This section is intended to describe the "Minimum HMC Code Level" required by the System Firmware to complete the firmware installation process. When installing the System Firmware, the HMC level must be equal to or higher than the "Minimum HMC Code Level" before starting the system firmware update.  If the HMC managing the server targeted for the System Firmware update is running a code level lower than the "Minimum HMC Code Level" the firmware update will not proceed.

The Minimum HMC Code levels for this firmware for HMC x86,  ppc64 or ppc64le are listed below.

x86 -  This term is used to reference the legacy HMC that runs on x86/Intel/AMD hardware for the Virtual HMC that can run on the Intel hypervisors (KVM, XEN, VMWare ESXi).

ppc64 or ppc64le - describes the Linux code that is compiled to run on Power-based servers or LPARS (Logical Partitions)

• The Minimum HMC Code level for this firmware is: HMC V10 R3 M1060.0 (PTF MF71690). 
• The Minimum HMC Code level for vHMC is: HMC V10R3M1060. Download of the Power Hardware Management Virtual Appliance (vHMC) install images for x86 hypervisors and PowerVM are available at the Entitled Systems Support site (ESS).

The Minimum HMC level supports the following HMC models:
HMC models: 7063-CR1 and 7063-CR2
x86 - KVM, XEN, VMWare ESXi (6.0/6.5)
ppc64le - vHMC on PowerVM (POWER8,POWER9, and POWER10 systems)

For information concerning HMC releases and the latest PTFs,  go to the following URL to access Fix Central.

For specific fix level information on key components of IBM Power Systems running the AIX, IBM i and Linux operating systems, we suggest using the Fix Level Recommendation Tool (FLRT).

NOTES:
   - You must be logged in as hscroot in order for the firmware installation to complete correctly.
   - Systems Director Management Console (SDMC) does not support this System Firmware level.

FW1030 (and newer) needs to be installed twice when upgrading from FW1020 firmware levels
When installing the FW1030 (and newer) firmware to a system that previously was at a FW1020 level,  you need to complete the upgrade then perform the upgrade again consecutively. This to ensure both the T (temporary, also known as current) and P (permanent, also known as backup) are equal. This was previously known as the "Accept" process that was performed automatically. This will be addressed in a newer release/PTF of the HMC to automatically do the accept.
Improvements in FW1030.00 and higher to the eBMC will cause any IPL from a backup side that is at a FW1020 firmware level to fail. An AC power cycle would be required to recover from this condition.

Concurrent Firmware Updates

Concurrent system firmware update is supported on HMC Managed Systems only.

Ensure that there are no RMC connections issues for any system partitions prior to applying the firmware update.  If there is a RMC connection failure to a partition during the firmware update, the RMC connection will need to be restored and additional recovery actions for that partition will be required to complete partition firmware updates.

Memory Considerations for Firmware Upgrades

Firmware Release Level upgrades and Service Pack updates may consume additional system memory.
Server firmware requires memory to support the logical partitions on the server. The amount of memory required by the server firmware varies according to several factors.
Factors influencing server firmware memory requirements include the following:

•     Number of logical partitions
•     Partition environments of the logical partitions
•     Number of physical and virtual I/O devices used by the logical partitions
•     Maximum memory values given to the logical partitions

Generally, you can estimate the amount of memory required by server firmware to be approximately 8% of the system installed memory. The actual amount required will generally be less than 8%. However, there are some server models that require an absolute minimum amount of memory for server firmware, regardless of the previously mentioned considerations.

Additional information can be found at: https://www.ibm.com/docs/en/power10/9105-42A?topic=resources-memory

SBE Updates

Power10 servers contain SBEs (Self Boot Engines) and are used to boot the system.  SBE is internal to each of the Power10 chips and used to "self boot" the chip.  The SBE image is persistent and is only reloaded if there is a system firmware update that contains a SBE change.  If there is a SBE change and system firmware update is concurrent, then the SBE update is delayed to the next IPL of the CEC which will cause an additional 3-5 minutes per processor chip in the system to be added on to the IPL.  If there is a SBE change and the system firmware update is disruptive, then SBE update will cause an additional 3-5 minutes per processor chip in the system to be added on to the IPL.  During the SBE update process, the HMC or op-panel will display service processor code C1C3C213 for each of the SBEs being updated.  This is a normal progress code and system boot should be not be terminated by the user. Additional time estimate can be between 12-20 minutes per drawer or up to 48-80 minutes for maximum configuration.

The SBE image is updated with this service pack.

