Power Global

Power Global

A central meeting place for IBM Power. Connect, ask questions, share ideas, and explore the full spectrum of Power technologies across workloads, industries, and use cases.


#TechXchangePresenter
#Power

 View Only

  • 1.  Recommendations for USB flash drives for a Power 11.

    Posted 5 days ago

    If you plan on installing or upgrading IBM i, AIX, firmware, VIOS on a Power 11, what recommendations do you have for USB sticks?

    What size?

    Insist on USB 3.0?  or can you use higher?

    Our preferred vendor is CDW  Search Results: Showing results for usb flash drive | CDW

    https://www.ibm.com/docs/en/power11/9824-22A?topic=codes-9824-22a-9856-22h-locations



    ------------------------------
    Robert Berendt IBMChampion
    Business Systems Analyst, Lead
    Dekko
    Fort Wayne
    ------------------------------


  • 2.  RE: Recommendations for USB flash drives for a Power 11.

    Posted 4 days ago

    Hi Robert,

    For what it's worth I can tell you that I bought new USB 3.2 sticks (SANDISK Ultra Dual Drive Luxe). A Power11 would not boot on a SLIC image on that type. I would go for USB 3.0 and max 256GB.



    ------------------------------
    Hans Bornich
    ------------------------------

    Original Message


  • 3.  RE: Recommendations for USB flash drives for a Power 11.

    Posted 4 days ago

    Robert, while not on a Power11, I've used the SanDisk Ultra 128 GB 

    Mfg # SDCZ48-128G-A46 | CDW # 3712072
    for multiple Power10 migrations and upgrades for our customers. 

    Scott


    ------------------------------
    Scott Schollenberger
    ------------------------------

    Original Message


  • 4.  RE: Recommendations for USB flash drives for a Power 11.

    Posted yesterday
    Edited by Steven Garcia yesterday

    Robert,

    Hey, there. Hope all is well.

    If you're just providing the base OS installation images, I would suggest using 32 GB USB keys. They're reasonably priced, if you accidentally throw one away, no big deal. I use 32 GB USB keys for Virtual I/O Server installations and IBM i installations on full-system logical partitions. They're much faster than optical media and more reliable over time, plus I can leave a copy with the client. I just charge them for the media.

    If you need to provide the full, extended set of USB images for IBM i, then I would recommend using a 64 GB key. Larger keys aren't really needed for AIX or Virtual I/O Server since they don't have as comprehensive a set of LPPs and most of the time it's better to download/stage/transfer the latest images directly from ESS and FixCentral. I know with PTFs for IBM i, you can stage those in advance; if you put them on the key, you can just import them into an image catalog. (You probably already know this; just providing a complete explanation for those who may not know.)

    As for specific brands, I use Microcenter's house brand 32 GB USB 3.0 keys and write the install images with Alex Page's USB Image Tool (Virtual I/O Server, AIX, Linux) and the IBM USB Utility (IBM i). Note that you can also use Balena Etcher or a variety of other image-writing tools, including dd, but I've had the best success with the USB Image Tool on Windows.

    I would also recommend using a USB key with a rigid body instead of one of those telescoping bodies. You can more effectively label the key that way without a lanyard or string tag.

    Microcenter's 32 GB USB Keys:

    https://www.microcenter.com/product/694900/micro-center-32gb-usb-31-3pk

    Alex Page's Coding Playground: USB Image Tool:
    https://www.alexpage.de/usb-image-tool/

    Hope this helps.



    ------------------------------
    Steven Garcia
    Consultant
    Pellera Technologies
    MD
    ------------------------------

    Original Message


Related Content