Originally posted by: Amartey Pearson

If you have tried out NovaLink, but want to wait until the HMC <-> NovaLink co-management function is fully supported (no longer a Tech Preview), you can convert your system back to normal HMC management by using the following steps:

1)  From the HMC, request master authority (chcomgmt -o setmaster -t norm -m <SYS>)

2)  From the HMC, power off the NovaLink partition, and delete it.

3)  From the HMC, release master authority.  As there is no longer a NovaLink partition, the act of releasing master will set the system back into classic HMC management mode with profiles.  (chcomgmt -o relmaster -m <SYS>)

Originally posted by: Peter_Piskutz

I have a S824 (8286-42A) that has the co-management function setup.  We lost power and now I can no longer start the LPARs using the HMC (including VIO Servers or novalink LPAR).  The novalink LPAR is running on this S824.  When I power on the the S824 it powers to the STANDBY state.  I tried to follow the steps above to convert back to HMC managed but it does not work.  See output below.

hscroot@hmc1:~> chcomgmt -o setmaster -t norm -m Server-8286-42A-SN10*****
Before using this IBM NovaLink HMC Co-management Technology Preview, you must read and agree to the terms of the IBM International License Agreement for Early Release of Programs and associated License Information document ("Agreement") which can be read by running the command "chcomgmt --terms list". If you agree to the terms, add the "--terms agree" option to the chcomgmt command. By using the technology preview, you agree to the terms of the Agreement.

hscroot@hmc1:~> chcomgmt -o setmaster -t norm -m Server-8286-42A-SN10****** --terms agree
HSCLB953 The request to set or release this management console as the PowerVM management master for the managed system has been accepted but has not yet been completed.  Verify that the operation has completed before performing an operation that depends on it.

The novalink LPAR is powered down but can not delete it.

hscroot@hmc1:~> rmsyscfg -r lpar -m Server-8286-42A-SN10***** --id 8
An error occurred while deleting the partition with ID 8.
HSCLB952 This operation is not allowed at this time because this management console is not the PowerVM management master for the managed system.

hscroot@hmc1:~> chcomgmt -o relmaster -m Server-8286-42A-SN102CA4V
hscroot@hmc1:~>

Additional info:

hscroot@hmc1:~>  lscomgmt -m Server-8286-42A-SN10*****
is_master=0,curr_master_name=novalink,curr_master_mtms=8*8286-42A*10*****,curr_master_type=norm,pend_master_name=hmc1,pend_master_mtms=7042-CR8*84*****

hscroot@hmc1:~> lssyscfg -r lpar -F name,state,lpar_id,lpar_env,powervm_mgmt_capable -m Server-8286-42A-SN10*****
VIOS1_S824,Not Activated,1,vioserver,null
VIOS2_S824,Not Activated,2,vioserver,null
AIX14,Not Activated,3,aixlinux,null
bi01-lop,Not Activated,4,aixlinux,null
RHEL04-LOP,Not Activated,5,aixlinux,null
pcloud-rhel86-36139edb-00000034,Not Activated,6,aixlinux,null
powervc,Not Activated,7,aixlinux,null
novalink,Not Activated,8,aixlinux,null
rhel05-lop,Not Activated,11,aixlinux,null
digital,Not Activated,14,aixlinux,null
AIX03,Not Activated,18,aixlinux,null
ICM,Not Activated,19,aixlinux,null
pcloud-aix80-dfe2b2db-00000016,Not Activated,20,aixlinux,null
pcloud-aix81-d2143c3d-00000017,Not Activated,21,aixlinux,null
controller01,Not Activated,22,aixlinux,null
RHEL03-LOP,Not Activated,24,aixlinux,null
RTS-AIX7,Not Activated,25,aixlinux,null
sbd-aix,Not Activated,26,aixlinux,null

Originally posted by: Amartey Pearson

OK - there are two things going on here.  First off - how to get Master back to the HMC...

Regaining master mode requires permission from the current master.  In this case NovaLink isn't active, so permission won't be granted.  In this case, you can use the force flag to override the default behavior and allow the HMC to become the master: chcomgmt -o setmaster -t norm --force 

The next question is why you can't power on partitions.  If the system boots into Standby mode, you can do a few things:

1)  Set the default boot mode for the system to Runtime instead of Standby.  You can do this from the HMC (system properties) or from the FSP via the ASMI GUI.  This will let the system auto-boot lpars as normal.  OR

2)  From the HMC you should be able to use the standard Activate UI's to power on the VIOSs & NovaLink lpars.  The first lpar you activate should cause the system to shift out of Standby.  But I suspect this is what isn't working - please confirm and we'll see if we can replicate this behavior to fix it.  

You shouldn't have to switch away from NovaLink managed - but that should allow things to continue as well.

Originally posted by: Peter_Piskutz

Tried running with the force command and it did not work:

hscroot@hmc1:~> chcomgmt -o setmaster -t norm -m Server-8286-42A-SN102CA4V --force --terms agree

HSCLB951 The operation has failed on the managed system.  Verify that this management console is in the correct PowerVM management mode to perform this operation on the managed system.

1) Boot mode options for 8286-42A (S824) are: Auto Start Always, Auto-Start for Auto-Recovery and User-Initiated.  I changed from User-Initiated to Auto-Start and now when I power on the managed server my two VIO Servers activate.  However those are the only two LPARs set to start when managed system is powered on.  (attached screen shot Server_Power_on_Options.jpg).

2) The HMC does not give me the option to activate LPARs, only a minimum set of options available.  (attached screen shot LPAR_controls.jpg).

I have been using the HMC classic interface but seems to be same using the Enhanced+ interface.

Originally posted by: lukaszschodowski

DId you try to use this two commands:

hscroot@hmc1:~> chcomgmt -m S824 -o relmaster

hscroot@hmc1:~> chcomgmt -m S824 -o setmaster -t norm

Don't forget to remove powervm_mgmt_capable flag:  chsyscfg -m S824 -r lpar -i lpar_id=10,powervm_mgmt_capable=0