Understanding HP Instant Capacity (iCAP) version 6.x and 7.x Codewords Whitepaper

let’s say a new cell board is purchased for a system that contained four cores and 32 GB of
memory, and it is desired that two of the four cores would be iCAP. An add-on codeword would be
required specifying two cores. After applying the codeword, the output of icod_stat would show
that the number of cores without usage rights increased by two. Usage rights for a cell board, two
cores, and 32 GB of memory would be available for use.
• Temporary Capacity (TiCAP) codeword: iCAP cores can be activated on a temporary basis by first
applying a TiCAP codeword. The amount of temporary capacity is specified in the codeword. After
the codeword is applied, the amount of temporary capacity, as shown by the icod_stat
command, would increase. To activate iCAP cores after the codeword has been applied, the
icod_modify –a <n> -t command must be used. The –t option specifies that TiCAP may be
used to activate a core. Cores are the only components that can be activated using TiCAP. TiCAP
cannot be used for cell boards or memory. (Note that use of the –t option cannot force use of
TiCAP if there are available permanent usage rights on the complex; temporary capacity is only
charged when there are more cores active than there are permanent usage rights.)
• Right-to-use (RTU) codeword: To permanently activate an iCAP component, an RTU codeword must
be applied. The codeword specifies the quantity and type of components to permanently activate.
After applying the codeword, the number of expected-inactive components decreases, and the
number of usage rights increases by the same amount.
• Upgrade codeword: The use of codewords for the iCAP product was introduced with the 6.0
release of the iCAP software. When upgrading from a previous version of iCAP (prior to version
6.0), the use of an upgrade codeword is required. The upgrade codeword is obtained from the HP
Utility Pricing Solutions Portal. The iCAP inventory, as recorded at the portal and verified by the
audit snapshot, is used to generate an upgrade codeword. Application of the codeword writes the
iCAP inventory to NVRAM so that the codeword version of iCAP software can operate properly.
The iCAP software recognizes if the NVRAM has not been updated and will generate an error
message until the upgrade codeword has been applied.
The manner in which you have registered on the HP Utility Pricing Solutions Portal affects your ability
to generate some of these codewords (repair codewords cannot be generated at the HP Utility Pricing
Solutions Portal). The portal can be used to generate the following codewords:
• TiCAP (note that if you are running version 6.0 of the iCAP software your system must have recently
sent an e-mail asset report; otherwise, you will not be allowed to redeem a codeword. If your
system is not allowed to send e-mail asset reports, you can upgrade to version 7.0 of the iCAP
software, which no longer has an e-mail requirement for TiCAP usage).
• Right-to-use (RTU) codeword
• Upgrade codeword
• Non-iCAP codeword
• Add-on codeword—This codeword is intended for HP CEs who are installing iCAP hardware. They
can generate an add-on codeword for any iCAP products being installed in a system.
• Add-on codeword—This is the same codeword type as the previous codeword, but the checking is
different. If the system has no iCAP components in its icod_stat
output because it has lost its
iCAP configuration or it was ordered without storage (and manufacturing could not set the iCAP
state), this codeword can be used to set the iCAP configuration of the system to the correct iCAP
state.
• Two other types of technology upgrade codewords can be retrieved; they are intended for HP CEs.
These codewords are required when upgrading HP 9000 systems to HP Integrity server systems,
and when upgrading systems from single core to dual core (there will likely be return credits for
iCAP components and new iCAP products for the system).
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