Troubleshooting
Problem
VIOS Updates: Harnessing the Power of Alternate Disk Update
Problem #1 updateios with "-altdisk" fails for NVME disk
In case we are providing NVME disk as the disk for update we get error shown below
$ updateios -dev /41210 -install -accept -altdisk hdisk0
hdisk0 is either not a valid disk or it is already in useProblem #2 updateios with altdisk fails with bosboot error
In case we provide a SAS/SAN disk for update we could circumvent Problem #1 , but we hit another issue which breaks the update witha a bosboot error shown below.
$ updateios -dev /home/padmin/update_4121 -install -accept -altdisk hdisk0
Calling mkszfile to create new /image.data file.
Checking disk sizes.
Creating cloned rootvg volume group and associated logical volumes.
Creating logical volume alt_hd5.
Creating logical volume alt_hd6.
<=======snip=====>
+-----------------------------------------------------------------------------+
BUILDDATE Verification ...
+-----------------------------------------------------------------------------+
Verifying build dates...done
FILESET STATISTICS
406 Selected to be installed, of which:
377 Passed pre-installation verification
16 FAILED pre-installation verification
13 Already installed (directly or via superseding filesets)
377 Total to be installed
Filesystem size changed to 10485760
0503-409 installp: bosboot verification starting...
0503-497 installp: An error occurred during bosboot verification processing.Symptom
Cause
Environment
Resolving The Problem
Problem #1 updateios with "-altdisk" fails for NVME disk
This issue as been identified as a defect and will be addressed with below APAR
IJ59424: UPDATEIOS WITH "-ALTDISK" FAILS FOR NVME DISK
Problem #2 updateios with altdisk fails with bosboot error
This issue as been identified as a defect and will be addressed with below APAR
IJ59448: UPDATEIOS WITH "-ALTDISK" FAILS WITH BOSBOOT ERROR
Special Instructions to follow with ifix installation :-
The ifix addresses an issue in the updateios command, which is part of the ios.cli.rte fileset. Because ios.cli.rte is updated as part of the VIOS 4.1.2.10 update, the installed ifix prevents the update from proceeding by locking the fileset. This results in an EFIX MANAGER LOCKS error during the update.
+-----------------------------------------------------------------------------+
BUILDDATE Verification ...
+-----------------------------------------------------------------------------+
Verifying build dates...done
The updates being installed do not contain all the APARs to allow
all existing interim fixes to be automatically removed. Please ensure
the interim fixes are enabled for automatic removal and obtain the
updates that contain the APARs for the following interim fixes,
or remove the interim fixes, as described below.
IJ59424m0a
EFIX MANAGER LOCKS
------------------
* * * ATTENTION * * *
The following selected filesets are locked by EFIX manager:
ios.cli.rte
installp has halted this operation because one or more files in the
filesets listed above are registered as having an EFIX. You must remove
these EFIXES before performing operations on the given fileset.
To get a listing of all locked filesets and the locking EFIX label,
execute the following command:
/usr/sbin/emgr -P
Solution:-
1 . Updating to 4.1.2.10 :-
A normal removal of the ifix is not sufficient because it would restore the original updateios binary, leaving the system exposed to the issues addressed by APARs IJ59424 and IJ59448. Instead, the ifix must be force-removed before performing the VIOS update. The force removal removes the ifix registration and releases the lock on the ios.cli.rte fileset while leaving the updated updateios binary in place. The VIOS update can then proceed, and the ios.cli.rte fileset will be updated as part of that process.
a. Preview the ifix installation.
emgr -p -e IJ59424m0a.260805.epkg.Z
b. Install the ifix
emgr -X -e IJ59424m0a.260805.epkg.Z
c. Force-remove the ifix to release the ios.cli.rte fileset, while retaining the updated updateios binary
emgr -F -R IJ59424m0a
d. Proceed with the VIOS update
updateios -dev /home/padmin/update_4121 -install -accept -altdisk hdisk0
2 . Updating to 4.1.2.20 :-
We will not need the force removal of ifix because the fix the APAR's IJ59424 and IJ59448 is already present in 4.1.2.20.
Document Location
Worldwide
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Document Information
Modified date:
26 August 2026
UID
ibm17281832