IBM Eserver pSeries 670 User Manual Download

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Update System or Service Processor Flash

Partitions

Attention:

In a logical partitioned system, ask the customer or system administrator if

a service partition has been designated. If the service partition is designated, the
customer or system administrator must shut down all of the other partitions. Perform the
firmware update using the service aid or the AIX command line in that partition.

If a service partition has not been designated, you must first shut down the system. If
the firmware update image is on backup diskettes, perform the firmware update from
the service processor menus as a privileged user. If the firmware update image is in a
file on the system, reboot the system to full system partition and follow the normal
firmware update procedures.

If the system is already in a full system partition, follow the normal firmware update
procedures.

This selection updates the system or service processor flash for CHRP system units.

Further update and recovery instructions can be provided with the update. You must
know the fully qualified path and file name of the flash update image file that was
provided. If the flash update image file is on a diskette, the service aid can list the files
on the diskette for selection. The diskette must be a valid backup diskette.

Refer to the update instructions, or the service guide for the system unit to determine
the level of the system unit or service processor flash.

When this service aid is run from online diagnostics, the flash update image file is
copied to the /var file system. If there is not enough space in the /var file system for the
flash update image file, an error is reported. If this error occurs, exit the service aid,
increase the size of the /var file system, and retry the service aid. After the file is
copied, a screen requests confirmation before continuing with the update flash.
Continuing the update flash reboots the system using the shutdown -u command. The
system does not return to diagnostics, and the current flash image is not saved. After
the reboot, remove the /var/update_flash_image file.

When this service aid is run from standalone diagnostics, the flash update image file is
copied to the file system from diskette. The user must provide the image on a backup
diskette because the user does not have access to remote file systems or any other
files that are on the system. If not enough space is available, an error is reported,
stating additional system memory is needed. After the file is copied, a screen requests
confirmation before continuing with the update flash. Continuing the update flash
reboots the system using the reboot -u command. You may receive a

Caution: some

process(es) wouldn’t die

message during the reboot process. You can ignore this

message. The current flash image is not saved.

You can use the update_flash command in place of this service aid. The command is
located in the /usr/lpp/diagnostics/bin directory. The command syntax is as follows:

Chapter 6. Introducing Tasks and Service Aids

115