Temporary and permanent side of the service processor when using an HMC

Learn about the two sides of the service processor that store the server firmware.

The service processor maintains two copies of the server firmware. One copy is considered the permanent copy and is stored on the permanent side, sometimes referred to as the "p" side. The other copy is considered the temporary copy and is stored on the temporary side, sometimes referred to as the "t" side. It is recommended that you start and run the server from the temporary side.

When you install a server firmware fix, it is installed on the temporary side.

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.) If you want to preserve the contents of the permanent side, select Install and Activate from the Advanced Features on the HMC interface, and indicate that you do not want to automatically accept the firmware level.

You might want to use the new level of firmware for a period of time to verify that it works correctly. When you are sure that the new level of firmware works correctly, you can permanently install the server firmware fix. When you permanently install a server firmware fix, you copy the temporary firmware level from the temporary side to the permanent side.

Conversely, if you decide that you do not want to keep the new level of server firmware, you can remove the current level of firmware. When you remove the current level of firmware, you copy the firmware level that is currently installed on the permanent side from the permanent side to the temporary side.

To find out how the temporary side and permanent side of the service processor correlate to storage areas A and B in i5/OS®, see Install fixes on systems managed by the Hardware Management Console.


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