Adding, replacing, or removing a hardware feature

Attention: You cannot use the SCSI Adapter for External Media Devices (2768) feature in any IBM® eServer™ i5 model (model unit or expansion unit). Damage to the model hardware might occur if the 2768 feature is installed.

You might need to change one or more hardware features to satisfy capacity and compatibility requirements before upgrading the IBM i or upgrading to a new server. For example, you might need to add more memory, or you might need to replace a tape drive that is not compatible with the target server. The unique requirements of the hardware feature indicate when you change the hardware feature. Some examples include:

• If you have hardware features that do not work with IBM i Version 6 Release 1, you need to replace these hardware features before upgrading IBM i to V6R1.
• If you are adding a hardware feature that works only with IBM i V6R1, you need to upgrade to V6R1 before adding the hardware features.
• If you have hardware features that do not work with the Linux® version you intend to use, you need to replace these hardware features before upgrading the Linux version.
• If you are adding a hardware feature that works only with the Linux version you intend to use, you need to upgrade your Linux version before adding the hardware features.
• If you have hardware features that do not work with the new model, you need to replace these hardware features either before or when you upgrade to the new server.

You might need to change more than one hardware feature. If you plan to upgrade both the IBM i and the model, ensure that all hardware features are compatible with both IBM i V6R1 and the new model. Identify these hardware feature changes when you plan for your upgrade. For information about hardware features that you might need to replace, see the IBM Prerequisite .

To upgrade a hardware feature, perform the following tasks: