RE: Replace HMC with Integrated Virtualization Manager?

Thomas:

Larry and I deal with this stuff constantly which is why we pick it up.

To directly answer your question you have two sets of constraints. First
constraint is Power5 equipment and Power7. The documentation for HMC V8
specifically states it will not support Power5, hence you cannot get past
the latest available V7 software for your HMC.

The second constraint is the level of FSP code on your POWER systems will
determine which HMC code you can run as well. For instance if you have P5
Firmware level SF240_358, then the HMC software can be up to V7R79 SP3. How
did I find that? Goggle: "POWER code matrix"

Your Power7 system (assuming an 8202-E4D) will support firmware AS770_116
with HMC code V7R79 with SP3. So now if you have the FSP code at those
levels and your HMC at 7.7.9 SP3, you've got the latest code that will work
for both systems.

Knowing that V7 is no longer supported (meaning they won't create a fix for
a fault) is part of the cost of running older equipment. And frankly since
you most likely have not had any issues with the HMC and the system it's
highly likely you won't have any problem at all.


--
Jim Oberholtzer
Agile Technology Architects

-----Original Message-----
From: MIDRANGE-L [mailto:midrange-l-bounces@xxxxxxxxxxxx] On Behalf Of
Thomas Garvey
Sent: Wednesday, October 04, 2017 11:19 AM
To: DrFranken; Midrange Systems Technical Discussion
Subject: 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

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