IBM Support

Recommended Fixes - HMC Code Upgrades

Troubleshooting


Problem

This document lists the recommended and available upgrades and updates for the Hardware Management Consoles (HMC) that manage IBM Power Systems hosting IBM i, AIX, and Power linux partitions. Recommendations for HMC update, upgrade, install paths are provided for the latest and any other specific versions.

A HMC upgrade is changing the release level on the HMC. Example - V9R1 to V9R2, V10R2 to V10R3.

A HMC update is installing a service pack or fix to a current release.

Resolving The Problem

IBM support recommends installing the latest HMC version release and fix level that is supported for the target environment. Upgrade images and the latest fixes are available in IBM Fix Central at https://www-945.ibm.com/support/fixcentral/

HMC Upgrades
Target Version
Upgrade
From
Upgrade
Instructions
Updates
Date
Available
End of
Service
Models
supported
POWER
Support
V10 R3
V10 R1
and later
11/17/2023
7063-CR1
7063-CR2
P10, P9, P8
V10 R2
V9 R2
and later
12/08/2022 04/30/2025
7063-CR1
7063-CR2
P10, P9, P8
V10 R1
V9 R1
and later
09/17/2021 04/30/2024
7063-CR1
7063-CR2
P10, P9, P8
V9 R2
       V9 R1 11/20/2020 04/30/2023
7063-CR1
7063-CR2
7042-CR9
P9, P8, P7
V9 R1 M9xx
  V8R8.6 and    later 3/20/2018     09/30/2021
7042-CR7, CR8, CR9, OE1, and OE2
7063-CR1
P9, P8, P7
V8.8.7
V8R8.5 and later
09/15/2017
      08/31/2019
7042-CR7, CR8, CR9, OE1, and OE2
7063-CR1
P8, P7, P6
V8.8.6
V8.8.4 and later
11/18/2016
10/31/2018
CR5-CR9
C08
P8, P7
P6
V8.8.5
V8.8.3 and later
05/27/2016
05/31/2018
CR5-CR9
C08
P8, P7
P6
V8.8.4
V8.8.2 and later
11/20/2015
11/30/2017
CR5-CR9
C08
P8, P7
P6
V8.8.3
V8.8.1 and later
6/05/2015
7/31/2017
CR5-CR8
C08
P8, P7
P6
V8.8.2
V7.7.9 and later
11/18/2014
10/31/2016
CR5-CR8
C08
P8, P7
P6
V8.8.1
V7.7.8 and later
6/10/2014
6/30/2016
CR5-CR8
C08
P8, P7
P6
V7.7.9
V7.7.6 and later
04/25/2014
*12/30/2016
CR3-CR7
C05-C08
P7, P6
P5
V7.7.8
V7.3.x or 7.7.x
12/06/2013
10/31/2015
CR3-CR7
C05-C08
P7, P6
P5
V7.7.7
V7.3.x or 7.7.x
02/20/2013
2/28/2015
CR3-CR7
C05-C08
P7, P6
P5
V7.7.7
V6.1.3 and earlier
02/20/2013
2/28/2015
CR3-CR7
C05-C08
P7, P6
P5
V7.7.6
V7.3.x or 7.7.x
10/19/2012
10/31/2014
CR2-CR7
C04-C08
P7, P6
P5
V7.7.6
V6.1.3 and earlier
10/19/2012
10/31/2014
CR2-CR7
C04-C08
P7, P6
P5
V7.7.5
V7.3.x or 7.7.x
05/25/2012
05/31/2014
CR2-CR6
C04-C08
P7, P6
P5
V7.7.5
V6.1.3 and earlier
05/25/2012
05/31/2014
CR2-CR6
C04-C08
P7, P6
P5
V7.7.4
V7.3.x or 7.7.x
10/21/2011
10/31/2013
CR2-CR6
C04-C08
P7, P6
P5
V7.7.4
V6.1.3 and earlier
10/21/2011
10/31/2013
CR2-CR6
C04-C08
P7, P6
P5
V7.7.3
V7.3.x or 7.7.x
05/20/2011
05/31/2013
CR2-CR6
C04-C08
P7, P6
P5
V7.7.3
V6.1.3 and earlier
05/20/2011
05/31/2013
CR2-CR6
C04-C08
P7, P6
P5
V7.7.2
V7.3.x or 7.7.1
09/17/2010
09/30/2012
CR2-CR6
C04-C08
P7, P6
P5
V7.7.2
V6.1.3 and earlier
09/17/2010
09/30/2012
CR2-CR6
C04-C08
P7, P6
P5
V7.7.1
V7.3.x
02/19/2010
02/29/2012
CR2-CR5
C04-C08
P7, P6
P5
V7.3.5
V7.3.x
10/30/2009
10/31/2011
CR2-CR5
C03-C07
P6, P5
V7.3.5
V6.1.3 and earlier
10/30/2009
10/31/2011
CR2-CR4
C03-C07
P6, P5
V7.3.4
V6.1.3 or later
11/21/2008
11/30/2010
CR2-CR4
C03-C07
P6, P5
V7.3.3
V7.3.1 or V7.3.2
08/25/2008
05/31/2010
CR2-CR4
C03-C07
P6, P5
V7.3.2
V7.3.1
11/16/2007
10/31/2009
CR2-CR4
C03-C06
P6, P5
V7.3.1
V6.1.2 or 6.1.3
06/12/2007
05/31/2009
CR2-CR4
C03-C06
P6, P5
V6.1.3
V6.1.2 and earlier
09/21/2007
09/30/2010
CR2-CR3
C03-C05
P5

