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  • 1.  HMC and VIOS compatibility

    Posted 09/26/23 05:29 AM

    Hello All,

    I am looking to upgrade HMC's (7063-CR2) from V10 R1 M1011 to V10 R2 M1030. As per readme the recommended level VIOS to take advantage of all the functionalities of version V10 R2 M1030 is 3.1.3.x and later, however I have few VIOS in my environment which are either running on 2.2.5.20 or 3.1.0.10 level and could not be upgraded for few more months. 

    Even though there is no direct correlation between HMC and VIOS, however just want to make sure, if it would be fine to upgrade the HMC's without upgrading the VIOS?

    Regards

    Justin Francis



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    Justin Francis
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    #PowerVM


  • 2.  RE: HMC and VIOS compatibility

    Posted 09/26/23 05:42 AM

    It should be fine to update the HMC to 1030 level. HMC should be still be able to manage older version of VIOSs. Thanks!

    -Manju



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    MANJUNATH SHANBHAG
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  • 3.  RE: HMC and VIOS compatibility

    Posted 09/27/23 04:04 AM

    Hi Justin,

    I hope you saw the picture:

    This is the link with the text representation - https://www.ibm.com/support/pages/powervm-vios-lifecycle-information
    As you see VIOS 2.2.5 is not even on the timeline. It was dropped off many-many years ago. Even the next version VIOS 2.2.6 is out of support since 3 years! It means nobody tests the newest HMC code if it works with such older VIOS versions.
    I can imagine only one reason why you couldn't upgrade VIOS. The reason would be POWER7 or older systems. Everything newer than VIOS 3.1.2 doesn't work with POWER7 at all. If you have POWER7 systems in your environment, NO, you can't update your HMC, because newer versions of HMC don't support POWER7 systems either.
    If you don't have POWER7 systems in your environment, upgrade VIOS 2.2.5 to 2.2.6.65 at least and all VIOS 3.1.0.x to 3.1.3.30. It is not such a big deal! It is online in case you have dual-VIO configuration. 
    Answering your question directly. No, there should be no big problems using 3.1.0.x with HMC V10R2. I still have some VIOS 2.2.6.65 with HMC V10R2M1041. The only problem is that you use not supported versions. In case of any problem you are on your own.


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    Andrey Klyachkin

    https://www.power-devops.com
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  • 4.  RE: HMC and VIOS compatibility

    Posted 09/27/23 10:27 AM

    Yes You can proceed to upgrade the HMC's, it wont affect Your VIOSes but its always a best practice to update/upgrade all PowerVM related component for security improvements, Reliability and availability of the System, performance fixes and for any additional new functionalities that may have been introduced.



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    Moses Kihoro
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