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Migrating the machine code on an HMC from Version 6 to Version 7

Learn how to move the machine code on an HMC from Version 6 to Version 7 while maintaining your HMC configuration data.

To migrate machine code on an HMC from Version 6 to Version 7, perform steps 1-9.
Important: To migrate to Version 7 Release 0, you must be at a minimum of HMC machine code Version 6 Release 1.2.
Parent topic: Updating, upgrading, and migrating your HMC machine code

Ensure you have met the minimum requirements

To migrate the machine code on an HMC from Version 6 to Version 7, you must first ensure that you have met the following minimum requirements:
  • Your HMC is at level 6.12 or higher. For more information about checking your HMC code level and release, see Determining your HMC machine code version and release.
  • Your system firmware is at its latest level.
  • You have performed the network integrity check
  • Your HMC hardware supports this upgrade.

Step 1. Obtain the upgrade

To obtain the upgrade, do the following:

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.

  1. From a computer or server with an Internet connection, go to http://www.ibm.com/eserver/support/fixes.
  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 site is displayed.
  5. Navigate to the HMC version you want.
  6. Locate the download and ordering section.
    Note: If you do not have access to the Internet, contact service and support to order the upgrade on DVD.
  7. Follow the prompts to submit your order.
  8. After you have the upgrade, continue with Step 2. View the existing HMC machine code level.

Step 2. View the existing HMC machine code level

To determine the existing level of machine code on an HMC, follow these steps:
  1. In the navigation area, click Licensed Internal Code Maintenance folder.
  2. Select HMC Code Update.
  3. In the Status area, look for the version and release of your HMC machine code.
  4. Record the current version and release.
    Important: To upgrade from HMC machine code 6.1.3 to 7.3.4.0, you must first apply a fix. For more information, see http://www.ibm.com/eserver/support/fixes.
  5. Continue with Step 3. Back up the managed system's profile data.

Step 3. Back up the managed system's profile data

To back up the managed system's profile data, do the following:
  1. In the content area, select the managed system.
  2. From the menu, click Selected > Profile Data > Backup.
  3. Type a backup file name and record this information.
  4. Click OK.
  5. Repeat steps 1 through 4 for each managed system.

Step 4. Back up critical console information

Back up critical console information before installing a new version of HMC software so that previous levels can be restored in the event of a problem while upgrading the software. Do not use this critical console data after a successful upgrade to a new version of the HMC software.
Note: If you choose to back up the console data to removable media, you must have that media available.

To back up critical console information, do the following:

  1. Choose from the following options:
    • If you do not plan to back up to DVD-RAM, continue with the next step.
    • If you plan to back up to DVD-RAM, perform the following steps:
      1. Insert the DVD-RAM into the drive.
      2. In the navigation area, click Licensed Internal Code Maintenance.
      3. Select HMC Code Update.
      4. Select Format Removable Media.
      5. Select Format DVD-RAM.
      6. Click OK.
      7. Continue with the next step.
  2. Select Back up Critical Console Data.
  3. Select an archive option. You can back up to a DVD in the HMC, a remote system mounted to the HMC file system (for example, NFS), or send the backup to a remote site using File Transfer Protocol (FTP).
    • To back up to DVD, choose Back up to DVD on local system and follow the instructions.
    • To back up to a mounted remote system, choose Backup to mounted remote system and follow the instructions.
    • To back up to a remote FTP site, choose Send backup critical data to remote site and follow the instructions.
  4. Continue with Step 5. Record the current HMC configuration information.

Step 5. 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, follow these steps:

  1. To view scheduled operations for a managed system or its logical partitions, open Systems Management. If you want to record scheduled operations for the HMC itself, select HMC Management and skip to step 3.
  2. Select a managed system and any partitions for which you want to record HMC configuration information.
  3. In the tasks list, select Schedule Operations. All scheduled operations for the target you selected are displayed.
  4. Select 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, perform the following steps):
      1. Select View > Schedule Details.
      2. Record the interval information.
      3. Close the scheduled operations window.
      4. Repeat for each scheduled operation.
  6. Close the Customize Scheduled Operations window.
  7. Continue with Step 6. Record remote command status.

