Last week, my colleague Upendra Rajan posted the following announcements on the IBM Power community site:

“We’re happy to announce the release of two brand-new courses on IBM Power!

1. LX073DG: Linux for AIX System Administrators
a. Self-paced on IBM DLP: https://lnkd.in/gaRMCq27
b. Coursera version: https://lnkd.in/ghdJRDHu

2. AN38G: Mastering Virtual I/O Server Upgrades (Classroom/Instructor-led Online)
- https://lnkd.in/gCQHnAE2

Please read the announcement blogs for more details:

Linux on IBM Power: Coursera specialization updated with new course: https://lnkd.in/gi9v8N3D

Mastering Virtual I/O Server Upgrades (AN38G) is out now!: https://lnkd.in/gFYETRYp”

I wanted to take a moment here and focus on the new AN38G course, Mastering Virtual I/O Server Upgrades.

VIOS upgrades

It has long been possible to upgrade a Virtual I/O Server (or VIOS, as it’s more commonly known), to a new version of the VIOS operating system. Since the introduction of VIOS 3.1 in 2018, the viosupgrade utility has helped to simplify the upgrade process. Prior to this tool, a VIOS admin would need to perform several manual (or well scripted) steps to upgrade an existing VIOS to a later version. This traditional upgrade method (with viosbr) is labor-intensive, requiring manual intervention at multiple steps, which could lead to human error. The automated methods (with viosupgrade) streamline the process, making them more suitable for large-scale environments.

Simplified upgrade process

The viosupgrade tool automates much of the upgrade process, including backing up and restoring VIOS metadata (virtual and logical device mappings). This reduces downtime and simplifies migration compared to manual upgrades; though careful preparation is still required. Support for upgrades via the Hardware Management Console (HMC) in newer versions (e.g., v10.r3.1050) makes the process more accessible, especially for environments with active RMC connections.

Avoidance of business risks

Operating an unsupported VIOS version can lead to prolonged downtime if issues arise, as IBM support may not be available. This can impact production virtual machines (VMs/partitions) that rely on VIOS for I/O virtualization, affecting business continuity. Upgrading mitigates risks associated with running outdated software, ensuring your environment remains reliable and supportable. Keep an eye on the PowerVM VIOS Lifecycle information site: https://www.ibm.com/support/pages/powervm-vios-lifecycle-information

The latest version of VIOS provides many benefits, such as:

• Support & security: Avoid EOS risks, get patches
• Performance enhancements: Leverage AIX 7.3, optimize for Power9/10/11
• New features and functions: Enhanced LPM, disaster recovery, automation
• Compatibility improvements: Support new hardware, avoid configuration issues
• Reliability: Reduce downtime risks with supported versions

In order to exploit all the new features introduced in the latest VIOS version, customers need to migrate to the new version. It’s often been challenging for administrators when updating their VIOS to the newer versions as it involves taking a backup of the complete VIOS configuration first and then restoring (or re-configuring) it after the update. This consumes a lot of time and requires a lot of manual effort, as any failure in this process would increase the down time of the production LPARs served by the VIOS.  As the complexity of the configuration and number of VIOS increases, the time and effort required also increases.

To simplify this process and enable smooth migration, use the viosupgrade tool.

The viosupgrade tool

The viosupgrade tool automates the process of upgrading a VIOS. Its three critical steps are:

1. Backup of VIOS configuration: The tool saves the virtual and logical configuration data, including device attributes and mappings, typically using the viosbr command to create a backup of the VIOS metadata. This ensures that critical settings can be restored post-upgrade.
2.  Installation of the new VIOS image: The tool performs a fresh installation of the specified VIOS image (e.g., a mksysb image) onto an alternate disk (alternate rootvg), preserving the original rootvg disk to avoid data loss.
3. Restoration of VIOS configuration: After installation, the tool restores the backed-up configuration to the new VIOS image, including virtual SCSI, virtual FC, vNIC, SEA adapters, network settings, and other custom configurations, ensuring continuity of service. This typically involves multiple reboots to complete the restoration.

These steps streamline the upgrade process while minimizing downtime and preserving the VIOS environment. Administrators have the flexibility to use the tool either directly on their VIOS, or by calling it from their NIM servers.

By attending this training VIOS admins will have the opportunity to learn how to effectively use the tool to migrate their existing VIOS, with minimal downtime. The class focuses on upgrading VIOS from version 3.1 to 4.1.1.0.

Thanks for reading. We hope to see you in class soon!

If you’re interested in learning more about the other course that was announced last week (LX073DG), read on, here: https://community.ibm.com/community/user/blogs/chris-gibson1/2025/09/08/linux-for-aix-pros