Changes to Server Firmware download via HTTP, FTP and HMC

Machine Code updates are available only for IBM machines that are under warranty or an IBM hardware maintenance service agreement. Code for operating systems or other software products is available only where entitled under the applicable software warranty or IBM software maintenance agreement. All code (including Machine Code updates, samples, fixes or other software downloads) provided on the Fix Central website is subject to the terms of the license agreements which govern the use of the associated code.

Some exemptions may apply.

IBM began implementing entitlement validation for system firmware (also referred to as LIC Licensed Internal Code or machine code) on Fix Central in January of 2014. This page contains answers to some frequently asked questions around entitlement validation of fixes.

IBM began implementing entitlement validation on Fix Central in January of 2014. For manual downloads, all customers should be using Fix Central. Many of the LIC fixes as well as some software/operating system fixes will be removed from previously used HTTP or FTP URLs.

You may download from Fix Central: http://www.ibm.com/support/fixcentral

No. Versions of HMC prior to V8.8.1.0 will no longer be able to access fixes from the "IBM service web site". You may download fixes directly from Fix Central and then place these files on your own "FTP site", "Removable Media", or the HMC's local hard drive. (The "hard drive" can only be used to select a repository for installation after firmware has been imported from another repository through the standalone retrieve operation.)

Versions of HMC prior to V8.8.1.0 will no longer be able to access fixes from the "IBM service web site". Those prior versions of HMC should be migrated to V8.8.1.0 or you may download fixes directly from Fix Central and then place these files on your own "FTP site", "Removable Media", or the HMC's local hard drive. (The "hard drive" can only be used to select a repository for installation after firmware has been imported from another repository through the standalone retrieve operation.)

IBM has implemented a new entitlement mechanism within HMC V8.8.1.0 (or later), which will only allow entitled fixes to be downloaded using the "IBM service web site". The HMC will validate entitlement for the machine type and serial number of the managed server for which the LIC change is being downloaded and will display the following error if the machine is not under warranty or does not have an IBM hardware maintenance service agreement.

HSCF0231E: No applicable IBM support agreement was found for the selected firmware release. 
Either no connection could be made to perform validation, or none of 
the selected servers are entitled. 
Contact your next level of support. 

As per the HMC V8.8.1.0 announcement letter. ( HMC Announcement) The following HMC models may be migrated:
7042-CR5, 7042-CR6, 7042-CR7 and 7042-C08.
These models may not be migrated to HMC V8.8.1.0 (or later):
7315-CR3, 7310-CR2, 7310-CR3, 7310-CR4, 7042-CR4, 7310-C03, 7310-C04, 7310-C05, 7310-C06, 7042-C06, 7042-C07

Fixes for POWER5 and older LIC levels will only be available on Fix Central. They will be removed from all other download sources in November 2014. POWER5 is not supported on HMC V8.8.1.0 (or later).

POWER6 fixes will be supported on HMC V8.8.1.0 (or later), customers upgrading to that version of HMC will be able to continue downloading fixes using the "IBM service web site" for Power servers that are under warranty or an IBM hardware maintenance service agreement. POWER6 fixes will be removed from all other download sources in November 2014. POWER6 fixes will remain available on Fix Central for download.

POWER7 fixes will be supported on HMC V8.8.1.0 (or later), customers upgrading to that version of HMC will be able to continue downloading fixes using the "IBM service web site" for Power servers that are under warranty or an IBM hardware maintenance service agreement. POWER7 fixes will be removed from all other download sources in June 2015. POWER7 fixes will remain available on Fix Central for download.

The following is displayed if the server being managed by HMC is not under warranty or does not have an IBM hardware maintenance service agreement.

HSCF0031E: The Power and I/O firmware repository has been relocated.
To download firmware from IBM, either
a) Manually acquire firmware from the IBM web site
    and import locally using one of the other options on the 
    repository selection panel.  To find the IBM download page
    navigate to www.ibm.com and follow the links for support and downloads.
b) Update the management console to release 810.
c) Contact IBM support for assistance.

"Unable to contact the IBM service web site"

Visit Fix Central and search for your Machine Type Model and manually download fixes directly. Then use one of the other options on the repository selection panel within HMC. "FTP site", "Removable Media", or the HMC's "local hard drive".

Fix Central URL: https://www.ibm.com/support/fixcentral/.

Within Fix Central, the following error is presented to users who fail entitlement:

Some selected fixes encountered errors for this order.
No applicable IBM support agreement found for one or more of the products you selected.

Then it presents a button "Request help". This Request help is an entitlement Help request that is submitted to a team setup to analyze your warranty and/or service agreements.

If you get an HMC entitlement error, please try to get your fix through Fix Central. Open a Help request if Fix Central shows you not having warranty or service agreement. If HMC fails entitlement, but Fix Central allows you to download your fixes, then please contact IBM support for assistance.

LIC - Licensed Internal Code is software that enables the hardware. Sometimes referred to as firmware or the machine code. In this document we are specifically referring to System LIC, which enables the service processor for POWER systems.

HMC - A Hardware Management Console (HMC) is an appliance used to manage Power Systems servers. In particular, it may be used to create or change virtual machines (LPARs), including dynamically altering the hardware assigned to an LPAR (add and remove) without rebooting the operating system running in the LPAR.

Hardware Management Console
https://www.ibm.com/developerworks/community/wikis/home?lang=en#!/wiki/Power%20Systems/page/Hardware%20Management%20Console