Use the following examples as a reference to determine whether your installation will be concurrent or disruptive.

For systems that are not managed by an HMC, the installation of system firmware is always disruptive.

Note: The concurrent levels of system firmware may, on occasion, contain fixes that are known as Deferred and/or Partition-Deferred. Deferred fixes can be installed concurrently, but will not be activated until the next IPL. Partition-Deferred fixes can be installed concurrently, but will not be activated until a partition reactivate is performed. Deferred and/or Partition-Deferred fixes, if any, will be identified in the "Firmware Update Descriptions" table of this document. For these types of fixes (Deferred and/or Partition-Deferred) within a service pack, only the fixes in the service pack which cannot be concurrently activated are deferred.

Note: The file names and service pack levels used in the following examples are for clarification only, and are not necessarily levels that have been, or will be released.

System firmware file naming convention:

01MLxxxx_yyy_zzz

• xxx is the release level
• yyy is the service pack level
• zzz is the last disruptive service pack level

NOTE: Values of service pack and last disruptive service pack level (yyy and zzz) are only unique within a release level (xxx). For example, 01ML1010_040_040 and 01ML1020_040_040 are different service packs.

An installation is disruptive if:

• The release levels (xxx) are different.     

            Example: Currently installed release is 01ML1010_040_040, new release is 01ML1020_050_050.

• The service pack level (yyy) and the last disruptive service pack level (zzz) are the same.     

            Example: ML1020_040_040 is disruptive, no matter what level of ML1020 is currently installed on the system.

• The service pack level (yyy) currently installed on the system is lower than the last disruptive service pack level (zzz) of the service pack to be installed.

            Example: Currently installed service pack is ML1010_040_040 and new service pack is ML1020_050_045.

An installation is concurrent if:

The release level (xxx) is the same, and
The service pack level (yyy) currently installed on the system is the same or higher than the last disruptive service pack level (zzz) of the service pack to be installed.

Example: Currently installed service pack is ML1010_040_040, new service pack is ML1010_041_040.

Firmware Information and Description

You can view the server's current firmware level on the Advanced System Management Interface (ASMI) Overview page under the System Information section in the Firmware Information panel. Example: (ML1020_079)

Follow the instructions on Fix Central. You must read and agree to the license agreement to obtain the firmware packages.

Note: If your HMC is not internet-connected you will need to download the new firmware level to a USB flash memory device or ftp server.

The method used to install new firmware will depend on the release level of firmware which is currently installed on your server. The release level can be determined by the prefix of the new firmware's filename.

Example: MHxxx_yyy_zzz

Where xxx = release level

• If the release level will stay the same (Example: Level ML1020_040_040 is currently installed and you are attempting to install level ML1020_041_040) this is considered an update.
• If the release level will change (Example: Level ML1020_040_040 is currently installed and you are attempting to install level ML1030_050_050) this is considered an upgrade.

Instructions for installing firmware updates and upgrades can be found at https://www.ibm.com/docs/en/power10/9105-42A?topic=9105-42A/p10eh6/p10eh6_updates_sys.htm

IBM i Systems:

For information concerning IBM i Systems, go to the following URL to access Fix Central: 
https://www.ibm.com/support/fixcentral/

Choose "Select product", under Product Group specify "System i", under Product specify "IBM i", then Continue and specify the desired firmware PTF accordingly.

HMC and NovaLink Co-Managed Systems (Disruptive firmware updates only):
A co-managed system is managed by HMC and NovaLink, with one of the interfaces in the co-management master mode.
Instructions for installing firmware updates and upgrades on systems co-managed by an HMC and Novalink is the same as above for a HMC managed systems since the firmware update must be done by the HMC in the co-management master mode.  Before the firmware update is attempted, one must be sure that HMC is set in the master mode using the steps at the following IBM KnowledgeCenter link for NovaLink co-managed systems:
https://www.ibm.com/docs/en/power10/9105-42A?topic=environment-powervm-novalink

Then the firmware updates can proceed with the same steps as for the HMC managed systems except the system must be powered off because only a disruptive update is allowed.   If a concurrent update is attempted, the following error will occur: " HSCF0180E Operation failed for <system name> (<system mtms>).  The operation failed.  E302F861 is the error code:"
https://www.ibm.com/docs/en/power10/9105-42A?topic=9105-42A/p10eh6/p10eh6_updates_sys.htm

The complete Firmware Fix History (including HIPER descriptions)  for this Release level can be reviewed at the following url:
https://www.ibm.com/support/pages/node/6910163