Edit: Link no longer works.
Originally posted May 7, 2013 on AIXchange
Hopefully you’ve seen Nigel’s post about verifying firmware before installing:
Be sure to check the comments for more information from the developers. For instance:
Prevention
Before installing Power firmware, verify through the firmware release notes/readme information that the selected level is supported on the targeted server MTM.
Example of 01AL770_032_032.readme.txt:
System firmware level 01AL770_032_032
System Firmware Release for the General Availability of the POWER7 System p Servers 8231-E1D, 8231-E2D, 8246-L1D, 8246-L2D, 8246-L1T, 8246-L2T, 8202-E4D, 8205-E6D
Recovery
Set Boot Side to P. From ASMI:
– Expand the “Power/Restart Control” menu.
– Select “Power On/Off System.”
– Under the “Firmware boot side for the next boot” option, select “Permanent.”
– Click “Save settings”. (NOT ‘save settings and power on’)
– Reboot the system. From ASMI:
– Expand the “System Aids” menu.
– Select “Reset Service Processor.”
– Click “Continue.”
– Wait for the system to reconnect and show stable state in HMC GUI.
Perform a Reject Fix operation. From HMC:
– Select the applicable server.
– Select the “Updates” menu.
– Select “Change Licensed Internal Code for the current release.”
– Select “Advanced features.”
– Select “Reject Fix – Copy Permanent to Temporary.”
– Click “OK.”
After the Reject Fix is completed successfully, revert the system to the T side to enable concurrent updates. From ASMI:
– Expand the “Power/Restart Control” menu.
– Select “Power On/Off System.”
– Under the “Firmware boot side for the next boot” option, select “Temporary.”
– Click “Save settings.”
– Expand the “System Aids” menu.
– Select “Reset Service Processor.”
– Click “Continue.”
Power on the server.
And also this comment:
Abstract: REMOVING UNSUPPORTED POWER SYSTEMS FIRMWARE, SRC B1813463
SYMPTOM: After applying an unsupported system firmware level to the temporary side of the FSP the system stops at SRC B1813463. To resolve this problem follow the steps below to remove the unsupported system firmware. Follow the instructions specific to the method used to update the code.
IMPORTANT: Always consult firmware readme files and verify supported levels before updating or upgrading system firmware. HMC levels v7r6.3 and v7r7.2 include an update to verify the
system firmware level is supported before allowing a firmware update or upgrade to begin.
PROBLEM ISOLATION AIDS:
– The system may be any of the following IBM servers:
IBM Power 710 Express Server, Type 8231, models E1C, E2B
IBM Power 720 Express Server, Type 8202, models E4B, E4C
IBM Power 730 Express Server, Type 8231, models E2B, E2C
IBM Power 740 Express Server, Type 8205, models E6B, E6C
IBM Power 750 Express Server, Type 8233, model E8B
IBM Power 755 Express Server, Type 8236, model E8C
IBM Power 770 Server, Type 9117, any model
IBM Power 780 Server, Type 9179, any model
IBM PowerLinux 7R1 server, Type 8246, models L1C, L1S
IBM PowerLinux 7R2 Server, Type 8246, models L2C, L2S
– This tip is not option specific.
– This tip is not software specific.
– The system has the symptom described above.
FIX: User must follow the guidelines listed below to remove the unsupported code. Follow the instructions depending on the method used to update the code:
— HMC Managed Systems
1) Using the ASMI, set Boot Side to Permanent.
a) Expand the “Power/Restart Control” menu.
b) Expand the “Power On/Off System” menu.
c) Under the “Firmware boot side for the next boot” option, select “Permanent.”
d) Click the “Save settings” button. DO NOT click the “Save Settings and Power On” button. It will cause the server to power on running the unsupported firmware side and require that you restart the procedure.
e) Expand the “System Service Aids” menu.
f) Select “Reset Service Processor.”
g) Click the “Continue” button.
Note: If this step is not completed the unsupported firmware will not be removed and SRC B1813463 will be displayed again.
2) Using the HMC GUI, wait for the system to reconnect and show a state of “Power off.”
3) Using the HMC GUI, perform “Reject Fix -Copy Temp. to Perm.”
a) Select the applicable server.
b) Select the “Updates” menu.
c) Select “Change Licensed Int. Code for current release.”
d) Select “Advanced features.”
e) Select “Reject Fix – Copy Permanent to Temporary.”
f) Click the “OK” button.
4) Wait for “Reject Fix” is completed successfully.
5) Using the ASMI, set the Boot Side back to Temporary and reset the service processor.
a) Expand the “Power/Restart Control” menu.
b) Select “Power On/Off System”.
c) Under the “Firmware boot side for the next boot” option, select “Temporary.”
d) Click the “Save settings” button.
e) Expand the “System Aids” menu.
f) Select “Reset Service Processor.”
g) Click the “Continue” button.
— Stand alone systems via USB
— Not available for 9117-MMx and 9179-MHx servers.
Updating firmware via USB is independent of the operating system installed. The only restriction is that the server cannot be HMC managed.
1) Remove all system firmware present in the USB drives root directory.
2) Download the RPM file for the latest supported firmware, then copy it into the USB drives root directory. (Note: Only one level of code should be contained in the USB root directory.)
3) Insert the USB drive to the top port of the FSP (left side port for tower systems).
4) Change the FSP Boot Side from Temporary to Permanent using either method [A] ASMI, OR [B] Operator (control) Panel.
[A] Using the ASMI:
1) Expand the “Power/Restart Control” menu.
2) Expand the “Power On/Off System” menu.
3) Under the “Firmware boot side for the next boot” option, select “Permanent.”
4) Click the “Save settings” button.
[B] Using the Operator (control) Panel.
1) Use the Increment or Decrement buttons to select Function 02.
2) Press the Enter button.
3) Press the Enter button until the field marker moves to the right of the character “T.”
4) Use the Increment or Decrement button to change the “T” to a “P.”
5) Reset the FSP using either method [A] ASMI, or [B] Performing a pin-hole reset, or [C] Removing AC power.
[A] Using ASMI:
1) Expand the “System Aids” menu.
2) Select “Reset Service Processor.”