System information

442 Logical Partitions on System i5
When you shut down the i5/OS service partition, the b-side firmware is copied to the t-side on
the SP. If the b and t-side are in sync, then the a-side will be copied to the p-side on the SP.
The managed system must be restarted to activate any new firmware changes. A complete
system reboot, where all partitions are ended is called a server IPL. When the managed
system starts, the new firmware code is loaded in to memory from either the t or p-side,
depending on the boot option chosen.
Out-of-band firmware overview
Managed system firmware updates can be made through the HMC. The firmware update
policy should be set to Hardware Management Console (although you can update the
managed system firmware regardless of this policy when the system is in a standby state).
New firmware updates can be downloaded directly to your HMC (if the HMC has access to
the Internet). You can also downloaded firmware updates to one of your company’s internal
FTP servers and install from there or burn to optical media. Lastly, you can order firmware
updates on optical media, either from the IBM support Web site, through Fix Central or by
using the i5/OS SNDPTFORD command.
Firmware updates follow the naming convention of SFXXX_YYY (where XXX = firmware
release and YYY= version).
If you are updating the server firmware within the same version (for example, SF230_112 to
SF230_113) then we use the HMC option Change Licensed Internal code for the current
release (this option was called Change Internal Code prior to HMC V4R5)
If you are upgrading server firmware to a new version (for example, SF225_096 to
SF230_113), then we use the HMC option Upgrade Licensed Internal Code to a new
release (this option was called Manufacturing Equipment Specification Upgrade prior to HMC
V4R5).
14.2.2 Setting the i5 system firmware update policy
The only way you can check or change the i5 system firmware policy is through the Advanced
System Management Interface (ASMI) or the HMC command line.
Changing the firmware update policy with ASMI
The ASMI menus can be started through the physical HMC, Websm (as of HMC V4R5) or
through a direct browser interface, if you managed systems SP is available on your ethernet
network.
Important: Applying MHxxxxx PTFs to a non-service i5/OS partition will have no impact on
the firmware update process, as only the defined service partition has the authority to
update the SP with any firmware updates.