Checklist: Software upgrade or replacement readiness

Use this checklist to help consolidate and verify that you have completed all the preparation tasks for a software upgrade.

Following is a summary of the major task categories that you need to do before you begin to upgrade or replace your software.

Before you begin

  1. Verify that your server model meets the requirements to support the new release. This information is found in the IBM eServer i5 and iSeries System Handbook i5/OS™ VersionLink outside information center . Use this Web page to search for the correct version.
  2. Know your current strategy for connecting a console to your server or logical partition. Your current connection strategy influences your planning activities. For information about twinaxial consoles and Operations Console, refer to the Connecting to iSeries topic. For information about managing your systems with Hardware Management Console, refer to the topic Managing your server using the Hardware Management Console .
  3. For IBM® System i5, System p5, and IBM eServer™ i5 and p5 systems, plan for extra time after the upgrade to perform a server IPL. This is one of the tasks described in the Checklist: Completing the upgrade or replacement.
  4. Understand server administration tasks (basic system operations). To perform software installation tasks, you need to be able to restart your server, sign on and off, use the command interface, install fixes, change the system operation mode and initial program load (IPL) source on the system unit control panel, and analyze server problems.
  5. Understand the different Types of software installation devices. The installation tasks are different based on the device type and media type that you use.

Software preupgrade or replacement tasks

From the following checklist, perform the tasks that are appropriate for your server. Required steps are noted.

  1. Verifying the contents of your software order
    1. Identifying and reviewing information resources
    2. Verifying the correct optical distribution media
    3. Verifying license keys for keyed products
  2. Preparing the server for software upgrade or replacement
    1. Reviewing software PTF (fix) requirements
      1. Finding the latest PSP information
      2. Analyzing fixes you currently have on your system
      3. Required: Installing Prepare for install PTFs for V5R2 and V5R3
      4. Installing optional PTF to choose disk configuration
      5. Permanently applying program temporary fixes (PTFs)
      6. Adding fix support for currently installed licensed programs
    2. Working with critical system values before you install software
      1. Recording and printing all system values before you install software
      2. Changing certain system values (QSYSLIBL, QUSRLIBL, QALWOBJRST, or QVFYOBJRST)
      3. Optionally changing the scan control system value
      4. Creating a data area to specify the system time zone
    3. Verifying the integrity of user-modified system objects
      1. Verifying user profiles and checking cross-reference files
      2. Checking the QSECOFR user profile
      3. Ensuring that the IBM-supplied product libraries are in the system ASP
    4. Ensuring two-phase commit integrity
    5. Minimizing software installation time
    6. Gathering performance data for benchmark
      1. Gathering performance data with Collection Services
      2. Analyzing performance data
  3. Performing initial upgrade or replacement tasks
    1. Choosing a software installation method and device
    2. Preparing for globalization
    3. Preparing the upgrade device and media
      1. Preparing to upgrade or replace software using an image catalog
        1. Determining storage requirements for image catalog installation
        2. Freeing up space on the load-source disk unit for an image catalog
        3. Scenario: Preparing to upgrade or replace software using an image catalog
    4. Required: Creating a custom list of software to install
      1. Preselecting the licensed programs to install
      2. Adding additional licensed programs to the installation list
    5. Required: Accepting software agreements
    6. Ensuring the server meets disk storage requirements for upgrades
      1. Determining storage space required
      2. Cleaning up disk storage space
    7. Required: Allocating additional space for Licensed Internal Code
    8. Choosing disk configuration
    9. Estimating upgrade or replacement time
    10. Preparing your console for software installation
    11. Stopping the Integrated xSeries Server for iSeries and other application servers
  4. Saving the server

After you finish

After the tasks in the preceding checklist and your upgrade have been completed, consider the following tasks.

  1. Develop a strategy for managing and maintaining your software. For information about software fixes (or program temporary fixes, PTFs), and software licenses and license keys, go to the Maintain and manage i5/OS and related software topic in the iSeries™ Information Center.
  2. For information about software distribution of supported products, go to the Distribute software topic.
Parent topic: Install, upgrade, or delete i5/OS and related software