Target Version:
The version of HMC to upgrade to.

Upgrading From:
The versions of HMC that can directly upgrade to the target release in one step. Versions older then those listed require a multi-step upgrade.

Upgrade Instructions:
Link to the instructions on how to obtain the upgrade images and perform the upgrade.

Updates:
Link to the instructions on how to obtain and install fixes for the current release.

Date Available:
Approximate date the version/release was first made generally available for use.

End of Service:
The date that fix support ends for the target release.

Models supported:
List of HMC models that support the target release. Entries in bold indicate a change in support; the first release to support a new model or the last release to support a model whose support has ended. Machine type 7315 supported ended in 6.1.3. Model 7042-OE1 requires minimum of V8.8.3.0.1; 7042-OE2 requires a minimum of V8.8.6.0. For further information on HMC hardware support, see
POWER Code Matrix - Supported HMC Hardware

Power Support:
Indicates the family of IBM POWER servers this HMC can manage: P9 is POWER9; P8 is POWER 8; P7 POWER7, P6 POWER6 and P5 POWER5. Specific server model/types, hardware feature codes or firmware features included in that family may place additional constraints on the minimum HMC release or service pack required
.
HMC Model-specific Firmware Updates
For certain HMC Machine Type/Models (MTMs), IBM recommends updating the HMC firmware with the latest BoMC images to ensure critical fixes are installed. See: https://www.ibm.com/support/pages/bomc-images-available-fixcentral-models-cr7-cr8-cr9
HMC Code Levels and Server Firmware Compatibility

The design goal is that an HMC can, at a minimum, connect to and perform a server firmware upgrade or update on any supported server model that has a server firmware level that is at an equivalent or earlier level than the HMC. In general, upgrade the HMC first, then upgrade the server firmware to a recommended level soon after the HMC upgrade. Always check the HMC and server firmware release notes for any release-specific exceptions or special instructions. Click here for a complete list of supported combinations of HMC V7 and V8 code levels and server firmware levels.
HMC Code Levels and IBM i OS compatibility

IBM i upgrades have no direct dependency on the version of the HMC however a new IBM i release may require a minimum server firmware level which, in turn, will specify a minimum HMC release. For a list of IBM i server firmware dependencies see the table Minimum firmware levels supported by IBM i release at http://www-01.ibm.com/support/docview.wss?uid=nas8N1021577

HMC upgrades have no minimum IBM i OS requirement. New HMC functions specific to IBM i, for example IBM i network install or the OS shutdown option, may require a minimum IBM i release or PTF level to use. Check the HMC release notes or the IBM Documentation for feature-specific requirements.


Related Links and References
POWER Code Matrix - Supported HMC Hardware: https://www.ibm.com/support/pages/node/6554904
IBM Power code Matrix: https://www.ibm.com/support/fixcentral/main/transform?xml=https://download.boulder.ibm.com/ibmdl/pub/software/server/firmware/sfw_fixSupportedCombos.xml&title=HMC+/+Firmware+Supported+Combinations
IBM Fix Recommendation Tool: https://www14.software.ibm.com/webapp/set2/flrt/
IBM Fix Central: https://www-945.ibm.com/support/fixcentral/
Software Lifecycle: https://www.ibm.com/support/pages/lifecycle/


Checking for the current HMC Code level
At all versions of the HMC, the command "lshmc -V" can be used to display the current version, release and fix level.

- Version 8 "enhanced" login
Click the help icon ("?") in the upper right corner then select About
V8 enhanced

- Version 7 and Version 8 "classic" login.

From the HMC or remote GUI session login to the HMC, Select the Welcome option in the navigation area, then mouseover "HMC Version."
From the HMC or remote session log in to the HMC as hscroot. Select the Welcome option in the navigation area, then mouseover "HMC Version."

The HMC code version is displayed in a hover box as illustrated in the following image:

The HMC code version will be displayed in a pop up box as illustrated below


 

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Document Information

Modified date:
06 February 2024

UID

nas8N1021840