Enhanced Processor Drawer Availability

The IBM z16 is designed to allow a single processor drawer, in a multi-processor drawer server, to be concurrently removed from the server and reinstalled during an upgrade or repair action, while continuing to provide connectivity to the server I/O resources using a second path from a different processor drawer. To help minimize the impact on current workloads and applications, you should ensure that you have sufficient inactive physical resources on the remaining processor drawers to complete a processor drawer removal.

Enhanced processor drawer availability might also provide benefits should you choose not to configure for maximum availability. In these cases, you should have sufficient inactive resources on the remaining processor drawers to contain critical workloads while completing a processor drawer replacement. Contact your system support to help you determine the appropriate configuration. With proper planning, you might be able to avoid planned outages when using enhanced processor drawer availability.

Enhanced driver maintenance is another step in reducing the duration of a planned outage. One of the greatest contributors to downtime during planned outages is Licensed Internal Code (LIC) updates performed in support of new features and functions. When properly configured, the IBM z16 is designed to support activating select new LIC level concurrently. Concurrent activation of the select new LIC level is only supported at specific sync points (points in the maintenance process when LIC might be applied concurrently - MCL service level). Sync points might exist throughout the life of the current LIC level. Once a sync point has passed, you will be required to wait until the next sync point supporting concurrent activation of a new LIC level. Certain LIC updates are not supported by this function.