This post explains step by step process to update Dual VIO server from one version to new version.VIOS is nothing but Virtual I/O Server.
Use dual VIOS for redundant purpose, suppose VIOS1 gone through any maintenance activity VIOS2 will take the load within fraction of seconds.So there is no much impact to client partitions(AIX,Linux and IBM i)
Tested and successfully completed this VIOS update procedure in our environment. Follow the below steps to update the VIO Server.
1. Take the configuration backup and mksysb or alternate disk back.
2. Identify the Primary and Secondary VIO server and on both VIOS SEA adapters "ha_mode" should be "auto".
3. Identify the VIOS which is in backup mode.(If VIOS2 in backup mode, update VIOS2 first).
4. Break the rootvg mirror and take the clone for quick rollback. If your VIO server with single disk take the mksysb backup.
5. Remove the all interim fixes and commit the filesets in current version.
6. On VIOS2: For safer side change SEA mode to standby and proceed with VIOS update.
7. Mount the packages downloaded NFS filesystem
8. Update the VIO Server using updateios command and wait until it completed. Next reboot the VIO Server.
9. Verify the latest VIOs version and check if any missing packages and re-mirror the rootvg.
10. On VIOS2: Change the SEA adapters mode to "auto" and proceed with other VIOS.
11. On VIOS1: Now move the sea adapters to standby mode.
12. Follow the above step 4,5,7,8 and 9.
13. Now change the SEA adapters mode to "auto".
1. Take the configuration backup and mksysb or alternate disk back.
The viosbr command creates a backup of only the VIOS configuration.
# viosbr -backup -file /tmp/<file name>
Take the mksysb backup for rootvg. It will create entire rootvg backup
# backupios -file <path to NFS location>/<file name> -mksysb
2. Identify the Primary and Secondary VIO server and on both VIOS SEA adapters "ha_mode" should be "auto".For example ent20 and ent21 are SEA adapters.
Run the below commands on both VIOS.
# lsdev -Cc adapter|grep -i shared
# entstat -d ent20 |grep -i state
# entstat -d ent21 |grep -i state
3. Identify the VIOS which is in backup mode.(If VIOS2 is on backup mode, update VIOS2 first).
4. Break the rootvg mirror and take the clone for quick rollback. If your VIO server with single disk take the mksysb backup.
To break the rootvg mirror and create a clone for quick rollback
$ bootlist -mode normal –ls
$ unmirrorios hdisk1
# migratepv hdisk1 hdisk0 (Run as root user)
$ reducevg -rmlv rootvg hdisk1
$ alt_root_vg -target hdisk1
$oem_setup_env (to get root shell)
# bosboot -ad hdisk0 (using root shell)
# bootlist -m normal hdisk0 hdisk1 (using root shell)
5. Remove the all interim fixes and commit the filesets in current version.
To remove all interim fixes, if any installed.
$ lssw
$ updateios -remove <ifix_LABEL>
Commit existing filesets:
$ updateios –commit
6. On VIOS2: For safer side change SEA mode to standby and proceed with VIOS update.
$ chdev -dev ent20 -attr ha_mode=standby
$ chdev -dev ent21 -attr ha_mode=standby
7. Mount the packages downloaded NFS filesystem.
# mount $nim_server:/nim/$location_of_vios_patches /mnt
# cd /mnt
8. Update the VIO Server using updateios command and wait until it completed. Next reboot the VIO Server.
Run the following command to perform updating VIOS.
$ updateios -accept -install -dev /mnt -> it will install the VIOS patches
Upon successful update completion take a reboot of server .
$ shutdown -restart
Once server came up, accept the license and check the VIOS version.
$ license -accept
$ ioslevel
9. Verify the latest VIOs version and check if any missing packages and re-mirror the rootvg.
Check consistency of currently installed filesets
# instfix –i | grep ML
# lppchk –v
$ ioslevel
Once everything confirmed, re-mirror the rootvg.
$ extendvg rootvg hdisk1
$ mirrorios hdisk1
$ bootlist -mode normal -ls (to view)
$ oem_setup_env (to get root shell)
# bosboot -ad hdisk1 (using root shell)
# bootlist -m normal hdisk0 hdisk1 (using root shell)
# exit (using root shell, to go back to VIOS shell from root shell)
10. On VIOS2: Change the SEA adapters mode to "auto" and proceed with other VIOS.
$ chdev -dev ent20 -attr ha_mode=auto
$ chdev -dev ent21 -attr ha_mode=auto
Once everything is fine and post-checks completed on VIOS2 then proceed with VIOS1.
11. On VIOS1: Move the sea adapters to standby mode and then proceed with VIOS update.
# lsdev -Cc adapter|grep -i shared
# entstat -d ent20 |grep -i state
# entstat -d ent21 |grep -i state
$ chdev -dev ent20 -attr ha_mode=standby
$ chdev -dev ent21 -attr ha_mode=standby
12. Follow the above step 4,5,7,8 and 9 on VIOS1.
Break the rootvg mirror and take the clone for quick rollback. If your VIO server with single disk take the mksysb backup.
Remove the all interim fixes and commit the filesets in current version.
Mount the packages downloaded NFS filesystem.
Update the VIO Server using updateios command and wait until it completed. Next reboot the VIO Server.
Verify the latest VIOs version and check if any missing packages and re-mirror the rootvg.
13. Now change the SEA adapters mode to "auto" and verify the SEA status.
$ chdev -dev ent20 -attr ha_mode=auto
$ chdev -dev ent21 -attr ha_mode=auto
# entstat -d ent20 |grep -i state
# entstat -d ent21 |grep -i state
Once everything is fine and post-checks completed on VIOS1. Monitor the VIO servers for sometime and Verify if any errors
VIOS Backout/Rollback Procedure :
Change the bootlist and Reboot the server with older version.
#bootlist –m normal hdisk1 hdisk0
#bootlist –m normal –o
#shutdown –Fr now
Once the server is came up, Re-mirror the rootvg .
$ extendvg rootvg hdisk1
$ mirrorios hdisk1
$ bootlist -mode normal -ls (to view)
$ oem_setup_env (to get root shell)
# bosboot -ad hdisk1 (using root shell)
# bootlist -m normal hdisk0 hdisk1 (using root shell)
# exit (using root shell, to go back to VIOS shell from root shell
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