Edit: Some links no longer work.
Originally posted June 23, 2015 on AIXchange
When you upgrade your HMC to Version 8.2, there’s a new “tech preview” option that’s intended to give you a feel for the direction that the HMC interface is heading. One of the big complaints heard from those new to POWER hardware and VIOS is how complicated it can all be to learn. I’m seeing a real effort being made to add greater functionality to the GUI so non-legacy POWER users can more easily adopt the platform.
Two webinars have been held on this topic. Here is the Nigel Griffiths presentation (check out the slides and watch the replay); and here’s one from IBM developerWorks (slides and replay).
The following information is borrowed from the slides. Watch both presentations to get a better feel for the technology.
This new code runs best on HMC hardware CR6 or later. As for memory, you can try to get by with 4 GB but 8 GB recommended (CR7/8 start at 8GB).
You can only get this to work with POWER6, POWER7 or POWER8 servers (no POWER5).
What is a Technical Preview? It is there for:
• Evaluation purposes
• Technical familiarity
• Learning and feedback
Can you use it in production? Is it “supported”?
Answer : Yes and No
Not allowed to raise a PMR
• The PMR response would be “use the Classic version”
• If you can reproduce the issue there, raise a PMR
• But you can get support via the Forum
– http://tinyurl.com/HMC8-Tech-Preview-Forum
• DeveloperWorks pages Feedback on the Enhanced + Tech preview user interface
• Developers seem to check for questions daily.
The charts include some nice slides that show the options available in the various versions: classic, enhanced, or tech preview. I’ve used each version, though I keep going back to the classic version as that’s what I’m most familiar with, Still, knowing where things are headed, I’m making the effort to try the new code.
There’s slide that shows the new HMC learning curve:
1. Oh heck! What the dickens is this about. I can’t do this now!
2. Oh nuts! I can’t find any thing!
3. Oh! Darn . . . it’s got to be here somewhere!
4. Oooo! That was cool!
5. I wonder what that button does? Wow!
6. Hey, I seem to be getting the hang of this now!
7. Yep! This is workable.
8. I have 5 minutes. Let’s try something I have never done before.
9. When they get this working a bit faster – I will use it.
For what it’s worth, I think I’m somewhere between 3 and 5. How about you? Do you have the new code loaded? Are you using it? Where are you on this scale?