IBM Support

How to upgrade VIOS to level 3.1.2.21 with IBM storage and NON Shared Storage Pool configurations.

How To


Summary

Step by step Instruction Set with examples for Upgrade procedure to VIOS level 3.1.2.21

Objective

> IBM recommends customers to use an "In Support" version of PowerVM VIOS to minimize the risk and business impact of not being able to receive technical support.

Environment

> This document is for any customer who is at VIOS version 2.x and needs to upgrade the VIOS level to 3.1.2.21
> Customers who are currently on VIOS levels lower than 2.2.6.65 must update to this level in order to upgrade properly to any 3.x level, use the following procedure:
> For more information and check for cross-product compatibility firmware/software and fix recommendations, refer to our FLRT tool: https://www14.software.ibm.com/webapp/set2/flrt/power
>The following procedure is showing all the steps that need to be performed, with an extra disk for the upgrade.
> Customers who are not able to proceed with the upgrade with an extra free disk can use NIM Master.

Steps

​

The upgrade process is managed by viosupgrade tool.

> Before you proceed with the upgrade process, have a look at the Technical documentation for more details on the entire process:

- VIOS upgrade: https://www.ibm.com/support/pages/upgrading-vios-31

- viosupgrade process-step by step: https://www.ibm.com/support/pages/vios-31-viosupgrade-process

- Checklist: https://www.ibm.com/support/pages/node/6258119

- VIOS 3.1.2.21 Service Pack Release Notes: https://www.ibm.com/support/pages/node/6443445

Note: The release notes contain the list of the implemented fixes in the base flash image.

Upgrade steps:

> Check for cross-product compatibility firmware/software and fix recommendations.

You can refer to our FLRT tool: https://www14.software.ibm.com/webapp/set2/flrt/power

1. If you have Media Library on the VIOS, in order to keep it you have to move the VMLibrary from rootvg to Non-rootvg, with an extra free disk.

For more information and steps, refer to the following document:https://www.ibm.com/support/pages/viosupgrade-virtual-media-library-lost-after-viosupgrade

2. Download the preferred installation image.

Currently, we have iso images 3.1.2.0 DVD or 3.1.2.10 Flash.

After you install the based image, to update your system download the Service pack 3.1.2.21 from Fix central

Note: You would have to register with your machine serial number and then look for the images.

Example of how to obtain ESS images 3.1.2.0 or 3.1.2.10

Entitled Systems Support > My entitled software > Software downloads >  PowerVM V3 Technology Level

image 11660

Note: If you chose to download, flash image, you can use the following documentation as an example:

PowerVM VIOS 3.1.0.10 USB Installation: https://www.ibm.com/support/pages/powervm-vios-31010-usb-installation

Links:

Instruction about how to use ESS:

https://cloud.ibm.com/docs/power-iaas?topic=power-iaas-using-ess-iso

Download link:

https://www.ibm.com/servers/eserver/ess/ProtectedServlet.wss

Then, download from Fix Central the Service Pack 3.1.2.21:

To find the Service pack:

image 11662

Select only 3.1.2.21:

image 11664

3. Backup your system by using backupios and viosbr:


3.1. backupios command example:

  • Example of how to generate a backup to the optical device named /dev/cd1, type:
backupios -cd /dev/cd1 -cdformat

  • Example of how to generate a system backup to a tape device named /dev/rmt0, type:

backupios -tape /dev/rmt0

For more information about backupios command, see the following Documentation:

https://www.ibm.com/docs/en/power8?topic=commands-backupios-command

3.2. viosbr command example:

  • To back up all the device attributes and logical and virtual device mappings on the VIOS file called /tmp/myserverbackup, type the following command:
viosbr -backup -file /tmp/myserverbackup
  • To restore all the possible devices and display a summary of deployed and non-deployed devices, type the following command:
viosbr -restore -file /home/padmin/cfgbackups/myserverbackup.002.tar.gz

For more information about the viosbr command, see the following Documentation:

https://www.ibm.com/docs/en/power7?topic=commands-viosbr-command

4. Transfer the based ISO image to your system
5. Create mksysb image.
6. Proceed with the upgrade as follows:
6.1 Verify you have a free disk by running:
   
 $ lspv -free
6.2. Because VIOS level 2.2.6.65 has a later release date than 3.1.2.x, you run into a build date issue, for that issue you could use the following workaround, as shown:
# install -u bos.alt_disk_install.boot_images
# installp -ug bos.alt_disk_install.rte
6.3. During the upgrade, only rootvg is being copied and the rest of the files and directories need to be collected separately. You can use the viosupgrade -g flag, which is collecting the files in padmin.
All rather basic configuration files are taken from rootvg, into the alt_disk, used for the upgrade installation.
More information on the flag you can find in the viosupgrade command:
Here are my recommendations on what files are good to be included in the list:
/etc/motd
/etc/environment
/etc/netsvc.conf
/etc/resolv.conf
/etc/hosts
/etc/inittab
/etc/ntp.conf
> If using LDAP (Lightweight Directory Access Protocol), save the configuration files
> If using local user and password controls:
/etc/group
/etc/passwd
/etc/security/passwd
Save any nmon or topas output file you might want to compare later for a performance check tar cvf/tmp/var_perf_daily.tar  /var/perf/daily/*
Double check for any local useful script in:
 /home/padmin
 /usr/lbin
> Additional reference but not necessary:

 /etc/tunables/nextboot
 /etc/tunables/lastboot
6.4. If you have a free disk, you can use for the upgrade you can proceed with the viosupgrade tool:
Command structure:
$ viosupgrade -l -i image_file -a mksysb_install_disk [-c] [-g filename_files_to_restore]
Example of the command:
$ viosupgrade -l -i 3120_mksysb -a hdisk1 -g files_to_restore.txt
------
> You can verify whether the upgrade was completed by running the following command:
viosupgrade -l -q
> Verify the IOS level:
 ioslevel

 

Additional Information

Published by: Tanya Koleva

Document Location

Worldwide

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Document Information

Modified date:
10 November 2021

UID

ibm16465195

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