Updating the system firmware

Use this information to obtain and apply the system firmware updates.

The system firmware packages are available in one of the following directories depending on the architecture of the management server node in newly shipped systems:
  • PPC64BE: /opt/ibm/gss/install/rhel7/ppc64/firmware
  • PPC64LE: /opt/ibm/gss/install/rhel7/ppc64le/firmware
  • System firmware update files for PPC64BE for updating using HMC:Start of change
    01SV860_212_165.rpm
01SV860_212_165.xml
    End of change
  • System firmware update file for PPC64LE for updating using the command line:Start of change
    01SV860_212_165.img
    End of change

Depending on your platform, use one of the following sets of steps for updating system firmware.

  • Update the system firmware on PPC64LE systems as follows.
    1. Unpack the *img file in the /tmp/fwupdate directory.
      Start of change
      cd /opt/ibm/gss/install/rhel7/ppc64le/firmware
rpm -ivh 01SV860_212_165.rpm
      End of change
    2. Shut down IBM Spectrum Scale and stop any ongoing I/O on the node.
    3. Verify the firmware level.
      Start of change
      update_flash -v -f /tmp/fwupdate/01SV860_212_165.img
      End of change
    4. Update the system firmware.
      Start of change
      update_flash -f /tmp/fwupdate/01SV860_212_165.img
      End of change

      After issuing this command, the node reboots and updates the firmware. It could take up to 30 minutes for the node to reboot with the new firmware level. You can then run gssinstallcheck on the node to verify if the firmware is successfully updated.

To update system firmware on PPC64BE systems, you must use HMC and you must upgrade HMC to V9R1M920_SP0 before updating system firmware. For information about upgrading HMC, see HMC V9 Upgrade Procedure.

  • Update the system firmware on PPC64BE systems as follows.
    1. From the HMC navigation area, click Resources > All Systems > Server > Updates.
    2. From the Updates menu, click Change Licensed Internal Code > for the Current Release....
    3. Using SFTP, point to the /opt/ibm/gss/install/rhel7/ppc64/firmware directory on the EMS node.
      The following files should be present:Start of change
      01SV860_212_165.rpm 
01SV860_212_165.xml
      End of change
      Note: For updating the system firmware using HMC, if SFTP to the EMS node does not work, move the *rpm and the *xml files to a server which is accessible using FTP or SFTP.
    4. Select the update file and update the system firmware.
      It could take up to 30 minutes to update the firmware using HMC.