IBM Support

HMC V8 network installation images and installation instructions

Fix Readme


Abstract

Upgrading or installing HMC V8 over a network

Content


Preparation
1. Check for information on release specific upgrade instructions and known restrictions by reviewing the release notes in the README on Fix Central.

2. Effective 12 February 2023, IBM disabled unsecure access to IBM Downloads (public.dhe.ibm.com).
The getupgfiles and updhmc commands are affected.  Therefore, it will be necessary to first download the  appropriate HMC V8 network images from IBM Downloads and put them on a local FTP server.
HMC network installation files can be obtained at https://www.ibm.com/support/pages/node/6538378
or directly from public.dhe.ibm.com.  Each HMC V8 release has different network files. 
Information on the file sizes and checksum can also be found in the link for each release on https://www.ibm.com/support/pages/node/6538378

The following files are required for upgrading or installing HMC V8 over a network.
File Name Description
img2a Kernel image
img3a Ram Disk file system
base.img Base Image
disk1.img Base HMC Image and Service Documentation
hmcnetworkfiles.sum hmcnetworkfiles.sum

Download the network files to a local FTP server on your network

You must download (or copy) the image files to a server on your network that accepts FTP requests. Download the network upgrade files from public.dhe.ibm.com using ftps or https and place them on a local FTP server.



Remote upgrade using network images

This method uses network upgrade images to upgrade an HMC from a remote location. Before upgrading, check the target release readme file for information on supported upgrade path and special upgrade notes.

Follow these basic steps.


1. Verify that the following files have been downloaded to the local FTP server:
img2a, img3a, base.img, disk1.img and hmcnetworkfiles.sum

2. On the HMC, you must first save upgrade data by running the following commands:
  • To save data to both usb and disk, insert a USB key into the HMC usb port:
    saveupgdata -r diskusb
  • To save to disk alone:
    saveupgdata -r disk

3. Next, run the getupgfiles command to copy the network image files over to the bootable disk partition on the HMC.

getupgfiles -h <FTP server> -u <user id> --passwd <pwd> -d <directory>

4. After the files are copied over, run the following command to set the HMC to do the next reboot from the special bootable disk partition on the hard drive where the downloaded network files are stored :

chhmc -c altdiskboot -s enable --mode upgrade

Now the HMC is ready to be rebooted and automatically upgraded with the code copied to the bootable disk partition.

5. Finally, issue the hmcshutdown -r -t now command to reboot the HMC and start the upgrade.

6. After the HMC upgrade completes, apply the required fixes. See Fix Central for latest fix information.

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Document Information

Modified date:
27 April 2023

UID

nas8N1020108