Upgrading the machine code on an HMC

Learn how to upgrade the machine code on an HMC while you maintain your HMC configuration data.

About this task

To upgrade machine code on an HMC, complete the following steps:
Step 1. Obtain the upgrade
You can order the HMC machine code upgrade through the Fix Central website, by contacting service and support, or by downloading it to an FTP server.
Note: If you do not have access to the internet, contact service and support to order the upgrade on DVD.
  1. From a computer or server with an internet connection, go to the Fix Central.
  2. Select the appropriate family in the Product family list.
  3. Select Hardware Management Console in the Product or fix type list.
  4. Click Continue. The Hardware Management Console website is displayed.
  5. Navigate to the HMC version that you want.
  6. Locate the Recovery CD download and ordering section.
  7. Follow the on-screen prompts to submit your order.
  8. After you receive the upgrade, continue with Step 2. Back up critical HMC data.
Step 2. Back up critical HMC data
Back up critical HMC data before you install a new version of HMC software so that previous levels can be restored in the event of a problem while you upgrade the software. Do not use this critical HMC data after a successful upgrade to a new version of the HMC software.
  1. Complete the steps in Backing up critical HMC data.
  2. Continue with Step 3. Record the current HMC configuration information.
Step 3. Record the current HMC configuration information
Before you upgrade to a new version of HMC software, as a precautionary measure, record HMC configuration information.
To record HMC configuration information, complete the following steps:
  1. In the navigation area, click the Resources icon Resources, and then click All Systems.
  2. To view the actions for the server, select the server name of the server in the content pane.
  3. In the navigation area, click System Actions > Operations > Schedule Operations. All scheduled operations for the HMC are displayed.
  4. Click Sort > By Object.
  5. Select each object and record the following details:
    • Object Name
    • Schedule date
    • Operation Time (displayed in 24-hour format)
    • Repetitive. If Yes, complete the following steps:
      1. Click View > Schedule Details.
      2. Record the interval information.
      3. Close the scheduled operations window.
      4. Repeat for each scheduled operation.
Step 4. Record remote command status
To record remote command status, complete the following steps:
  1. In the navigation area, click the Users and Security icon Users and Security, and then click Systems and Console Security.
  2. In the Remote Control area of the content pane, click Enable/Disable Remote Command Execution.
  3. Record whether the Enable remote command execution using the ssh facility check box is selected.
  4. Click Cancel.
  5. Continue with Step 5. Save upgrade data.
Step 5. Save upgrade data
You can save the current HMC configuration on either a locally mounted USB flash memory drive or a designated disk partition on the HMC. Save upgrade data immediately before you upgrade your HMC software to a new release. Use this action to restore HMC configuration settings after you upgrade the HMC.
Note: Only one level of backup data is allowed on the selected media. Each time that you save upgrade data, the previous level of data is overwritten.
To save the current HMC configuration, complete the following steps:
  1. In the navigation area, click the HMC Management icon HMC Management, and then click Console Management.
  2. In the Maintenance and Data area of the content pane, click Save Upgrade Data. The Save Upgrade Data Wizard window is displayed.
  3. From the Media list, click Hard drive and then click Next.
  4. Click Finish.
  5. Wait for the task to complete. If the Save Upgrade Data task fails, contact your next level of support before proceeding.
    Note: If the Save Upgrade Data task fails, do not continue the upgrade process.
  6. Click OK.
  7. Continue with Step 6. Upgrade the HMC software.
Step 6. Upgrade the HMC software
To upgrade the HMC software, complete the following steps:
  1. Insert the HMC Product Installation DVD-RAM into the DVD-RAM drive.
  2. Select Upgrade and click Next.
  3. When the message is displayed, choose from the following options:
    • If you saved upgrade data during the previous task, continue with the next step.
    • If you did not save upgrade data previously in this procedure, you must save the upgrade data now before you continue.
  4. Select Upgrade from media and click Next.
  5. Confirm the settings and click Finish.
  6. Follow the on-screen prompts.
    Notes:
    • If the screen goes blank, press the space bar to view the information.
    • The first DVD can take approximately 20 minutes to install.
  7. When prompted, remove the first media and then insert the second media into the DVD-RAM drive.
  8. Select 1. Install additional software from media and press Enter. Press any key to confirm the installation. The HMC displays status messages while it installs the packages.
  9. When the second media installation is complete, remove the media from the drive and close the drawer.
  10. Select Option 2 Finish the installation and press Enter. The HMC completes the booting process.
  11. Accept the License Agreement for Machine Code twice.
  12. At the login prompt, log in using your user ID and password. The HMC code installation is complete.
  13. Continue with Step 7. Verify that the HMC machine code upgrade installed successfully.
Step 7. Verify that the HMC machine code upgrade installed successfully
  1. Verify that the version and release match the update that you installed.
  2. If the level of code that is displayed is not the level that you installed, complete the following steps:
    1. Try again to update the HMC machine code by using a different DVD.
    2. If the problem persists, contact your next level of support.