Re: Power Outage Checklist? -- MIDRANGE-L

Another reason to stay current on code
I was supposed to do a disk upgrade on a DS4XXX enclosure... Firmware
was at 6.60.xx customer had never upgraded it. Fixcentral had 7.70.60
and no warnings whatsoever on the readme file (other than, read all
readmes before this one, that are NOT easily avaiable).
Disks where tested on a DS4XXX enclosure whose controllers where at 7.xx.xx.
To make it short. 12 hours after the task started we were back at 6.60
and with no upgrade (upgrade from 6.60 yo 7.70 was supposed to be
staggered by going to 7.10 or 7.36 first and we didnt have the serial
minidin to db9 cable on hand)
There was a retain about staggered updates that was not exactly easy to find.
Therefore. KEEP THE CODE UP TO DATE, at least, up to where you can. If
you dont have SWMA you may not be able to go up to v7r1, but you can
surely check the cover letters and apply the lastest PTFs, same with
the HMC and server firmware.

Best Regards,

PS: Do this updates BEFORE the big day unless you want surprises like
the retain tip above...

On Wed, May 2, 2012 at 3:53 PM, <rob@xxxxxxxxx> wrote:

You may want to consider stepping up on all three:
V6R1 to i7.1
V7R3.3.0.1 to V7R7.4
EM320 to EM350
On these last two - you're getting down towards a pinch off of support.
You're already at the point where you have to stagger upgrades.
https://www14.software.ibm.com/webapp/set2/sas/f/power5cm3/emtablep6.html
First step: Upgrade your HMC from V7R3.3 to V7R3.5
Second step: Upgrade your firmware from EM320 to EM350
Third step: Upgrade your HMC from V7R3.5 to V7R7.4

Staying current on firmware will:
- ensure you can put on hardware that needs it with less downtime at the
time you need it catching up on firmware
- be ready for OS upgrades which may require new firmware
- if your HMC fries and IBM has to air you a new one preloaded at a higher
level of HMC code you're ready to go.
- Take advantage of fixes and security patches

Staying current on HMC code will:
- allow you to use newer browsers which may poorly render prior levels of
HMC code!
- Get the best of experiences with remote connections and what not
- allow you to use latest firmware (see above)
- if your power 6 suffers catastrophic hardware loss and needs replacing
you'll have a hmc ready to go at the latest firmware level.
- Even if just your FSP needs replacing it may come preloaded at newer
firmware.
- Take advantage of fixes and security patches.

Rob Berendt
--
IBM Certified System Administrator - IBM i 6.1
Group Dekko
Dept 1600
Mail to: 2505 Dekko Drive
Garrett, IN 46738
Ship to: Dock 108
6928N 400E
Kendallville, IN 46755
http://www.dekko.com

From: fbocch2595@xxxxxxx
To: midrange-l@xxxxxxxxxxxx,
Date: 05/02/2012 02:33 PM
Subject: Re: Power Outage Checklist?
Sent by: midrange-l-bounces@xxxxxxxxxxxx

Rob, we're at V6R1 of the OS and for HMC we're at V7R3.3.0.1 and
EM320_076. I think that s/b ok. Thanks

-----Original Message-----
From: rob <rob@xxxxxxxxx>
To: Midrange Systems Technical Discussion <midrange-l@xxxxxxxxxxxx>
Sent: Wed, May 2, 2012 1:35 pm
Subject: Re: Power Outage Checklist?

How much time have you got?
First, ensure that your HMC is running a level of HMC code compatible with

our power system's firmware. Some people do a big no-no on HMC managed
achines and configure firmware upgrades to come from the ptf's applied to
n i partition. The problem with that is your firmware can get so
pgraded that your HMC can no longer manage it. Bringing the system up
rom scratch after a power outage is not the time to discover that.
ttps://www14.software.ibm.com/webapp/set2/sas/f/power5cm/supportedcode.html
Then power off all partitions using your normal steps, with the last being

WRDWNSYS RESTART(*NO), with other appropriate options
Then use the HMC to power off the 'system' itself.
hen power off the HMC.
When power is restored:
f your UPS got drained, wait until that builds up a little reserve.
ower up your HMC.
se your HMC to power up the 'system'.
nce the system is ready, use your HMC to bring up your lpars. Bring up
osted lpar's before bringing up any guest lpars.

ob Berendt
-
BM Certified System Administrator - IBM i 6.1
roup Dekko
ept 1600
ail to: 2505 Dekko Drive
Garrett, IN 46738
hip to: Dock 108
6928N 400E
Kendallville, IN 46755
ttp://www.dekko.com

From: fbocch2595@xxxxxxx
o: midrange-l@xxxxxxxxxxxx,
ate: 05/02/2012 10:18 AM
ubject: Power Outage Checklist?
ent by: midrange-l-bounces@xxxxxxxxxxxx

i Folks, we've got a planned power outage coming up and I'm wondering
hat the correct steps would be to power down and then start up after the
ower is out?

hat about the HMC, any specifics on how to shut that down, or is that
ven necessary? What about startup too, will power be restored to the HMC
nd iSeries and provide screen access to both?

don't think we've ever lost power in our data center before.

hanks, Frank
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