Getting server firmware fixes through AIX or Linux without an HMC

Learn how to update or upgrade server firmware through AIX^® or Linux^® without an HMC.

Installing server firmware fixes through the operating system is a disruptive process.

Note: If you have an IBM System i5™ or eServer™ i5, you must either apply server firmware through an HMC or through an i5/OS^® logical partition.

Perform tasks 1 through 6 to get server firmware fixes through AIX or Linux when you do not have an HMC.

Note: By default, the server firmware is installed on the temporary side only after the existing contents of the temporary side are permanently installed on the permanent side. (This process is performed automatically when you install a server firmware fix.)

Note: If you are unable to start your AIX or Linux operating system or server, refer to Getting server firmware fixes through AIX or Linux when you are unable to start the operating system or server.

Task 1. View existing firmware levels for AIX or Linux

Choose from the following options:
- To use the ASMI (AIX or Linux): On the ASMI Welcome pane, view the existing level of server firmware in the upper-right corner below the copyright statement, for example, SF220_006.
- To use the AIX command line (you must have AIX diagnostics installed on your server to perform this task), continue with step 2.
- To use the Linux command line, continue with step 4.
At an AIX command line, enter the following command:
```
lsmcode
```
The existing levels of server firmware are displayed. For example, you might see output similar to the following:
```
The current permanent system firmware image is SF220_005.
The current temporary system firmware image is SF220_006.
The system is currently booted from the temporary image.
```
Note:
1. The permanent level is also known as the backup level.
2. The temporary level is also known as the installed level.
3. The system was booted from the temporary side, so at this time the temporary level is also the activated level.
Continue with Task 2. View or download the firmware fix.
To view existing levels of server firmware for Linux, you must have the following service tools installed on your server:
- Platform Enablement Library – librtas-xxxxx.rpm
- Service Aids – ppc64-utils-xxxxx.rpm
- Hardware Inventory – lsvpd-xxxxx.rpm
where xxxxx represents a specific version of the RPM file.
Note: If you do not have the service tools on your server, refer to Obtaining service and productivity tools for Linux.

After the service tools are installed on the server running Linux, enter the following at a Linux command line:

lsmcode

The existing level of server firmware is displayed. For example, you might see output similar to the following:

Version of system firmware is: SF220_006 (t)  SF220_005 (p)  SF220_006 (t)

The following table provides descriptions for each of the server firmware levels displayed in the output.

Server firmware levels displayed
SF220_006 (t)	SF220_005 (p)	SF220_006 (t)
The installed level. Also known as the temporary level.	The backup level. Also known as the permanent level.	The activated level. The level on which the server is currently running.

Server firmware levels displayed

SF220_006 (t)

SF220_005 (p)

SF220_006 (t)

The installed level.

Also known as the temporary level.

The backup level.

Also known as the permanent level.

The activated level.

The level on which the server is currently running.

Continue with Task 2. View or download the firmware fix.

Task 2. View or download the firmware fix

Follow this procedure to view or download the firmware fix. You can download the fix directly to your server, or you can download it to a computer with an Internet connection and create a fix CD that you apply on the server. If necessary, contact service and support to order the fix on CD.

Note: If you plan to create a CD, you will need a CD burner and software. If you prefer to order a fix CD, contact service and support.

From a computer or server with an Internet connection, go to the Fix Central Web site at http://www.ibm.com/eserver/support/fixes/.
Select the appropriate family in the Product family list.
Select Hardware microcode and firmware in the Product list.
Click Continue.
Perform the following steps:
1. Select your machine type and model from the drop-down list. An information window is displayed.
2. Click Continue. The available firmware levels are displayed.
3. Record the available firmware.
4. If you want to download the fix, choose from the following options:
  - To download the ISO image, continue with step 6.
  - To download the RPM file, continue with step 7.
To download the ISO image, follow these steps:
1. Click Desc. An HTML file appears.
2. In the Description file, click the .ISO file. For example, SF2aa_bbb_BP2cc_ddd.iso.
  Note: If the ISO image is unavailable you will need to get the RPM file. Continue with step 7.
3. Follow the on-screen prompts.
4. Choose from the following options:
  - If you downloaded the ISO image to your server, continue with Task 4. Apply server firmware fixes through AIX or Linux to the temporary side of the service processor.
  - If you want to create a CD of the ISO image, follow the instructions for your CD program. Then go to Task 3. View and unpack the RPM file that contains the server firmware.
To download the RPM file, follow these steps:
1. Select the RPM check box for the server firmware version you want.
2. Scroll to the bottom of the page and click Continue.
3. Click Continue again. The License Agreement is displayed.
4. Click I agree to abide by its terms and click Continue.
5. Follow the on-screen prompts.
Choose from the following options:
- If you downloaded the RPM file to your server, continue with Task 3. View and unpack the RPM file that contains the server firmware.
- If you want to create a CD containing the RPM file, follow the instructions for your CD program and then continue with Task 3. View and unpack the RPM file that contains the server firmware.

Task 3. View and unpack the RPM file that contains the server firmware

If you created a CD with the ISO image, or either downloaded or created a CD with the RPM file, you will need to view and unpack the RPM file that contains the server firmware.

