Applying firmware to multiple managed systems using an HMC

Learn more about applying firmware to multiple managed systems using an HMC.

When using the HMC to perform firmware updates and upgrades, you can select multiple managed systems to be updated simultaneously from the Target Object Selection window. If the DVD repository is used during an upgrade, then the upgrade will be performed sequentially. For details, refer to DVD repository limitations.

Also, if you are updating or upgrading a 575 system, review the following considerations in Considerations for updating firmware on a 575 system.

DVD repository limitations

The DVD drive will be locked while you are using the DVD as a repository. If you are updating within the same release, this will be performed simultaneously. When you are upgrading to a new release (for example: upgrading from the 230 release to the 235 release), this will be done sequentially. That is, the DVD drive will be locked for a longer period of time. Therefore, another repository might be preferred.

Note: Do not upgrade multiple managed systems to a new release from a DVD repository if you want the managed systems to be upgraded simultaneously.

Considerations for updating firmware on a 575 system

Updates of multiple managed systems in a 575 system can cause the potential for a lock conflict on the power frame. To obtain the most parallel processing during firmware updates on a 575 system, perform the following update sequence:

Select one managed system target in each power frame, and update the firmware. These targets will be updated in parallel.
Select all remaining managed system targets, and update the firmware. These targets will be updated in parallel.

Note: You can also update multiple managed systems from the HMC command line using the updlic command.