Re: AIX 5.2 migration install on H80 trouble (too weird)

From: chuck (newsposter_at_mn.rr.com)
Date: 10/17/03 

Date: 16 Oct 2003 20:24:44 -0700

Dan Foster <dsf@globalcrossing.net> wrote in message news:<slrnbotlg5.rkp.dsf@gaia.roc2.gblx.net>...
> In article <ef48d760.0310160921.1b563c1e@posting.google.com>, chuck <newsposter@mn.rr.com> wrote:
> > Whoops, typo.
> >
> > Make that a halt on c045.
>
> Likely 0c45? That would be 'cannot configure console'. I've never had
> that one so I'm at a loss to explain what could possibly be wrong.
>
> We just did a migration update of our 6H1 (which is basically a newer H80)
> to AIX 5.2 via serial console, and that worked great, for what it's worth.
>
> > And the system behaves properly and as expected with AIX 4.3.3.
>
> Hmm. So the serial console is hooked up to the first serial port, and works
> fine for a normal AIX 4.3.3 console login? And there's no graphics adapter
> in the machine and no graphical monitor plugged in?
>
> -Dan

Ok, here was the problem and the solution.

cd-rom drive firmware.

If you have an IBM cd-rom drive (32x or 40x) you MUST have the most
recent firmware on-board. With downlevel firmware the drive craps out
reading the AIX 5.2.0 disk 1 just about the time it's trying to read
the device driver libraries for the serial port(s). The problem is
VERY consistant and repeatable.

I found ONE reference to the drive firmware on usenet and while I was
backed up in the Support Line queue I did the upgrade.

The firmware and the required genucode update utility can be found on
the pSeries support web site in the same place other firmware is
located.

Everything works now, completed the 5.2.0 migration install in about
75 minutes.

I've added a mandatory cd-rom drive firmware update to my personal AIX
5.2 upgrade checklist and pinged Support and a few friends in AIX
development to include this particular item in the read-me.

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