IBM Power 770, Technical Overview And Introduction

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Chapter 4. Continuous availability and manageability
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Depending on the operating system, you typically see the following service-level functions
when you use the operating system service menus:
򐂰 Product activity log
򐂰 Trace Licensed Internal Code
򐂰 Work with communications trace
򐂰 Display/Alter/Dump
򐂰 Licensed Internal Code log
򐂰 Main storage dump manager
򐂰 Hardware service manager
򐂰 Call Home/Customer Notification
򐂰 Error information menu
򐂰 LED management menu
򐂰 Concurrent/Non-concurrent maintenance (within scope of the OS)
򐂰 Managing firmware levels
– Server
– Adapter
򐂰 Remote support (access varies by OS)
Service Focal Point on the Hardware Management Console
Service strategies become more complicated in a partitioned environment. The Manage
Serviceable Events task in the management console can help to streamline this process.
Each logical partition reports errors that it detects and forwards the event to the Service Focal
Point (SFP) application that is running on the management console, without determining
whether other logical partitions also detect and report the errors. For example, if one logical
partition reports an error for a shared resource, such as a managed system power supply,
other active logical partitions might report the same error.
By using the Manage Serviceable Events task in the management console, you can avoid
long lists of repetitive call-home information by recognizing that these are repeated errors and
consolidating them into one error.
In addition, you can use the Manage Serviceable Events task to initiate service functions on
systems and logical partitions, including the exchanging of parts, configuring connectivity, and
managing dumps.
4.4.2 IBM Power Systems firmware maintenance
The IBM Power Systems Client-Managed Microcode is a methodology that enables you to
manage and install microcode updates on Power Systems and associated I/O adapters.
The system firmware consists of service processor microcode, Open Firmware microcode,
SPCN microcode, and the POWER Hypervisor.
The firmware and microcode can be downloaded and installed from a management console,
a running partition. Power 770 and Power 780 system must be managed by a hardware
management console.
IBM Power 770 and Power 780 system (9117-MMD and 9179-MHD) must be using firmware
AM760 code level (or later supported code level).
Power Systems has a permanent firmware boot side, or A side, and a temporary firmware
boot side, or B side. New levels of firmware must be installed on the temporary side first to
test the update’s compatibility with existing applications. When the new level of firmware has
been approved, it can be copied to the permanent side.