Upgrade terminology

Use this information to understand upgrade terms.

Review this information to become familiar with the terminology used to describe upgrades. If you are moving your data or software from your current iSeries™ server to a server with a different serial number, see Migration terminology.

Capacity on Demand
The capability to activate additional processors on select iSeries servers. These iSeries servers are shipped with a number of processors that are active in your iSeries server when it is shipped. These models also include processors that are not available for use until you activate them. These processors can be either temporarily or permanently activated.
hardware upgrade
An upgrade that refers to any of the following:
  • A hardware change to a later level of the server hardware that maintains the server serial number
  • The addition of hardware to the server
  • An enhanced hardware function
licensed program (LP) upgrade
A specific type of software upgrade for an existing server that refers to either of the following:
  • A change to a more recent release of the LP
  • An enhancement in the LP function
MES (miscellaneous equipment specification)
Any server hardware change (addition, improvement, removal, or any combination of these). The server's serial number does not change. Specific types include the following:
  • Customer-installable feature (CIF) MES
  • Install-by-IBM (IBI) MES
model upgrade
A specific type of hardware MES that causes a change to the hardware model. A model upgrade can involve adding, removing, or changing features. The server's serial number does not change.
operating system upgrade
A specific type of software upgrade for an existing server that refers to either of the following:
  • A change to a more recent release of the operating system
  • An enhancement in operating system function
Processors on Demand (POD)
Standby processors on a server that can be activated for permanent or temporary use
software upgrade
Any software change to an existing server, which can include any of the following:
  • A software change to a more recent release
  • A software addition
  • An enhancement in software function
system product division (SPD)
A bus architecture that allows I/O to communicate to the processor. SPD-I/O refers to devices that use the SPD bus architecture to communicate with the rest of the server.
source server
The existing system that is being upgraded with new hardware or a new level of software.
target server
In upgrades, the planned hardware configuration and software level that exists when the upgrade is completed.
upgrade
Any hardware or software change to a later release, or any hardware addition or software addition. Contrast upgrade with migration, where data is moved from one iSeries server to another iSeries server.
Related concepts
Migration terminology