Virtual I/O Server release notes

VIOS best practice recommendations

To ensure the reliability, availability, and serviceability of a computing environment by using the Virtual I/O Server (VIOS), update the VIOS software to the most recent fix level for that particular release. The most recent level contains the latest fixes for the specified VIOS release. You can download the most recent updates for VIOS from the IBM® Fix Central website (http://www.ibm.com/support/fixcentral/).

VIOS package terminology

To view the most current version of the VIOS package terminology and maintenance strategy, see the VIOS Maintenance Strategy website (http://www-304.ibm.com/webapp/set2/sas/f/vios/svcstrategy.html).

Note: With VIOS Versions 3.1.1.21 and Version 3.1.1.25, for the VM recovery Manager DR to work you must apply a fix for the VIOS database. To apply the fix for the VIOS, you must follow the steps mentioned in the Local fix section of the APAR before installing the VM Recovery Manager DR for IBM Power Systems server. For more information, see the IBM Support website.

Read this information before installing VIOS

To stay up to date on VIOS news and critical product updates, subscribe to the VIOS notification service.

To subscribe to the VIOS notification service, go to My notifications on the IBM Support Portal website (www.ibm.com/systems/support/myview/subscription/css.wss/) and sign in by using your IBM ID. Enter PowerVM® Virtual I/O Server into Product lookup, and click Subscribe.

To manage your IBM customer numbers and your company's user access to IBM machines, see IBM Support and select Entitled Software Support. Sign in by using your IBM ID.

VIOS version 3.1 installation

The VIOS software is distributed on two DVDs. When you start the VIOS software setup from DVD 1, you’ll be prompted to insert DVD 2 after the DVD 1 data is processed.

VIOS can also now be installed by using a USB flash drive. For more information, see USB Flash Drive installation enhancements.

To install another language file set after the initial installation is complete, insert the second DVD into the DVD drive and use the chlang command.

Memory requirements

The minimum memory requirement for the VIOS Version 3.1 varies based on the configuration.

A general rule for the minimum memory requirement for the VIOS Version 3.1 is 4 GB. A minimum current memory requirement might support a configuration with a minimum number of devices or a small maximum memory configuration. However, to support shared storage pools, the minimum memory requirement is 4 GB.

The VIOS Version 3.1 requires the minimum current memory requirement to increase when either the maximum memory configuration or the number of devices increases, or when they both increase. Larger maximum memory configurations or more devices increase the minimum current memory requirement. If the minimum memory requirement isn’t increased along with the maximum memory configuration, the partition stops during the initial program load (IPL).

ROOTVG requirements

The VIOS Version 3.1 requires a minimum of 30 GB of disk space for installation. Ensure that the disk that is allocated for the VIOS installation contains at least 30 GB of available space before you attempt to install VIOS.

VIOS Version 3.1 enhancements

This release of VIOS contains several enhancements in the POWER® virtualization area.

USB Flash Drive installation enhancements

VIOS 3.1 supports installation by using a USB flash drive on POWER8® processor-based systems, or later. A USB flash drive containing a VIOS installation image can be created by first downloading the VIOS installation image from the IBM Entitled System Support website. A single volume installation image of VIOS 3.1 is made available on the Entitled System Support website for writing to a USB flash drive. After you have downloaded the image, the VIOS installation image can be written to a USB flash drive. Use a recently manufactured USB flash drive. You must have a minimum of 16 GB available on your USB flash drive for VIOS installation. The ISO image name is Virtual_IO_Server_Base_Install_3.1.0.10_Flash_112018.iso. On an AIX® or a Linux® based system, the image can be written to a USB flash drive using the dd command: 

$ dd if=/tmp/Virtual_IO_Server_Base_Install_3.1.0.10_Flash_112018.iso of=/dev/usbms0 bs=4k
You can also create an installable USB flash drive. Copy the image directly from VIOS DVD installation media by using the dd command: 
$ dd if=/dev/cd0 of=/dev/usbms0 bs=4k
Comparable commands exist on windows-based systems for writing the installation image to a USB flash memory stick. After you create the USB flash drive VIOS installation media, the media can be used on POWER8 and later systems in the same manner as VIOS DVD install media.
Note: On POWER8 and later systems, the SMS menus can always be used to assign the USB flash drive as the boot source. IBM Power Systems USB implementation is compliant with relevant USB standards. In the unlikely event a USB flash drive isn’t properly recognized on an IBM POWER8 or later systems, it is suggested a different brand of device be tried.

Internet Small Computer Systems Interface (iSCSI) enhancements

Internet Small Computer Systems Interface (iSCSI) provides block-level access to storage devices by carrying SCSI commands over a Internet Protocol network. iSCSI is used to facilitate data transfers over internet using TCP, a reliable transport mechanism using either IPV6 or IPV4 protocols. TCP is used to manage storage over long distances.

The iSCSI support in VIOS allows iSCSI disks to be exported to client logical partitions as virtual disks (vSCSI disks). The iSCSI support is available with the VIOS version 3.1 and later, on both POWER8 and POWER9™ systems. If you are using a POWER8 system, the firmware level must be at FW860.20 or later. There are no minimum firmware level requirements for POWER9 systems. POWER9 systems can run on various firmware levels like FW910, FW920, FW930, or later. VIOS 3.1 also enables MPIO support for the iSCSI initiator. MPIO support allows you to configure and create multiple paths to an iSCSI disk, similar to what is available and supported for other protocols. Booting from an iSCSI disk is not supported on VIOS 3.1.0. SSP is not supported on iSCSI devices. The client LPAR can run either the AIX or Linux operating systems.

To view information about iSCSI commands, see the lsiscsi, mkiscsi, chiscsi, cpiscsi, and rmiscsi commands in the online version of the Commands.

To view information about the iSCSI software initiator and software target, see the online version of the iSCSI software initiator and software target.

Shared Storage Pool Management data enhancements

Shared Storage Pool Management data has been migrated from SolidDB to PostgreSQL database.

VIOS migration using the viosupgrade command enhancements

Virtual I/O Servers moving from VIOS version 2.2.x.x to VIOS version 3.1 can be upgraded by using the viosupgrade command using the NIM master.

To learn more about migrating VIOS by using the viosupgrade command, see Upgrading the Virtual I/O Server - non-SSP cluster.

VIOS migration enhancements for Java

The filesets that have dependencies on Java™ 7 have been migrated to Java 8 in both IBM Virtual I/O Server Version 2.2.6.40 and IBM Virtual I/O Server Version 3.1.0.20.
Note: Java 7 will not be automatically removed from the existing VIOS installations during the update process of the VIOS.

Software license agreements

If the software license agreements aren’t displayed correctly, they can be viewed in all languages at the Software license agreements website (www.ibm.com/software/sla/sladb.nsf).