Prerequisites for hot-plugging PCI adapters in Linux

The Linux system administrator needs to take the PCI adapter offline prior to removing, replacing, or installing a PCI adapter with the system power on (hot-plugging). Before taking an adapter offline, the devices attached to the adapter must be taken offline as well. This action prevents a service representative or user from causing an unexpected outage for system users.

Before hot-plugging adapters for storage devices, ensure that the file systems on those devices are unmounted. After hot-plugging adapters for storage devices, ensure that the file systems on those devices are remounted.

Before hot-plugging an adapter, ensure that the server or partition is at the correct level of the Linux operating system (Linux 2.6 or later).

Install the POWER® Linux Service Aids. These service aids enable system serviceability, as well to improve system management.

If you are using a Linux on POWER distribution with Linux kernel version 2.6 or later, you can install the Service Aids that gives you access to more capabilities, which can help you diagnose problems on your system.

This software is available at the Service and productivity tools for Linux on POWER Web site.