Can not upgrade system firmware on 9117-MMA

[aixquest]

Hi,
does anybody know the reason why I can not upgrade system FW from EM320_xxx to EM350_xxx on Pseries 9117-MMA?

When performing the command on AIX, I got the folloiwng message:

./usr/lpp/diagnostics/bin/update_flash -f /tmp/fwupdate/01EM350_038_038.img

This partition does not have the authority to update the
system firmware. Please refer to the documentation for
your system for more information.

I also tried to update with the same release version on EM320, the messsage is the same. It looks like something is preventing this. I have root access to the server.

There is upgrade procedure found on the IBM website:

If you plan to install this firmware concurrently, it will require two
firmware updates:
1 - Install system firmware level EM320_046.
2 - Then, install system firmware level EM320_076.

I tried to install EM320_046, same partition message appeared. HMC is not connected to this server.

Thanks,

 

[DukeSSD]

To update the firmware the partition must have "service authority", or you must do it from the HMC.

What is odd in your case is that your partition does not have service authority, which it should have if it is the only partition.

What is also odd is that you do not have an HMC, I thought the MMA had to have an HMC.

Do you use IVM? How many partitions do you have? Did it ever have an HMC?

All very odd.

 

[aixquest]

Originally, it didn't connect to a HMC. I tried to connect to the HMC (has V7R3.5.0.0 software). During the scan, it found my server, but I couldn't add it for some reason. It complains the authentication failed. I thought it was a password thing. To verify this, I had another serial cable connect to the server, booted it to service processor mode, entered the password. It worked just fine. Also, as mentioned before that I have EM320_xxx system firwmare now, From number, I assume this only works with HMC V7R3.2.0.0. I have not tried this out since the HMC had recently upgraded to V7R3.5.0.0. For this reason, I could not use the HMC to view the partition. The system is booting to AIX without problem though, that is why I use the method above.

I don't have IVM. I only have one partition since I don't have any success connect it to the HMC. The OS was originally installed via booted to CD/DVD rom.

 

[DukeSSD]

Sounds like your system is now in an unsupported coinfiguration.

The managed system password is not the same thing as the ASMI / service processor password.

http://publib.boulder.ibm.com/infoc...sp?topic=/ipha1_p5/overviewofthepasswords.htm

HMC v7r5 should be able to manage a system with EM320 firmware without a problem. This table is out of date but newer HMC levels tend to be OK with older firmware, not the other way around:

http://www14.software.ibm.com/webapp/set2/sas/f/power5cm3/emtablep6.html

I think the only way you will be able to update the firmware from AIX is to set the partitions service authority and the only way you can do this is from the HMC.

If the system had never had an HMC then this would already be set but the MMA must have an HMC and also must be installed by an IBM CE from new to ensure they are both correctly configured.

If you have lost the managed system password then you will need to reset this to be able to manage the system from an HMC.

I think it is time to call IBM.

They should be able to help you to reset the managed system HMC password, reconnect the HMC, then either change your partition to have service authority so you can update the firmware or you will then be able to update the firmware from the HMC.

 

[p5wizard]

Once physically connected to an HMC, and you get an "update password" status, you can reset the HMC password from ASMI (if you know the admin password to get in to ASMI). So you don't really need IBM assistance for this, but if your server is still under warranty or in a maintenance plan, there's no reason not to call them.

HTH,

p5wizard