Question & Answer
Question
What are the minimum requirements and the minimum Server Firmware level for POWER9 servers to run IBM i 7.1 (V7R1)?
Answer
In the following release statement, IBM has expressed that IBM i 7.1 may be installed on a client partition on certain POWER9 servers with requirements listed below.
IBM offers IBM i 7.1 Activation for IBM Power System S922 and E980 servers:
Content of link (with two additions as noted below):
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IBM i 7.1 Activation on selected Power S922 and E980 servers
Prior to this announcement, IBM i 7.1 has not been available on servers with IBM POWER9™ technology-based processors. Now an IBM i 7.1 Activation is available on the following servers with these specific configurations:
- Power S922 (9009-22A) requires a Virtual I/O Server (VIOS), and the IBM i partitions must be set to restricted I/O mode. The Power S922 (9009-22A) with 4-core processor is not supported with IBM i.
- Power S922 (9009-22G) requires VIOS, and the IBM i partitions must be set to restricted I/O mode. The Power S922 (9009-22G) with 4-core processor is not supported with IBM i. The Power S922 (9009-22G) with 1-core processor will not support the IBM i 7.1 Activation.
- Power E980 (9080-M9S) requires VIOS, and the IBM i 7.1 partitions must be set to restricted I/O mode.
- Server Firmware 950 (FW950) is required. (Note: This comment has been clarified post-announce letter date.)
- A VET enablement is code required. (Note: This comment has been clarified post-announce letter date.)
For information regarding restricted I/O mode, see IBM Knowledge Center Changing Advanced Partition Settings.
----Installing Firmware 950 also has requirements for the base HMC level. From the FW950 Server Firmware readme (description file):
Minimum HMC Code Level
This section is intended to describe the "Minimum HMC Code Level" required by the System Firmware to complete the firmware installation process. When installing the System Firmware, the HMC level must be equal to or higher than the "Minimum HMC Code Level" before starting the system firmware update. If the HMC managing the server targeted for the System Firmware update is running a code level lower than the "Minimum HMC Code Level" the firmware update will not proceed.
This section is intended to describe the "Minimum HMC Code Level" required by the System Firmware to complete the firmware installation process. When installing the System Firmware, the HMC level must be equal to or higher than the "Minimum HMC Code Level" before starting the system firmware update. If the HMC managing the server targeted for the System Firmware update is running a code level lower than the "Minimum HMC Code Level" the firmware update will not proceed.
The Minimum HMC Code levels for this firmware for HMC x86, ppc64 or ppc64le are listed below.
x86 - This term is used to reference the legacy HMC that runs on x86/Intel/AMD hardware for the Virtual HMC that can run on the Intel hypervisors (KVM, XEN, VMWare ESXi).
The Minimum HMC Code level for this firmware is: HMC V9R2M950 (PTF MH01869).
Note: The 7042 Machine Type HMC appliances for x86 are not supported for the Minimum HMC level.
ppc64 or ppc64le - describes the Linux code that is compiled to run on Power-based servers or LPARS (Logical Partitions)
The Minimum HMC Code level for this firmware is: HMC V9R2M950 (PTF MH01870).
The Minimum HMC level supports the following HMC models:
x86 - KVM, XEN, VMWare ESXi (6.0/6.5)
ppc64le - 7063-CR1,vHMC on PowerVM (POWER8 and POWER9 systems)
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Document Information
Modified date:
13 July 2021
UID
ibm16425025