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  • 1.  What is the utility to find compatible fix levels between various hardware?

    Posted Fri October 06, 2023 09:20 AM

    Like, if I'm running a FS7300 on Power 10 and ... and ... what fixes/patches should I have on them?

    Kind of like a hardware version of IBM's FLRT



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    Robert Berendt IBMChampion
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  • 2.  RE: What is the utility to find compatible fix levels between various hardware?

    Posted Mon October 09, 2023 04:50 AM

    Hiya - 

    In terms of IO support, you need the SSIC:

    https://www-50.ibm.com/systems/support/storage/ssic/interoperability

    Which tells you OS and Adapter compatibility.

    For Firmware/HW compatibility on the Storage side:

    https://www.ibm.com/support/pages/hardware-interoperability-matrix-flashsystem-7200-and-7300-software-levels

    For Storage Software Compatibility Matrix:

    https://www.ibm.com/support/pages/concurrent-compatibility-and-code-cross-reference-ibm-storage-virtualize

    Similarly, you want to look in the Power support Matrix for the recommended Power Levels (just saying Power 10 is not enough for me to give you links, as there's a wide vast array of what Power 10 means in terms of software/firmware support).

    I hope this helps.



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    Evelyn Perez
    IBM Senior Technical Staff Member
    IBM Storage Virtualize Software Architect for SVC and FlashSystem
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    Original Message


  • 3.  RE: What is the utility to find compatible fix levels between various hardware?

    Posted Wed October 11, 2023 10:27 AM

    Thank you.



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    Robert Berendt IBMChampion
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    Original Message


  • 4.  RE: What is the utility to find compatible fix levels between various hardware?

    Posted Fri October 13, 2023 09:16 AM

    I tried the SSIC.  I meticulously filled it all out and got a report which basically says, here is what you have.  I really do not find the usefullness.  No recommendations for fixes, upgrades, etc.

    The storage levels for the 7300 at least say we can upgrade to versions of 8.6 so that has some utility.



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    Robert Berendt IBMChampion
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    Original Message


  • 5.  RE: What is the utility to find compatible fix levels between various hardware?

    Posted Tue October 17, 2023 05:42 AM

    I always get told to review the info on pages like this:

    https://www.ibm.com/support/pages/ibm-storage-virtualize-family-products-upgrade-planning

    But not sure this is what you are looking for?

    Regards,
    Mark



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    Mark Mather
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    Original Message


  • 6.  RE: What is the utility to find compatible fix levels between various hardware?

    Posted Tue October 17, 2023 07:20 AM

    That's not a bad site.  It will tell you what versions of software are compatible with your storage unit.  However it won't tell you about compatibilities with the systems using the storage unit.

    If you try IBM's Fix Level Recommendation Tool (FLRT) and tell it that you are running 
    a Power 10 9105-42A 
    and it's on firmware ML1030_065
    and you are running vHMC on X86 at 10.2
    and you are running VIOS 3.1.4.21
    and you are running IBM i 7.5 TR2
    and you are running AIX 7200-05-06-2320
    the FLRT will give you recommendations as to what level of each portion you should either update or upgrade to.  Basically how to upgrade in such an environment and still remain compatible.

    I'm looking for something like this which will also include our storage unit and it's level.



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    Robert Berendt IBMChampion
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    Original Message


  • 7.  RE: What is the utility to find compatible fix levels between various hardware?

    Posted Tue October 17, 2023 07:28 AM
    Edited by Evelyn Perez Tue October 17, 2023 07:28 AM

    Hiya - SSIC is the closest we have to this.  It will tell you at a high level the version of OS and the Adapters we support.  We don't provide more information than that.

    So start with your FLRT on Power and then validate the levels against Virtualize using SSIC (starting with the host characteristics you want).  Then check on the recommended stream and and restrictions for the Virtualize.

    I hope this helps.



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    Evelyn Perez
    IBM Senior Technical Staff Member
    IBM Storage Virtualize Software Architect for SVC and FlashSystem
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    Original Message


  • 8.  RE: What is the utility to find compatible fix levels between various hardware?

    Posted Tue October 17, 2023 07:39 AM

    Closest I see in the SSIC is something like:  Latest FW level supported Tested with 9....

    Is the concept of SSIC different?  Where you enter in the desired goal and see if the drop downs allow it?



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    Robert Berendt IBMChampion
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    Original Message