System plan conversion

You can convert a system-plan file that you have created by using the Hardware Management Console (HMC) into the format that the System Planning Tool (SPT) uses.

Converting a system plan so that you can work with it in the SPT has several benefits:

You can reconfigure your existing system and validate the changes in SPT before deploying them on your server. For example, you can try adding or moving some parts, or changing the layout of the partitions.
You can plan an upgrade to a new system. For example, you can move from an IBM® Power® 570 Model MMA (9117-MMA) POWER6® processor-based server to an IBM Power 770 Model MMB (9117-MMB) POWER7® processor-based server.
You can move workloads from one system to another. You can even move a partition configuration from one system to another and ensure that the configuration works with the existing hardware.
You can validate that the configuration on the system is what you want it to be.

To convert a system plan that you created by using the HMC into the SPT format successfully, ensure that you optimize the data that you collect when you create the plan. You must also gather some information to prepare for the conversion and to understand the limitations of the conversion process.

After you complete the conversion process, you can edit the system plan for redeployment of newly added partitions.

For example, assume that you converted an HMC system plan that contains two client logical partitions. You can use the SPT to add another logical partition and specify virtual Ethernet adapters and virtual Small Computer System Interface (SCSI) adapters for the new partition. You can then use the HMC to redeploy the changed system plan to configure the new logical partition.

Note: Although you can add partitions, you cannot use SPT to change existing items and redeploy the system plan to the original managed system.

After you create or convert a system plan on the SPT, you can use the HMC to deploy the system plan. However, the SPT must validate this system plan successfully before you can deploy it. The HMC only supports deployment of system plans on which you have created logical partitions and logical partition profiles. It does not support deployment of system plans on which you have modified attributes of existing logical partitions and logical partition profiles. For example, if you use the SPT to add a logical partition and assign unassigned resources to the logical partition, you can deploy the system plan by using the HMC. However, if you use the SPT to move resources from an existing logical partition to a new logical partition, you cannot deploy the system plan by using the HMC. See System plan validation for the HMC to learn more about the validation considerations that can affect deployment of the system plan.

Last updated: Wed, June 21, 2017