Edit: I still use these all the time
Originally posted August 18, 2015 on AIXchange
Say your site is getting new hardware. One thing you’d want to know is the software versions you should be running on your shiny new boxes.
That’s what makes IBM’s Software System Maps web page worth bookmarking. Here you’ll find software maps for AIX, IBM i, PowerVM VIO servers, SUSE Linux and RedHat Linux. There’s also a link for supported code combinations for HMC and server firmware.
When you select the AIX map, you’re brought to a list of Power systems. Pick a model and a machine type, and you’ll have a choice of configurations, whether you’re looking at virtual clients or clients that have access to physical I/O cards. For instance, when I selected the 8284-22A (S822) and all I/O, I found out which AIX versions were supported and at what levels. (AIX 7100-01-10, 7100-02-05 and 7100-03-03 are the supported base levels, but 7100-01-10, 7100-02-06 and 7100-030-04 are recommended. The same information is provided for AIX 6.1; however, AIX 5.3, AIX 5.2, AIX 5.1, AIX 4.3.3 and AIX 3.2.5 aren’t supported on this hardware.) The bottom of this page contains links to the fix level recommendation tool, Fix Central, end of support dates for AIX, etc.
I should stress that you don’t need new brand new hardware to make use of this tool. The AIX map supports older systems, including RS/6000s running AIX 4.3.3, AIX 5.1, etc. So if you’re still using those systems (perhaps you’re running some sort of technology museum?), you too can benefit from this capability.
And, as I mentioned, you can also do VIO server software mapping. Just select a system and find the VIO server versions that are verified, and the versions that are recommended. You can also see the versions that haven’t been verified to run on the hardware you’re interested in.
Clicking on the supported code combinations link brings you to the POWER code matrix page:
System Firmware is delivered as a Release Level or a Service Pack. Release Levels support the general availability (GA) of new function or features, and new machine types or models. Upgrading to a higher Release Level is disruptive to customer operations. IBM intends to introduce no more than two new Release Levels per year. These Release Levels will be supported by Service Packs. Service Packs are intended to contain only firmware fixes and not to introduce new function. A Service Pack is an update to an existing Release Level.
Note: Installing a Release Level is also referred to as upgrading your firmware. Installing a Service Pack is referred to as updating your firmware. For HMC-managed systems at or beyond System Firmware Release Level 230 (available May 2005), Service Pack updates can be concurrently installed. Concurrent installation minimizes or eliminates downtime needed to apply firmware patches. IBM cannot guarantee that all Service Packs can be installed concurrently, however, our goal is to provide non-disruptive installation of Service Packs.
Browse around the site. It’s kept up to date and has good reference material.