Before you begin manual installation

Verify these points before you upgrade to a new i5/OS™ release.

Verify that this is the correct topic for you to use for your software upgrade. Refer to Supported releases for i5/OS (OS/400) upgrades to determine which releases are supported for upgrades to V5R4. Be familiar with the sequence of the steps you use to upgrade or replace a release on a server or logical partition as shown in Upgrading or replacing i5/OS and related software.
If you are changing a primary language, you must be aware of additional considerations before you begin the installation. Be sure to read the topic Globalization and software installation. You cannot change your primary language to a language you currently have installed as a secondary language on your system. You must delete the secondary language before you can change it to your primary language.
Complete the preparation tasks in Preparing to upgrade or replace software before you upgrade. It is required that you use the Prepare for Install options to accept online software agreements for the Licensed Internal Code and the i5/OS operating system for the upgrade to occur.
If you plan to use an image catalog (virtual optical device) to install, read the topic Preparing to upgrade or replace software using an image catalog to create a device, an image catalog, and an image catalog entry.
To upgrade from either V5R2 or V5R3 to V5R4 using an image catalog, do the following steps:
1. If you are upgrading from V5R2, load and apply the required V5R2 PTF SI19886. If you are upgrading from V5R3, load and apply the required V5R3 PTF SI19888.
2. Perform the setup steps in Preparing to upgrade or replace software using an image catalog. Perform step 6 at least a day before you do the actual installation. This ensures that your installation media are ready to use.
Verify that your console mode value is set correctly before you upgrade. Verify your console information in the topic Preparing your console for software installation.
If you plan to use or if you are using logical partitions, refer to these topics:
- Planning for logical partitions:
  - For IBM^® System i5, System p5, and IBM eServer™ i5 and p5 systems, read the topic Planning for logical partitions .
  - For iSeries™ 8xx and earlier models, see Plan for logical partitions .
- Reference codes are viewable under the primary partition or the Hardware Management Console:
  - For IBM System i5, System p5, and IBM eServer i5 and p5 systems, refer to Managing i5/OS logical partitions for more information.
  - For iSeries 8xx or earlier models, refer to Manage logical partitions .
- Alternate IPL device within a logical partition:
  - If you plan to use an alternate IPL device within a logical partition on IBM System i5, System p5, and IBM eServer i5 and p5 systems, refer to the Managing i5/OS logical partitions topic.
  - For iSeries 8xx or earlier models, refer to the Manage logical partitions topic.
If you are using an alternate installation device, ensure that the alternate installation device is enabled. See Alternate installation device for information on setting up an alternate installation device. If you are not planning on using an alternate installation device and currently have one configured, you must clear the alternate installation device configuration information from the system before you install the new release.