Methods of upgrading a Virtual I/O Server

Learn about the methods of upgrading or migrating a Virtual I/O Server (VIOS).

VIOS updates at VIOS version 3.1.x.x are managed through the updateios command. The updateios command supports only the VIOS Technology Level (TL) update operations and not upgrade operation between major versions like version 3 to version 4. For more information, see the updateios command. As the updateios command supports only Technology Level (TL) updates, you can use one of the following methods to upgrade to VIOS version 4.1:
  • The manual upgrade method
  • The new viosupgrade tool method

Manual upgrade

In the manual upgrade method, you must first manually back up the VIOS metadata by using viosbr -backup command, install the VIOS through NIM or Flash Storage, and then restore the VIOS metadata by using viosbr -restore command. For more information about the manual upgrade methods when the VIOS belongs to an SSP cluster, see Upgrading the Virtual I/O Server - SSP cluster. For more information about the manual upgrade methods when the VIOS does not belong to an SSP cluster, see Upgrading the Virtual I/O Server - non-SSP cluster

The viosupgrade tool

Before VIOS version 3.1, only the manual upgrade method (backup-install-restore) was available for migration between major versions like version 2 to version 3. In this method, it took some effort for users to repeat the manual process across all the Virtual I/O Servers in their data center. Hence, the viosupgrade tool has been developed to provide a single interface to manage the entire VIOS upgrade process automatically. The following two variants of the tool are available:
Notes:
  • Installations through the viosupgrade command are of the type New and complete installation. Any customized configurations that might exist on the currently running system before the installation starts (including the time zone), are not included in the new installation image. Save and backup any customized configurations before running the viosupgrade command and restore them after the installation completes. The viosbr backup and restore commands handle only the configurations that are related to the virtual I/O. The viosupgrade command provides an option to save the necessary configuration files from the currently installed image to the new VIOS image.

    For example, to copy any customized configuration files such as /etc/netsvc.conf or /etc/ntp.conf to the new image, use the viosupgrade command. For more information, see the viosupgrade command.

  • Alternative disks that are used with the -a flag and the -r flag as part of the viosupgrade command must be empty where you must be able to list them by using the lspv -free command on the VIOS.
  • When you are using the viosupgrade command, avoid making any changes to the virtual device mappings on the VIOS. If you create or change any mappings during the viosupgrade process, the new mappings are lost.