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Upgrading the machine code on an HMC from Version 6 to Version 7

Learn how to upgrade the machine code on an HMC from Version 6 to Version 7 while maintaining your HMC configuration data.

Perform Steps 1 through 9 to upgrade machine code on an HMC from Version 6 to Version 7.
Important: You must be at a minimum of HMC machine code Version 6 Release 1.2 to upgrade to Version 7 Release 3.1.0.
Parent topic: Troubleshooting the HMC

Step 1. Obtain the upgrade

You can order the HMC machine code upgrade through the Fix Central website, by contacting service and support, or by downloading it to an FTP server.

Note: If you do not have access to the Internet, contact service and support to order the upgrade on DVD.
  1. From a computer or server that has an Internet connection, go to the Fix Central website at http://www.ibm.com/support/fixcentral/.
  2. From the Product Group list, select Power System Management Consoles.
  3. From the Product list, select Power Hardware Management Console.
  4. From the Select from Power Hardware Management Console, select the HMC version and click Continue.
  5. Locate the Recovery CD download and ordering section.
  6. Follow the on-screen prompts to submit your order.
  7. After you receive the upgrade, continue with Step 2. Back up critical console information.

Step 2. Back up critical console information

Back up critical console information before installing a new version of HMC software so that previous levels can be restored in the event of a problem while upgrading the software. Do not use this critical console data after a successful upgrade to a new version of the HMC software.
Note: If you choose to back up the console data to removable media (that is, diskette or DVD), you will need to have a diskette or DVD available.
  1. Choose from the following options:
    • If you do not plan to back up to diskette or DVD-RAM, continue with the next step.
    • If you plan to back up to diskette or DVD-RAM, perform the following steps:
      1. Insert the media into the drive.
      2. Select Format Removable Media.
      3. Select Format DVD-RAM or Format diskette.
      4. Click OK.
      5. Continue with the next step.
  2. Select Back up Critical Console Data.
  3. Select an archive option. You can back up to a DVD in the HMC, a remote system mounted to the HMC file system (for example, NFS), or send the backup to a remote site by using File Transfer Protocol (FTP).
    • To back up to DVD, choose Back up to DVD on local system and follow the instructions.
    • To back up to a mounted remote system, choose Backup to mounted remote system and follow the instructions.
    • To back up to a remote FTP site, choose Send backup critical data to remote site and follow the instructions.
  4. Continue with Step 3. Record the current HMC configuration information.

Step 3. Record the current HMC configuration information

Before you upgrade to a new version of HMC software, as a precautionary measure, record HMC configuration information.

To record HMC configuration information, follow these steps:

  1. In the navigation area, open HMC Management.
  2. Select HMC Configuration.
  3. In the tasks list, select Schedule Operations. The Scheduled Operations window opens with a list of all managed systems.
  4. Select the HMC you plan to upgrade and click OK. All scheduled operations for the HMC are displayed.
  5. Select Sort > By Object.
  6. Select each object and record the following details:
    • Object Name
    • Schedule date
    • Operation Time (displayed in 24-hour format)
    • Repetitive (if Yes, perform the following steps:)
      1. Select View > Schedule Details.
      2. Record the interval information.
      3. Close the scheduled operations window.
      4. Repeat for each scheduled operation.
  7. Close the Customize Scheduled Operations window.
  8. Continue with Step 4. Record remote command status.

Step 4. Record remote command status

  1. In the navigation area, select HMC Management.
  2. Select HMC Configuration.
  3. In the tasks list, click Enable/Disable Remote Command Execution.
  4. Record whether the Enable remote command execution using the ssh facility check box is selected.
  5. Click Cancel.
  6. Continue with Step 5. Save upgrade data.

Step 5. Save upgrade data

You can save the current HMC configuration in a designated disk partition on the HMC. Only save upgrade data immediately prior to upgrading your HMC software to a new release. This action allows you to restore HMC configuration settings after upgrading.
Note: Only one level of backup data is allowed. Each time you save upgrade data, the previous level of data is overwritten.
  1. In the navigation area, open the Licensed Internal Code folder.
  2. Select HMC Code Update.
  3. Select Save Upgrade Data.
  4. Select Hard Drive and click Continue.
  5. Click Continue to start the task.
  6. Wait for the task to complete. If the Save Upgrade Data task fails, contact your next level of support before proceeding.
    Note: If the Save Upgrade Data task fails, do not continue the upgrade process.
  7. Click OK.
  8. Click Close.
  9. Continue with Step 6. Upgrade the HMC software from Version 6 to Version 7.

Step 6. Upgrade the HMC software from Version 6 to Version 7

To upgrade the HMC software, do the following:
  1. Insert the HMC Product Installation DVD-RAM into the DVD-RAM drive.
  2. Select Upgrade and click Next.
  3. When the message is displayed, choose from the following options:
    • If you have saved upgrade data during the previous task, continue with the next step.
    • If you did not save upgrade data previously in this procedure, you must save the upgrade data now before you continue.
  4. Select Upgrade from media and click Next.
  5. Confirm the settings and click Finish.
  6. Follow the on-screen prompts.
    Notes:
    • If the screen goes blank, press the space bar to view the information.
    • The first DVD can take approximately 20 minutes to install.
  7. When prompted, remove the first media and then insert the second media into the DVD-RAM drive.
  8. Select 1. Install additional software from media and press Enter. Press any key to confirm the installation. The HMC will display status messages while it installs the packages.
  9. When the second media installation is complete, remove the media from the drive and close the drawer.
  10. Select Option 2 Finish the installation and press Enter. The HMC will complete the booting process.
  11. Accept the License Agreement for Machine Code twice.
  12. At the login prompt, log in using your user ID and password. The HMC code installation is complete.
  13. Continue with Step 7. Verify that the HMC machine code upgrade installed successfully.

Step 7. Verify that the HMC machine code upgrade installed successfully

  1. Verify that the version and release match the update that you installed.
  2. If the level of code displayed is not the level that you installed, perform the following steps:
    1. Try again to update the HMC machine code by using a different DVD.
    2. If the problem persists, contact your next level of support.

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Last updated: Sun, December 17, 2017