IBM PowerVM: Recommended upgrade paths to Virtual I/O Server (VIOS) Version 3.1

Steps

For a Virtual I/O server not in SSP configuration:

For a Virtual I/O server which is part of an SSP configuration:

Note 1: The last SP level at 1.X is 1.5.2.6. This version reached End of Support (EoS) in 2011. At that time, migration media to version 2.1. was available on ESS to migrate from 1.5 level. Since then, 2.1 reached EoS also and the migration media is not available anymore. Currently, if a VIO server is still at version 1.X level, we recommend to re-install the VIO server at 3.1. It is also highly possible that the hardware might not support installing 3.1. Check the following FLRT link to check compatibility between the hardware and the VIO server levels.

https://www14.software.ibm.com/webapp/set2/flrt/power

Note 2: As with all maintenance, you should create a VIOS backup (with backupios command), configuration backup (with viosbr command) before making changes. In case the Virtual I/O Server is part of an SSP cluster, create a cluster configuration backup as well (with viosbr command).

Note 3: You can place fix pack 2.2.6.10, service pack 2.2.6.61, and minipack 2.2.6.65 in the same location and apply updates in a single step. 

Note 4: A cluster that is created and configured on a VIOS Version at 2.2.1.3 or earlier must be migrated to version 2.2.1.4 or 2.2.1.5 prior to utilizing rolling updates. This allows the user to keep their shared storage pool devices. All the nodes in the cluster must be updated to the same level of either 2.2.1.4 or 2.2.1.5 before updating to 2.2.6.10.

Note 5: viosupgVIO.200807.epkg.Z is an enhancement of viosupgrade tool included in VIOS version 2.2.6.30 and above.  Contact your local IBM VIOS Support for the ifix.