IBM Support

CPF9E7F - IBM Usage Limit Exceeded on Stand-Alone System

Troubleshooting


Problem

Message CPF9E7F - IBM usage limit exceeded message is being received on a stand-alone system after the license key for 57xxSS1 Feature Code 5051 was applied successfully.

Symptom

After applying license key 57xxSS1 Feature Code 5051 successfully on the stand-alone system, error message CPF9E7F was received in QSYSOPR message queue.

Resolving The Problem

On stand-alone systems, there are three options to limit the processor usage in order to comply with the processor usage limit per the 57xxSS1 Feature code 5051 license key.

Option 1: Deconfigure the processors through ASM using the Field Core Override

*Note: Do NOT set the number of processors to 1 on Power8 servers with Dual Chip Modules (DCMs), because when the second chip in the DCM is turned off by Field Core Override, it also turns off hardware "associated" with the second chip, like the USB port, one of the embedded dual SAS adapters, and a some PCI slots.  The Power8 DCM models are listed below:
  • 8247-21L
  • 8247-22L
  • 8247-42L
  • 8284-21A
  • 8284-22A
  • 8286-41A
  • 8286-42A
  • 8408-44E
  • 8408-E8E
  • 8532-44L
How to access the ASMI on a stand-alone system:
http://publib.boulder.ibm.com/infocenter/systems/scope/hw/topic/iphby/browser.htm

From ASMI, you should perform the following:

1. Verify the system is powered down and in standby mode (flashing green power light). If the system is still powered on, power down partition with restart *NO.
2. Access ASMI with celogin ID and password. (Contact Software Support for celogin password.)
3. Expand System Configuration > Hardware Deconfiguration.
4. Select Field Core Override and change to the number of processors to equal the usage limit on the license.

Option 2: Run IBM program to dynamically adjust processing capacity

Note: This must be done after each IPL; therefore, adding the call to the startup program is recommended.

From the IBM i 5250 command line, you should issue the following:

1. Call the program:
CALL QSYS/QLZACBUA PARM('n')

Note: Where n is the desired processing capacity.
Example showing number of processors set to 1:  CALL QSYS/QLZACBUA PARM('1')

2. Call the QLZACBUA program to verify the program was successful:
CALL QSYS/QLZACBUA PARM('INFO')

Note1: Calling the program with the 'INFO' parameter will return the current processing capacity of the partition.
Note2: Even when called from the system start up program, one CPF9E7F message may be generated before the start up program is able to call the API.
Note3: CPF9E7F may issue once during IPL before or after the QLZACBUA program has changed the processors (CPI098A). This is because it can take license management up to an hour to recalculate the licensing.
Option 3: Using VPM to partition the server and set the number of CPU for your partition

See document N1020187 "CPF9E7F on a VPM managed system" :

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Document Information

Modified date:
14 February 2024

UID

nas8N1020766

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