Scheduling a Remote Code Load

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This section describes the required steps for scheduling the Remote Code Load firmware updates. Use Resource Link® to schedule and monitor the Remote Code Load.

  1. Go to Resource Link http://www.ibm.com/support/resourcelink/ and log on with your user ID and password.
  2. From the main page, select Remote Code Load requests.
    Displays the first page of resource link with Fixes circled
  3. The Remote Code Load requests page is displayed. This page contains a table of all Remote Code Load requests submitted for all IBM Z® assets that are defined to the customer number(s) registered to your ResourceLink account. Refer to the Remote Code Load requests table on Resource Link for information on how to interface with this table.
  4. To submit a Remote Code Load firmware update scheduling request, select the Schedule a Remote Code Load link at the top of the table.
    Displays the Remote Code Load requests page to then select the Remote Code Load
  5. The Remote Code Load requests page is displayed.
    Display the Remote Code Load page where the customer number needs to be provided.
  6. From the drop-down list of target consoles, select the HMC or SE you want to install the MCLs on, then select the blue arrow button beside the dropdown to proceed.
    Note: If you select a Driver 51 HMC that is an HMA, which will be on 2461-VA3 (FC 0100) or 2461-SE4 (FC 0129) hardware, then the peer HMC to the one selected will also be targeted. This will be indicated by a blue pop up underneath the target dropdown, which will state “Target HMC is paired with HMA: [Peer HMC Information]. See Dual-HMA HMC Remote Code Loads for more information.
    Note: If the dropdown is missing systems, please send a request for the system(s) to be added as an email to reslink@us.ibm.com with your sales representative or account team on copy. This email should contain the customer number, machine type, and serial number(s) pertaining to the system(s) you would like added.
  7. Once the target is selected, the remaining fields of the scheduling form can now be completed.
    Note: Upon selecting your target, some fields may pre-populate with information pertaining to that system.
    Remote Code Load work order with all the fields filled in
    Target
    Specifies the HMC or SE identifier where the Remote Code Load firmware update will be applied.
    Schedule HMC
    From the drop-down list, select the HMC that the authorization token was generated on or replicated to (for IBM Driver 51/Version 2.16.0 only).
    Notes:
    • If the target system is an HMC, the Schedule HMC field will be pre-filled with the target HMC information, and no other HMCs will be listed in the drop-down. This is because a target HMC must act as its own scheduling HMC, meaning the authorization token must be generated on / replicated to it as well.
    • When scheduling a Driver 51 dual-HMA HMC Remote Code Load, the HMC selected from the target dropdown will also act as the scheduling HMC. This HMC is where the authorization token resides on. See Dual-HMA HMC Remote Code Loads for more information.
    Current bundle
    Specifies the currently installed bundle based on weekly data reports from your target system.
    Target bundle
    From the drop-down list, select the target bundle identifier you would like your target system to have installed at the end of the Remote Code Load.
    Date
    Use the calendar icon to schedule the date you would like the firmware update to take place. Once the date is selected, it is displayed in this format: YYYY-MM-DD.
    Note: The Remote Code Load request must be scheduled between 2 days (48 hours) and 45 days before execution. The request must also adhere to the 4 hour spacing scheduling requirement described in General scheduling requirements.
    Time (24 hour)
    Provide the time (HH:MM) in the input area.
    Notes:
    • Verify that the date and time that is provided is within the time zone that the target system is operating in. The time zone that the target system is operating in might be different than your local time zone or the local time zone the target system physically resides in.
    • If you are scheduling a dual-HMA HMC Remote Code Load, then the Remote Code Load schedules with respect to the timezone of the target HMC selected in step 6 (not in the time zone of its peer that is also being targeted). See Dual-HMA HMC Remote Code Loads for more information.
    Target time zone
    Specify the time zone of the system that you are targeting to install the MCLs on.
    Notes:
    • The Target time zone field is automatically populated with the correct selection using weekly data reports from your target system. You can verify this is correct by checking the Customize Console Date/Time task on the HMC or the Customize Date/Time task on the SE.
    Authorization token
    Input the authorization token generated on or replicated to your scheduling HMC. (Use the Copy token function from the Manage Remote Firmware Updates task or type the number in the input area.)
    Backup location
    From the drop-down list, select the HMC backup location of USB or FTP.
    Note: If you are scheduling a dual-HMA HMC Remote Code Load, both peer HMCs must back up to the same type of location; you can not have one HMC back up to USB and its peer back up to FTP.
    Note: The backup selection is not available on the Remote Code Load scheduling request form when targeting an SE because the SE will backup to its hard drive disk.
    Customer contact
    Specifies the customer name, email, telephone number, and company name to be contacted with the results of the Remote Code Load. IBM® Support contacts you with the results of the Remote Code Load using the email address(es) provided.
    Note: Additionally, you can provide more than one email address, each one separated by a comma.
    Comment
    Provide service window information. Include additional considerations or notes using this field.
  8. When all fields are complete, as shown in the following screen, click Submit. Ensure that there are no errors with the submission.
    Remote Code Load work order with all the fields filled in
  9. After the request is submitted, a summary of the request is displayed.
    Displays the entire entry for the upgrade with all applicable information including the status and status history
  10. At any point from now on, you can revisit this page containing the summary of your request, which allows you to monitor the status of your request. The status of the upgrade changes from Staged to Scheduled within 48 hours.
    Note: If an error occurs while scheduling the Remote Code Load, the status changes to Failed, error text is displayed on the status page, and IBM Support will contact you via email.
  11. An email notification is sent to you when the request is scheduled, canceled, failed, or completed. The status is processed hourly and can also be monitored from Resource Link.
    You can expect to receive the following emails:
    • After the Remote Code Load request is scheduled successfully, an email from the Remote Code Load team that confirms the details of the remote code load and the assigned Remote Code Load case number.
    • Approximately 30 - 60 minutes before the scheduled Remote Code Load, an email that reminds you that the Remote Code Load begins soon.
    • Shortly after a successful start to the Remote Code Load, an email that confirms that the upgrade started.
    • At the end of the Remote Code Load, an email that indicates that the upgrade completed.
    • If a problem exists during the upgrade, an email that notifies you of the issue and the next actions to take.