Expansion units

This topic provides information on setting up your expansion units, including connecting your expansion units with Remote Input/Output (High-Speed Link) (RIO/HSL) cables to your system unit. RIO/HSL adapters enable expansion units to be attached to system units. This topic collection refers to both the remote input/output (RIO) and high-speed link (HSL) as the RIO/HSL.

If you are installing or replacing expansion units that are attached to an IBM pSeries® 6xx server, see the IBM® eServer™ pSeries and AIX® Information Center. If you have an 8xx server and are installing or replacing expansion units, see the iSeries® Information Center.

If you are installing any of the expansion unit models 5791, 5794, or 7040-61D, this procedure should be done using the Install/Add/Remove Hardware function of the Service Focal Point application on the HMC. For more information, see Install a feature using the Hardware Management Console.

Note: The ability to add expansion units concurrently was introduced with the eServer 5xx servers. This means you can add/install the expansion units with the server at firmware running state. Active partitions do not have to be shut down.

Only in the following situations must the server be shut down (powered off) to add expansion units:

The expansion units are being added to a IBM System p® that is not managed by an HMC.
GX adapters (I/O hub cards) must be added to accommodate the new expansion units.
The existing RIO/HSL fabric must be redistributed across the GX adapters to accommodate the new expansion units as determined in the planning steps for adding the expansion units.

Note: If you plan to add expansion units concurrently and your activated firmware level is earlier than System Release 235, Service Level 185 (SF235_185), please call your service provider for guidance. If you plan to add expansion units concurrently and your activated firmware level is System Release 240 but the Service Level is earlier than 261 (SF240_261), you must upgrade to SF240_261 or later before proceeding.

If you are migrating expansion units from an IBM iSeries® 8xx server which is running System Release V5R2M0 on the primary partition, the expansion unit resources will not be able to be allocated to partitions on the new server until a System Power Control Network (SPCN) firmware update is completed for the expansion units. This firmware update will be done over the serial SPCN interface and could take several hours to complete. Upgrading your primary partition to V5R3M0 or later prior to the migration will update the expansion unit SPCN firmware to a level that is fully supported on the new server. This can significantly reduce the time require to complete the migration.

If you are migrating expansion units from an IBM pSeries@ 6xx server, the expansion unit resources will not be able to be allocated to partitions on the new server until a System Power Control Network (SPCN) firmware update is completed for the expansion units. This firmware update will be done over the serial SPCN interface and could take several hours to complete.

RIO/HSL configuration changes such as moving existing expansion units to different GX adapters should not be performed at the same time as adding new expansion units. If these two tasks must be performed, first make configuration changes involving existing expansion units with server power off. After the configuration changes are complete, power the server up to firmware standby or running state and add the new expansion units using this procedure.

To install the expansion units, complete the following steps:

Go to Prepare to connect your expansion units.
Go to Connect your expansion units.

The following expansion units are available:

5074 or 5079
0588 or 5088
9194, 5094 or 5294
0595 or 5095
5096 or 5296
57907311-D20, or 7311-D10