Choose from the following options:
- If you created a CD with the ISO image, or either downloaded or created a CD with the RPM file, you will need to view and unpack the RPM file that contains the server firmware. Continue with the next step.
- If you downloaded the ISO image to your system, go to Task 4. Apply server firmware fixes through AIX or Linux to the temporary side of the service processor.
Insert the CD that contains the .iso image or the RPM file into the media drive on your server.
To mount the CD, choose from the following options (you will need to have root user authority):
- If you are working on an AIX system, enter the following at an AIX command line:
```
mount /dev/cd0 /mnt
```
- If you are working on a Linux system, enter one of the following commands at a Linux command line:
```
mount -t iso9660 /dev/cdrom /mnt 
```
  or
```
mount -t iso9660 /dev/dvdrom /mnt
```
Choose from the following options:
- If the mount was successful, continue with step 6.
- If the mount was unsuccessful, continue with the next step.
If you received the message, mount: 0506-324 Cannot mount /dev/cd0 on /mnt, perform the steps below to mount the CD:
1. Enter the command:
```
/usr/sbin/mount -v 'cdrfs' -f'' -p'' -r'' /dev/cd0 /mnt
```
  The quotation marks following the f, p, and r are two single quotation marks with no space between them.
  
  Note: If you prefer to use the System Management Interface Tool (SMIT) to mount the CD, see Using the System Management Interface Tool to mount the fix CD for AIX.
2. Continue with the next step.
To view the RPM file name, enter the following command at the AIX or Linux command line:
- If the RPM file is on CD, type:
```
ls /mnt
```
- If the RPM file is on the server, type:
```
ls /tmp/fwupdate
```
The name of the RPM file is displayed. For example, you might see output similar to the following:
```
01SF2xx_yyy_zzz.rpm
```
To unpack the RPM file, enter one of the following commands at the AIX or Linux command line:
- If you want to unpack from a CD, enter:
```
rpm -Uvh --ignoreos /mnt/filename.rpm
```
- If you want to unpack from the server's hard drive, enter:
```
rpm -Uvh --ignoreos /tmp/fwupdate/filename.rpm
```
  where filename is the name of the RPM file that contains the server firmware. For example, 01SF2xx_yyy_zzz.rpm.
  Note: When you unpack the RPM file, the server firmware fix file is saved in the /tmp/fwupdate directory on the server's hard drive in the following format: 01SF2xx_yyy_zzz.
Continue with Task 4. Apply server firmware fixes through AIX or Linux to the temporary side of the service processor.

Task 4. Apply server firmware fixes through AIX or Linux to the temporary side of the service processor

Do you have a model 575 or 59x server?
- No: Continue with the next step.
- Yes: You must use the HMC to install server firmware fixes. Refer to one of these procedures:
  - Getting server and power subsystem firmware fixes through an HMC with an Internet connection.
  - Getting server firmware and power subsystem firmware fixes through an HMC using a CD, FTP server, or hard drive.
Is your AIX or Linux system or logical partition, IBM System p5™, IBM^® eServer p5, or OpenPower™ system managed by an HMC?
- No: Continue with the next step.
- Yes: You must use the HMC to apply the fix. Refer to one of these procedures:
  - Getting server and power subsystem firmware fixes through an HMC with an Internet connection.
  - Getting server firmware and power subsystem firmware fixes through an HMC using a CD, FTP server, or hard drive.
Do you have a IBM System i5 or eServer i5?
- No: Continue with the next step.
- Yes: You must apply the fix through i5/OS or an HMC. Refer to one of the following procedures:
Ensure you are starting the system from the temporary side of the service processor; the firmware installation will fail if the system has booted from the permanent side. To learn which side you are starting from, and how to change to the other side if necessary, refer to Working with the temporary and permanent side of the service processor.
To use the update_flash command (AIX or Linux) to install the server firmware, continue with step 6.
Note: If you have AIX installed, and prefer to use the AIX diagnostics to install the fix, see Using the AIX diagnostics to install the server firmware fix through AIX. If you plan to install the fix from CD, you will need to obtain the Microcode Updates Files & Discovery Tool CD to use the AIX diagnostics.
You will need the server firmware fix file name in the next step. To view the name, enter the following at an AIX or Linux command line:
Note: To perform this task, you must have root user authority.
```
ls /tmp/fwupdate
```
The name of the server firmware fix file is displayed. For example, you might see output similar to the following:
```
01SF2xx_yyy_zzz
```
To install the server firmware fix, choose from the following options:
- If you are updating AIX, enter the following at an AIX command line:
```
cd /tmp/fwupdate
/usr/lpp/diagnostics/bin/update_flash -f fwlevel
```
  where fwlevel is the specific server firmware fix file name, such as 01SF2xx_yyy_zzz.
- If you are updating Linux, enter the following at a Linux command line:
```
cd /tmp/fwupdate
/usr/sbin/update_flash -f fwlevel
```
  where fwlevel is the specific server firmware fix file name, such as 01SF2xx_yyy_zzz.
During the server firmware installation process, reference codes CA2799FD and CA2799FF are alternately displayed on the control panel. After the installation is complete, the system is automatically powered off and powered on.
Note: If you receive a message stating: This partition does not have the authority to perform the requested function, see Message regarding a server that was previously managed by an HMC.
Continue with Task 5. Verify that the fix installed correctly.

Task 5. Verify that the fix installed correctly