Step 6. Record remote command status

  1. In the navigation area, select HMC Management.
  2. Select HMC Configuration.
  3. In the tasks list, click Enable/Disable Remote Command Execution.
  4. Record whether the Enable remote command execution using the ssh facility check box is selected.
  5. Click Cancel.
  6. Continue with Step 7. Save upgrade data.

Step 7. Save upgrade data

You can save the current HMC configuration in a designated disk partition on the HMC. Save upgrade data only immediately prior to upgrading your HMC software to a new release. This action allows you to restore HMC configuration settings after upgrading.

The upgrade data will be restored automatically during the installation procedure.

Note: Only one level of backup data is allowed. Each time you save upgrade data, the previous level is overwritten.
  1. In the navigation area, open the Licensed Internal Code folder.
  2. Select HMC Code Update.
  3. Select Save Upgrade Data.
  4. Select DVD and click Continue.
  5. Insert the DVD media into the drive.
  6. Click Continue to start the task.
  7. 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.
  8. Click OK.
  9. Click Cancel.
  10. Continue with Step 8. Upgrade the HMC software from Version 6 to Version 7.

Step 8. Upgrade the HMC software from Version 6 to Version 7

Important: To upgrade from HMC machine code 6.1.3 to 7.3.4.0, you must first apply a ptf. For more information, see http://www.ibm.com/eserver/support/fixes.
To upgrade the HMC software, restart the system with the DVD-RAM in the DVD drive.
  1. Insert the HMC Product Installation media.
  2. Perform the following steps:
    1. From the HMC menu bar, select Console > Exit.
    2. Click Exit now.
    3. From the logout list, select Reboot Console and click OK. The HMC restarts and system information scrolls on the window.
  3. Select Upgrade and click Next.
  4. When the warning is displayed, choose from the following options:
    • If you have 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.
  5. Select Upgrade from media and click Next.
  6. Confirm the settings and click Finish.
  7. Follow the prompts.
    Note:
    • If the screen goes blank, press the space bar to view the information.
    • The first DVD can take approximately 20 minutes to install.
  8. When prompted, remove the first media and then insert the second media.
  9. Select 1. Install additional software from media and press Enter. Press any key to confirm the installation. The HMC will display status messages as it installs the packages.
  10. Click Log on and launch the Hardware Management Console web application.
  11. Log in to the HMC interface.
  12. Continue with Step 9. Verify that the HMC machine code upgrade installed successfully.

Step 9. Verify that the HMC machine code upgrade installed successfully

  1. In the navigation area, click Updates. In the Work area, the HMC version, release, maintenance level, build level, and base versions are displayed under the HMC Code Level heading.
  2. Verify that the version and release match the update that you installed.
  3. If the level of code displayed is not the level that you installed, retry the upgrade task using a new DVD. If the problem persists, contact your next level of support.

Step 10. Obtain an update package

You can order the HMC update packages through the Fix Central website, by contacting service and support, or by downloading it to an FTP server.

  1. From a computer or server with an Internet connection, go to http://www.ibm.com/eserver/support/fixes.
  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 site is displayed.
  5. Navigate to the HMC version you want.
  6. Locate the download and ordering section.
    Note: If you do not have access to the Internet, contact service and support to order the upgrade on DVD.
  7. Follow the prompts to download the update package to removable media or submit your order.

Step 11. Reschedule operations for this HMC

When you upgrade the HMC, you must manually reschedule the operations you scheduled using the previous HMC version.
  1. In the navigation area, click HMC Management.
  2. In the Work area, click Schedule Operations.

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Last updated: Wed, May 07, 2014