Re: Replace HMC with Integrated Virtualization Manager?

The infrequency of how often I have to do these updates,
and my inclination to follow the steps IBM proscribes,
always confuses me.

Exactly how do you determine the difference between a recommended upgrade needed for updating another system
(as in, update your HMC so it works with new OS400 update)
with a recommended upgrade only because your current software version is out of support?


On 10/3/2017 1:44 PM, DrFranken wrote:

I'm quite sure they are recommending V8R860 Only because V7 is out of support.

        - Larry "DrFranken" Bolhuis

www.Frankeni.com
www.iDevCloud.com - Personal Development IBM i timeshare service.
www.iInTheCloud.com - Commercial IBM i Cloud Hosting.

On 10/3/2017 2:41 PM, Thomas Garvey wrote:

Ok, thanks for your suggestion. I will proceed.






On 10/3/2017 1:17 PM, DrFranken wrote:

The recommendation of the firmware is correct and the recommended update to V7R780 SP2 is correct, you could also go to V7R790 but you do not HAVE to go to V6R860, it's merely recommended. Yes if you do go to V8 then you lose the Power5. So Stay on V7 just bump to the most current there mostly for certificate and security issues.

        - Larry "DrFranken" Bolhuis

www.Frankeni.com
www.iDevCloud.com - Personal Development IBM i timeshare service.
www.iInTheCloud.com - Commercial IBM i Cloud Hosting.

On 10/3/2017 2:09 PM, Thomas Garvey wrote:

Using IBM's FLRT (Fix level Recommendation Tool), I selected Report Tools and then Power Systems,
which lead me thru specifying my Server-Machine Type-Model (8202-E4B), System Firmware (AL730-036), the current version on my HMC (V7 R780 SP1),
followed by the version of IBM OS I want to go to (v7r3).

The resulting report said I needed
v7r3 with a lot of PTF's
a firmware update (to AL730-152)
a recommended update on the HMC to V7 R780 SP2
a recommended upgrade on the HMC to V8 R860 SP1

It also told me HMC v8 does not support Power5 systems or firmware levels.

I have always upgraded HMC first, then firmware, then OS.
But my understanding is that my HMC (model 7042C08, the last desk-side model IBM made) is at the end of its
software support capability. To me that means I can't put HMC v8 on it anyway.

Have I got it wrong?




On 10/3/2017 12:33 PM, DrFranken wrote:

What IBM i Update requires a newer HMC level?  I am not aware of such a thing (doesn't mean it doesn't exist but it doesn't make sense to me that an IBM i update would require an HMC update.

As to your question on IVM, no, I do not like that option. It's possible but I don't like IVM. Do you already have a ViO server partition? That is where IVM runs.


        - Larry "DrFranken" Bolhuis

www.Frankeni.com
www.iDevCloud.com - Personal Development IBM i timeshare service.
www.iInTheCloud.com - Commercial IBM i Cloud Hosting.

On 10/3/2017 1:29 PM, Thomas Garvey wrote:

Hi,

Our HMC currently manages a Power5 (with v5r4 and v5r3 partitions) and a Power7 system (with a v7r1 partition).
We need to upgrade our v7r1 partition on the Power7 to v7r3.
However, this v7r3 upgrade requires an HMC upgrade that would then disallow it from managing the Power5 server.
(the HMC is a 7042C08 and I believe is at the highest HMC level it takes).

So, we're looking for economical HMC solutions.

Virtual HMC is out because it requires a Power8 box, or an x86 server we don't have.
If we have to buy a box to run an HMC for the Power7 we might as well make it a stand-alone HMC.

I was wondering about taking the Power7 off the HMC and using IBM's Integrated Virtualization Manager on the Power7.
Is this a rational option?
If so, how does installing the IVM on the Power7 impact our current v7r1 partition?

Suggestions?

Thomas Garvey