IBM Support

USB - Flash Device FAQ For IBM i

How To


Summary

This document provides information regarding utilizing USB on POWER Systems running IBM i.

Objective

IBM i USB Frequently Asked Questions and Information
IBM i uses the industry standard UDF protocol, so data interchange can be done with other operating systems that use UDF format. Performance varies from device to device. If a particular vendors flash drive does not work, it might not comply with the USB interface specifications, and a different vendors drive should be used.
There are no IBM Power Systems features available for USB flash drives. IBM does not qualify or recommend any particular device. The intent is to provide generic support for devices, so the USB flash vendor of choice can be used. The following types of flash drive configurations are allowed:
  •     A USB 2.0 device (up to 32 GB in capacity) attached to a USB 2.0 system unit port.
  •     A USB 3.0 device attached to a USB 3.0 port (adapter or system unit). A 32GB max capacity restriction was removed with IBM i 7.2 PTF MF63610 and IBM i 7.3 PTF MF63611 (or superseding PTFs) and IBM i 7.4. The largest size flash drives that have been verified to work with IBM i are 256GB.
IBM i Removable Media: POWER9 tape and optical: https://www.ibm.com/support/pages/node/1115217
The usage of the USB ports on the front and back of the POWER System differ as indicated here:
Integrated CEC USB 3.0 ports:
  • FC EUA5 stand-alone USB DVD drive with cable (front USB 3.0 port only)
  • FC 5762 and FC 5763 DVD RAM drive in 7226 enclosure (front or rear USB 3.0 ports)
  • FC EU03 RDX 3.0 in 7226 enclosure. (front or rear USB 3.0 ports)
  • FC EU04 RDX USB external docking station (front or rear USB 3.0 ports)
  • FC EUA4 RDX USB external docking station (front or rear USB 3.0 ports)

Note: The two USB 2.0 HMC ports located in the rear of the system cannot be used for removable media.  

USB Device Options:
  • Booting from USB
  • Installation from USB
New Installation Process for LIC using USB 3.0 media for IBM i 7.2 and later releases:
IBM i 7.3 TR 3 and IBM i 7.2 TR 7 introduced the USB installation method with POWER8 Systems. USB 3.0 Removable Mass Storage technology is used to make the IBM i installation more convenient. IBM i images can be downloaded from the Entitled Systems Support (ESS) website, copied to a USB flash drive, followed by a D-mode IPL on a managed system, and then install IBM i LIC, Operating System, and any LPP images on the media. For more information, see the following 'New installation process for LIC using USB 3.0 media link': https://www.ibm.com/support/pages/new-installation-process-lic-using-usb-30-media
Reading / Writing to USB:
  •     RDX Drives on IBM i
  •     USB flash drives
  •     Optical Virtualization
  •     Optical Containers
  •     D-Mode IPL from Removable Mass Storage (RMS) media
  •     D-Mode IPL from USB flash drives
Additional information:

Document Location

Worldwide

Operating System

System i:All operating systems listed

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Document Information

Modified date:
12 May 2021

UID

ibm16415855

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