If the update is disruptive, you are given the option of installing and activating (incurring the disruption) or deferring the activation to a more convenient time. Concurrent updates can only be done for managed system Licensed Internal Code.

Note: Checking is done before the Licensed Internal Code update to assure that the system is in the correct state for an update. The state of the system must not change during a code update. For example, partitions should not be shut down during the Licensed Internal Code update.

New releases of Licensed Internal Code (upgrades) and updates to these releases are available from the following repositories:

IBM® service web site
DVD - a DVD can be ordered from IBM or a DVD may be created that contains downloaded Licensed Internal Code
FTP site - a site accessible to your HMC by FTP that contains a previously downloaded level of Licensed Internal Code
HMC hard disk drive - Licensed Internal Code may be downloaded directly to the HMC's hard disk drive or the hard disk drive may contain a previously downloaded level of the Licensed Internal Code

Fixes and upgrades to the Licensed Internal Code can be ordered or downloaded from the IBM Fix Central website.

Use the Flash Side Selection task to select which flash side will be active after the next activation. (This task is intended for service user mode only.)

Use the Check system readiness task to check that all systems selected are in the correct state for the Licensed Internal Code update.

Choose the View system information task to view the level of the Licensed Internal Code currently installed on your managed system or I/O. When a repository is selected, View system information also displays retrievable levels of the Licensed Internal Code available in the repository.

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Last updated: Tue, June 17, 2014