Preparing to install a new I/O adapter

 

Ensure that the currently installed system and logical partitions are fully documented before installing a new I/O adapter. Make sure that these documents represent the most recent configuration of the system and that no hardware changes have been made since printing the documentation.

After the system has been documented and prepared, perform the new I/O adapter installation making appropriate notes on the documentation. After the new I/O adapter installation is completed, the system should be powered on at dedicated service tools (DST).

To prepare for the new I/O adapter installation, perform the following task.

Documenting and preparing the server

Complete steps 1 through 5 for the primary partition first; then repeat steps 2 through 5 for each secondary partition. Step 1 should be completed for the primary partition only.

  1. On the primary partition, assign all unassigned I/O resources to active partitions.
  2. Print the disk configuration status from each partition of the system.
  3. Print the parity set configuration and status from each partition of the system. Be sure to mark each printout for the partition it represents.
  4. Display, verify, and print the hardware resource information for each partition of the system.
  5. Remove failed or nonreporting resources using the Hardware Service Manager (HSM) on the partition.

  6. Repeat steps 2 through 5 above for each secondary partition that is configured.

  7. Clear nonreporting logical partitioning resources on the primary partition.
  8. Print the system configuration for logical partitions.
  9. Use the printouts from step 8 to determine if there are load-source resources in a bus that will be changing bus numbers, for instance, when a bus is converted or recabled. For each partition with a load source drive in a converted or recabled bus, count one drive if the partition has RAID or unprotected drives. Count two drives if the partition has mirrored drives. Record the total number of load source drives. Also, record the serial number of the load source disk (unit 1) for each converted or recabled bus. You will need this information when you reconfigure bus or input/output processor (IOP) ownership.
    Example: P3 has a load source redundant array of independent disks (RAID) of 1. P4 has a load source mirrored of 2. The value of P3 added to the value of P4 equals 3. Record 3 as the total number of load source drives.

  10. Use the printouts from step 8 to determine the frame IDs and bus numbers that are associated with all hardware that is changing. This information must be given to the service representative.
  11. For each secondary partition, record the IPL System Action and then set the IPL System Action to HOLD as follows:
    1. From the primary partition, enter STRSST to start system service tools (SST) and sign on to SST.

      To use system service tools, you need a valid service tools user ID.

    2. From the SST main menu, select option 5 (Work with system partitions), and press Enter. The Work with System Partitions display appears.
    3. Use the Work with System Partitions display to select each secondary partition. For each secondary partition, record the IPL System Action and then set the IPL System Action to HOLD.

  12. Use the appropriate procedure for your environment to turn off the secondary partitions.

  13. The bus numbers change if buses are recabled. If you are running i5/OS V5R4 on all partitions, use the partition configuration displays to move the buses that are being converted and the buses that are being recabled into the primary partition. For more information about moving buses, see the Performing dynamic movement of resources topic.

  14. Use the appropriate procedure for your environment to turn off the primary partition.

  15. Prepare the following documents for the service representative:

    • LPAR Validation Tool output.

      This document should not change as a result of the conversion.

    • Disk configuration printouts for each partition.

      These documents should not change as a result of the conversion.

    • Parity set configuration printout for each partition.

      These documents should not change as a result of the conversion.

    • Description label locations printout for each partition.

      These documents should not change as a result of the conversion.

    • System configuration list printouts (from HSM) for each partition.

    • Partition information printouts from the primary partition.

 

Parent topic:

Adding a new I/O adapter on a partitioned server
Previous topic: Planning to install a new I/O adapter