4405ch04 Continuous availability and manageability.fmDraft Document for Review September 2, 2008 5:05 pm
112 IBM Power 570 Technical Overview and Introduction
Concurrent maintenance
The IBM POWER6 processor-based systems are designed with the understanding that
certain components have higher intrinsic failure rates than others. The movement of fans,
power supplies, and physical storage devices naturally make them more susceptible to wear
down or burnout, while other devices such as I/O adapters may begin to wear from repeated
plugging or unplugging. For this reason, these devices are specifically designed to be
concurrently maintainable, when properly configured.
In other cases, a customer may be in the process of moving or redesigning a datacenter, or
planning a major upgrade. At times like these, flexibility is crucial. The IBM POWER6
processor-based systems are designed for redundant or concurrently maintainable power,
fans, physical storage, and I/O towers.
Blind-swap PCI adapters
Blind-swap PCI adapters represent significant service and ease-of-use enhancements in I/O
subsystem design while maintaining high PCI adapter density.
Standard PCI designs supporting hot-add and hot-replace require top access so that
adapters can be slid into the PCI I/O slots vertically. Blind-swap allows PCI adapters to be
concurrently replaced without having to put the I/O drawer into a service position.
Firmware updates
Firmware updates for POWER6 processor-based systems are released in a cumulative
sequential fix format, packaged as an RPM for concurrent application and activation.
Administrators can install and activate many firmware patches without cycling power or
rebooting the server.
The new firmware image is loaded on the HMC using any of the following methods:
IBM-distributed media such as a CD-ROM
A Problem Fix distribution from the IBM Service and Support repository
Download from the IBM Web site:
http://www14.software.ibm.com/webapp/set2/firmware/gjsn
FTP from another server
IBM will support multiple firmware releases in the field, so under expected circumstances a
server can operate on an existing firmware release, using concurrent firmware fixes to stay
up-to-date with the current patch level. Because changes to some server functions (for
example, changing initialization values for chip controls) cannot occur during system
operation, a patch in this area will require a system reboot for activation. Under normal
operating conditions, IBM intends to provide patches for an individual firmware release level
for up to two years after first making the release code generally availability. After this period,
clients should plan to update in order to stay on a supported firmware release.
Activation of new firmware functions, as opposed to patches, will require installation of a new
firmware release Level. This process is disruptive to server operations in that it requires a
scheduled outage and full server reboot.
In addition to concurrent and disruptive firmware updates, IBM will also offer concurrent
patches that include functions which are not activated until a subsequent server reboot. A
server with these patches will operate normally. The additional concurrent fixes will be
installed and activated when the system reboots after the next scheduled outage.
To Next Page
Loading...
Need help?
General