Month: December 2022

Below is a table of the major group PTFs for the last few releases. This is what we are installing for our customers on iTech Solutions Quarterly Maintenance program.

7.5
7.4
7.3
7.2
7.1
6.1
V5R4
Cumul Pack
22321
22328
22335
21084
17192
15063
12094
Tech. Refresh
1
7
13
9
11
–
–
Grp Hipers
18
95
172
224
284
210
204
DB Group
3
23
32
27
43
33
33
DB2 Mirror
3
21
–
–
–
–
–
Java Group
3
16
27
37
48
41
34
Print Group
–
–
–
3
13
31
49
Backup/Recov.
6
36
61
78
75
61
57
Blade/IXA/IXS
–
–
–
1
16
30
15
HTTP
5
25
42
51
53
46
36
TCP/IP
1
8
12
13
11
17
22
Security
12
43
83
115
110
60
 33
High Availability
2
11
19
21
18
 5

Hardware
–
2
18
35
44
 17

Open Source
–
–
6
6
6
–

The easiest way to check your levels is to issue the command WRKPTFGRP. They should all have a status of installed, and you should be up to the latest for all the above, based upon your release. Now there are more groups than the ones listed above, but these are the general ones that most people require. We can help you know which group PTFs you should be installing on your machine based upon your licensed programs. Here is a nice tidbit. The Cumulative PTF package number is broken down as YDDD, where Y is the year and DDD is the day it was released. Therefore, if we look at the cumulative package for 7.3, the ID is 21245. We can determine that it was created on the 245th day of 2021, which is September 2, 2021. Look at your machine and this will give you a quick indication of just how far out of date in PTFs you may be.

HMCs

Fixes are listed below in the order in which they should be installed for each software version. If you are upgrading to a new release, install the base version from recovery media or network image and then apply updates in the order listed. If you already have fixes applied and your current fix level is not in this list, just start with the next higher-numbered fix pack in the list. Be sure to read the release notes for each HMC version, service pack, and PTF for installation instructions and prerequisites.

Not all software versions are supported on all HMC models. Check IBM’s Supported HMC Hardware Matrix to see which versions your HMC can run. Attempting to install an unsupported version can result in an unusable HMC.

HMC Version
Fixes (recommended install order)
End of Service
V10.1 for POWER-based
(7063-CRn) HMCs and
HMC Virtual Appliances

SP1030 MF70433

Not Announced
V9.2 for POWER-based
(7063-CRn) HMCs and
HMC Virtual Appliances

SP953 MH01934
MH01944

April 30, 2023
V9.1 for POWER-based
(7063-CRn) HMCs and
HMC Virtual Appliances

SP931 MH01832
MH01854
SP941 MH01860
SP942 MH01877
MH01899

 September 30, 2021

V8.870 for POWER-based
(7063-CRn) HMCs and
HMC Virtual Appliances

MH01707
SP3 MH01794
MH01819
MH01848

August 31, 2019
V10.2 for x86-based HMC

Virtual Appliances ONLY

SP1030 MF70432

Not Announced

V10.1 for x86-based HMC

Virtual Appliances ONLY

SP1021 MF70301

Not Announced

V9.2 for x86-based HMC

Virtual Appliances ONLY

SP953 MH01933
MH01943

April 30, 2023

V9.2 for x86-based HMC

Model 7042-CR9 ONLY

MH01857 (Install at v9.1 before upgrade to v9.2)
SP953 MH01933
MH01943

April 30, 2023

V9.1 for x86-based
(7042-CRn) HMCs and
HMC Virtual Appliances

SP931 MH01831
MH01853
SP941 MH01859
SP942 MH01876
MH01898

September 30, 2021

V8.870 for x86-based
(7042-CRn) HMCs and
HMC Virtual Appliances

MH01706
SP3 MH01793
MH01818
MH01847

August 31, 2019
V8.860

MH01655
SP3 MH01711
MH01764
MH01795

October 31, 2018
V8.850

MH01617
SP3 MH01689
MH01758
MH01730

May 31, 2018

V8.840

MH01560
SP3 MH01652
MH01730
MH01729

November 30, 2017

V8.830

SP3 MH01619
MH01717

July 31, 2017

V8.820

SP3 MH01583
MH01688

October 31, 2017

V8.810

SP3 MH01545
MH01645

June 30, 2016

V7.790

SP3 MH01546
MH01587
MH01687

December 30, 2016

V7.780

SP1 MH01397
SP2 MH01432
MH01570

October 31, 2015

V7.770

SP3 MH01379
SP4 MH01415
MH01516

February 28, 2015

V7.350

SP4 MH01277

May 31, 2014

Important notes:

