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How to perform health check after I/O device microcode update on AIX/VIOS

How To


Summary

This document provides steps on how to to check whether adapter microcode was successfully updated under AIX/VIOS, and are the devices operational.

Objective

*****NOTE*****
This document provides steps to confirmation the current microcode level installed on an I/O device and that the devices are properly working.
Device microcode is concurrently applied, however additional actions may be required.
The provided documentation for every single device microcode includes the needed instructions for it to be installed.
  • Device microcode is available in IBM Fix Central.
  • Device microcode information can be found in Fix Central against the Power Server hardware or separately by feature code.
  • Commands for updating a device microcode are run under AIX prompt #.

Environment

  • Power Systems running AIX/VIOS with dedicated I/O Devices.
From VIOS prompt $ to switch to AIX prompt # - command oem_setup_env is used.

Steps

Actions related to different types of I/O resources.

AIX

  1. The lsmcode command can be used to see whether the device microcode was successful.
    • -A -  displays the microcode level information for all supported devices.
  2. Check for new reported problems.
    • The error log can be checked by using the errpt command under the AIX prompt.
      • -adH | pg  - displays detailed error log page wise.
      • -aN <resource name> - displays a detailed error log about a specific resource.
    • The Diag command opens the diagnostics menu, which is used to run diagnostics for all devices in the system.
  3. The lscfg command, used with corresponding flag to see whether the device is properly configured.
    • -vp - lists configuration including VPD and platform-specific info.
    • -vp -l <resource name> - lists configuration including VPD and platform-specific info for a specific resource name.
  4. The lsdev command shows all devices and their status.
  5. The lsattr command displays attribute characteristics and possible values of attributes for devices in the system.
    • -El <resource name> - displays device attributes for specific resource name.

VIOS

  1. The lsfware command can be used to see whether the device microcode was successful.
    • -all - displays the microcode level information for all supported devices.
    • -dev <resource name> - displays microcode level information for specific resource.
  2. Check for new reported problems.
    • The error log can be checked by using the errlog command under the VIOS prompt.
      • -ls - lists detailed information about errors in the error log file.
    • Diagmenu command opens the diagnostics menu, which is used to run diagnostics for all devices in the system.
  3. The lsdev command shows all devices and their status.
    • -dev <resource name> - lists a specific resource name.
    • -virtual - lists all virtual devices.
 Actions related to storage devices.
HDD and SSD drives.

AIX

  1. The lsdev command with appropriate flags for disks can be used to display their status.
    • -Cc disk - shows all hdiskx resources status and description.
    • -Cc pdisk - shows all pdisks status (if RAID arrays are configured).
  2. The lspath command can be used to check disk path status.
    • -H -l hdiskx - where ''x" is the number of the corresponding hdisk.
    • -s failed - displays shows all currently failed paths if any.
  3. Smit disk - navigates to the disk menu under smit where:
    • All defined and supported disks can be observed.
    • Change and Show disk characteristics are available for a disk.
  4. The AIX fuel gauge command for mainstream SSDs can also be used.
    • https://www.ibm.com/docs/en/power9?topic=drives-using-aix-fuel-gauge-command-mainstream-ssd

VIOS

  1. The lsdev command with appropriate flags for disks can be used to display their status.
    • -type disk - shows all physical and virtual disks.
    • -dev hdiskx - where ''x" is the number of the corresponding hdisk, shows the status of a specific device.
  2. The lspv command displays information about physical volumes.
NVMe Devices.
NVMe drives are always configured as mirrored drives only and every namespace appear as HDISKx.

AIX

  1. Nvme health can be checked from Diag as per the steps.
    • Enter Diag menu.
    • Select Task Selection.
    • Navigate to NVMe general health information.
    • Select a NVMe and press enter. A + sign appears next to the resource name.
    • Press F7 or ESC+7.

VIOS

  1. Nvme health can be checked from Diagmenu as per the steps.
    • Enter Diag menu.
    • Select Task Selection.
    • Navigate to NVMe general health information.
    • Select a NVMe and press enter. A + sign appears next to the resource name.
    • Press F7 or ESC+7. 
 
Tape devices.
 
  • ITDT - is a useful, easy to use tool that can provide different types of information management and error detection for a specific tape drive. The link provides full description on how to download and use the tool.
    1. IBM Tape Diagnostic Tool (ITDT)
Actions related to I/O adapters.
Fibre Channel adapters.
 
***Note***
Some fibre channel adapters auto-negotiate the speed with the attached switch.
If an adapter maximum speed is 16 Gb, but the switch runs on 8 Gb, the speed is negotiated at 8Gb

AIX

  1. The fcstat command can be used to observe fibre channel statistics.
    • -e <resource name> - Displays all the statistics, which includes the device-specific statistics.
    • -d <resource name> -  Displays the statistics by opening the adapter in diagnostic mode.
  2. The diag command with the following flag:
    • -c -d <resource name> -T "disp_mcode" - displays the current device microcode level.

VIOS

  1. The fcstat command can be used to observe fibre channel statistics.
    • -e <resource name> - Displays all the statistics, which includes the device-specific statistics.
    • -d <resource name> -  Displays the statistics by opening the adapter in diagnostic mode.
    • -client - Displays the statistics of the virtual adapter per client.
  2. The lsmap command can be used to verify that all mappings are correct.
    • -vadapter <host virtual adapter resource name> - displays mapping information for specific virtual host adapter.
    • -npiv - displays NPIV binding information.
Network adapters.

AIX

  1. The netstat command displays various network-related data structures for active connections.
    • -a - shows the stats of all sockets.
    • -D - shows the number of packets received, transmitted, and dropped in the communication subsystem.
    • -i - shows the state of all configured interfaces.
  2. The ifconfig command displays network interface parameters for a network by using TCP/IP
    • -a - displays information about interfaces in the system that are up and running.
    • -d - displays interfaces that are down. You can use the flag only with the -a or -l flag.
    • -l - list all available interfaces on the system.
    • -u - lists interfaces that are up.
  3. The ping command as well can be used to check the availability of the Ethernet.

VIOS

  1. The lstcpip command displays the VIOS TCP/IP settings and parameters.
    • -adapters - lists Ethernet adapters on the system.
    • -interfaces - lists all of the interfaces that are configured on the system.
  2. The lsmap command can be used to verify that all mappings are correct.
    • -all -net - shows the mapping of all virtual Ethernet adapters.
  3. The netstat command displays various network-related data structures for active connections.
    • -state - shows the state of all configured interfaces.

Additional Information

Finding device microcode versions in Fix Central.
By device feature code.
Every device has a CCIN and feature code (FC), they are related.
By using the IBM Docs site and by having the CCIN, the feature code can be easily found.
  1. Enter Fix Central
  2. Type in the feature code in the Product selector section under Find product search algorithm.
  3. Scroll down and locate the Level information
image-20230318145744-1
image-20230318145904-2
The latest FW level for SAS adapters with feature code EJ0L is: 19512c00.  A PTF including this FW level is available.

In addition, in the Description section, additional information can be found for the microcode, what fixes are delivered, and so on

Related Information

Diagnostics and service aids

Document Location

Worldwide

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Document Information

Modified date:
29 August 2023

UID

ibm16964820

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