I/O firmware update – Architecture and technical overview

2.11.3 I/O firmware update

The I/O firmware update was integrated in the old GUI. However, to make the GUI more clear and simple, now it features a new layout that is similar to the system firmware update GUI.

For example, the first and second steps of I/O firmware update includes the License Agreement and Repository windows, which are similar to the system firmware update windows.

128  IBM Power E1080: Technical Overview and Introduction

The next step of the wizard shows the system name and partition name that owns the I/O device, the current level, the available level of the related device microcode, and suggested actions and device description (see Figure 2-44).

Figure 2-44 I/O firmware update interface

2.12 Serviceability

Instances exist in which maintenance procedures are performed on systems and subsystems, including replacing failed components, engineering change implementations, MES hardware upgrades, and migrations. Any of these procedures need the system operations to completely halt or run with a degradation in service.

The productive hours that are lost in performing the service negatively affects the business; therefore, the service strategy includes plans for not only how efficiently the system can be brought back to resume its operations normally, but also to reduce the hours that are needed to service the system.

The success of achieving these goals determines the availability of the system; that is, efficient serviceability means high availability. Power E1080 server carries forward the rich legacy of enterprise class Power systems to deliver the best enterprise RAS features compared to any OEM vendor.

Power E1080 server inherits the fundamental guiding principles and elements of serviceability from the Power E980 enterprise server. The following attributes of its service environment and the interfaces that help it achieve the objectives of serviceability are key:

Ê Errors detection

Ê Diagnose

Ê Reporting

Ê Notification

Ê Ease of location and service

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These key attributes are discussed next.