Powering the system on and off

View and customize various initial program load (IPL) parameters.

You can start and shut down the system in addition to setting IPL options.

To perform these operations, you must have one of the following authority levels:

Administrator
Authorized service provider

Several IPL options that you can set pertain to the server firmware. Firmware is an integral part of the server that is stored in flash memory, whose contents are preserved when the system is powered off. The firmware is code that automatically starts when the server is turned on. Its main purpose is to bring the server to a state where it is ready to operate, which means the server is ready to install or boot an operating system. Firmware also enables the handling of exception conditions in the hardware and provides extensions to the functions of the server hardware platform. You can view the server's current firmware level on the Advanced System Management Interface (ASMI) Welcome pane.

This server has a permanent firmware boot side, or P side, and a temporary firmware boot side, or T side. When updating the firmware, install new levels of firmware on the temporary side first to test the compatibility with your applications. When the new level of firmware has been approved, copy it to the permanent side.

To view and change IPL settings, perform the following steps:

On the ASMI Welcome pane, specify your user ID and password, and click Log In.
In the navigation area, expand Power/Restart Control and select Power On/Off System.
Set the following desired boot settings.
Note: In KVM mode, the following Power On/Off System options are not available:
- AIX/Linux partition mode boot: Selects the boot type for an AIX/Linux partition. This option is enabled only when the system is not managed by a Hardware Management Console (HMC). Select from the following boot type options:
  - Continue to operating system: The partition boots to the operating system without stopping.
  - Boot to SMS menu: The partition stops at the System Management Services (SMS) menu.
  - Service mode boot from saved list: The system boots from the saved service mode boot list.
    Note: This option can be used to execute the diagnostics on a partition. The partition operating system must support diagnostic boot and the diagnostics must be loaded on the partition's disk drive.
  - Service mode boot from default list: The system boots from the default boot list.
    Note: This option can be used to run the stand-alone diagnostics from a CD-ROM drive.
  - Boot to open firmware prompt: The system stops at the open firmware prompt.
- i5/OS partition mode boot: Selects the i5/OS partition mode for next system boot. This option is available only when the system is not managed by an HMC.
- Default partition environment
Normal

The service processor firmware runs diagnostic tests based on the state of the hardware. This is the default setting.

Firmware boot side for next boot

Select the side from which the firmware boots the next time: permanent or temporary. You can test firmware updates by booting from the temporary side before you copy the firmware updates to the permanent side.

System operating mode

Select the operating mode: manual or normal. Manual mode overrides various automatic power-on functions, such as auto-power restart, and enables the power button.

Server firmware start policy

Select the starting state for the server firmware: Standby (User-Initiated), Running (Auto-Start Always), or Auto-Start (Automatic Restarts Only). When the server is in the server firmware standby state, logical partitions can be set up and activated.

System power off policy
The system power off policy is a system parameter that controls the system's behavior when the last partition (or the only partition in the case of a system that is not managed by an HMC) is powered off. Select from following the system power off policies:
- Automatic: Allows the HMC to control when the power off occurs, when necessary, and ensures the shortest lapsed time.
- Power off: When the last partition powers off, the system powers off.
- Stay on: When the last partition powers off, the system remains powered up.
  Note: If the flash boot side is changed before the last partition is powered off, the system automatically reboots to complete the side-switch action.
Default partition environment

Select Default (valid only if the RB keyword is not S0), AIX, IBM® i, or Linux.
Perform one of the following steps:
- Click Save settings to save the selected options. The power state does not change.
- Click Save settings and power on/off. All selected options are saved and the system turns on or off. The power-on option is available only if the system is powered off. The power-off option is available only if the system is powered on.

Last updated: Tue, September 18, 2018