Chapter 4. Reliability, availability, and serviceability
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Draft Document for Review October 14, 2014 10:19 am
5137ch04.fm
Table 4-1 Firmware naming convention
The following example uses the convention:
01SV810_030_030 = POWER8 Entry Systems Firmware for 8286-41A and 8286-42A
An installation is disruptive if the following statements are true:
The release levels (SSS) of the currently installed and the new firmware differ.
The service pack level (FFF) and the last disruptive service pack level (DDD) are equal in
the new firmware.
Otherwise, an installation is concurrent if the service pack level (FFF) of the new firmware is
higher than the service pack level that is installed on the system and the conditions for
disruptive installation are not met.
4.7.3 Concurrent firmware update improvements
Since POWER6, firmware service packs are concurrently applied and take effect immediately.
Occasionally, a service pack is shipped where most of the features can be concurrently
applied, but because changes to some server functions (for example, changing initialization
values for chip controls) cannot occur during operation, a patch in this area required a system
reboot for activation.
With the Power-On Reset Engine (PORE), the firmware can now dynamically power off
processor components, change the registers, and reinitialize while the system is running,
without discernible impact to any applications running on a processor. This potentially allows
concurrent firmware changes in POWER8, which in earlier designs required a reboot to take
effect.
Activating some new firmware functions requires installation of a firmware release level. This
process is disruptive to server operations and requires a scheduled outage and full server
reboot.
4.7.4 Electronic Services and Electronic Service Agent
IBM transformed its delivery of hardware and software support services to help you achieve
higher system availability. Electronic Services is a web-enabled solution that offers an
exclusive, no additional charge enhancement to the service and support that is available for
IBM servers. These services provide the opportunity for greater system availability with faster
problem resolution and preemptive monitoring. The Electronic Services solution consists of
two separate, but complementary, elements:
Electronic Services news page
Electronic Service Agent
PPNNSSS_FFF_DDD
PP
Package identifier
01
-
NN
Platform and class
SV
Low end
SSS
Release indicator
FFF
Current fix pack
DDD
Last disruptive fix pack