HMC v10+ is required to manage a Power10 system. HMC v10 cannot manage POWER7 or older.
HMC v9+ is required to manage a POWER9 system. The new POWER9 “G” model firmware requires service pack 941 to be installed on the HMC. HMC v9 cannot manage POWER6 or older.
HMC v8+ is required to manage a POWER8 system. HMC v8 cannot manage POWER5 or older.
An update to HMC v9.2 for the x86-based physical HMC type-model 7042-CR9 *only* was released in March 2021.
For all other x86-based physical HMCs with machine type 7042, HMC v9.1 will be the final supported release.
Support will continue for x86-based virtual HMCs.

HMC v8.8.6 was the last release to include the “Classic” interface.
Beginning with HMC v8, the upgrade process supports a maximum span of two releases. Some examples:
HMC v8.8.1 supports upgrading from v7.7.8 and v7.7.9.
HMC v8.8.2 supports upgrading from v7.7.9 and v8.8.1.
HMC v9.1 supports upgrading from v8.8.6 and v8.8.7.

When upgrading to v8.8.6 or v8.8.7, carefully read the installation notes in the readme file before you begin. There is a step during the upgrade process which can fail without warning, leaving the HMC unusable. The only option when this occurs is to perform a fresh install of the HMC software and reconfigure the appliance from scratch. To that end, IBM provides a list of settings you should make note of before beginning the upgrade in case they are needed.

If you have a Flexible Service Processor (FSP) your firmware should be:

Machine Processor
Model
Version
End of Service
POWER10
9105-22A, 9105-42A, 9105-22B, 9105-41B, 9786-22H, and 9786-42H
ML1020_089_079
Not Announced

9043-MRX
MM1020_089_079
Not Announced

9080-HEX
MH1010_146_094
Not Announced
POWER9
9008-22L, 9009-22A, 9009-41A, 9009-42A, 9009-22G, 9009-41G, 9009-42G, or 5105-22E
VL950_111_045
October 1, 2025
POWER8
8408-E8E, 8284-21A,  8284-22A, 8286-41A, or 8286-42A
SV860_243_165
February 1, 2022

9119-MHE or 9119-MME
SC860_243_165
February 1, 2022
POWER7+
8231-E1D, 8202-E4D, 8231-E2D, 8205-E6D
AL770_126_126
 05/31/2018

8408-E8D, 9109-RMD
AM770_126_126
 05/31/2018

9117-MMD, 9179-MHD
AM780_100_100
 05/31/2018
POWER7
8231-E1B, 8202-E4B, 8231-E2B, 8205-E6B, 8233-E8B, 8236-E8C
AL730_159_159
05/31/2018

9117-MMB, 9179-MHB
AM780_100_100
05/31/2018

8231-E1C, 8202-E4C, 8205-E6C
AL740_167_167
 05/31/2018

9117-MMC, 9179-MHC
AM770-126_126
 05/31/2018
POWER6
9407-M15, 9408-M25, 9409-M50, 8204-E8A, 8203-E4A
EL350_176_038
01/31/2017

9406-MMA, 9117-MMA, 9234-EMA
EL350_176_038
01/31/2017

9119-FHA
EH350_176_038
01/31/2017
POWER5 or 5+
520, 515, 525, 550, 570
SF240_418_382
11/30/2012

Important note: For HMC-managed systems, POWER9 firmware level 950 requires HMC v9.2 M950 or higher. This HMC version will not run on x86-based HMC hardware (7042-CRn). If you have an Intel-based HMC, do not update your system to 950 firmware.

If you need help with upgrading your HMC or FSP just give us a call. We will be happy to perform the function for you or assist you in doing it. Contact us here.