Chapter 4. Reliability, availability, and serviceability
133
Table 4-1 shows the file-naming convention for system firmware.
Table 4-1 Firmware naming convention
The following example uses this convention: 01SV860_010_010 = Firmware for 8208-44E
release 860 fix pack 10.
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.
4.6.3 Concurrent firmware maintenance 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 effect to any applications running on a processor. This feature allows
concurrent firmware changes in POWER8, which in earlier designs required a reboot to take
effect.
Activating new firmware functions requires installation of a higher firmware release level. This
process is disruptive to server operations and requires a scheduled outage and full server
reboot.
4.6.4 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 enhancement to the service and support that is available for IBM servers at no
additional charge. 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:
PPNNSSS_FFF_DDD
PP
Package identifier
For example, 01
-
NN
Platform and class
For example, SV
Scale out systems
SSS
Release indicator
FFF
Current fix pack
DDD
Last disruptive fix pack
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