Re: LPAR release constraints

[rob@xxxxxxxxx]

On the i5's (520, 570, etc) there is no such concept as a "controlling 
partition".  That died with the 8xx boxes.  Instead of a controlling 
partition there is something called "firmware" that runs on a FSP or 
Flexible Service Processor.  The FSP controls the partition(s).  The 
interface used most commonly to communicate with the FSP is the HMC or 
Hardware Management Console.

Back to your question...  There are certain levels of firmware required 
for various levels of i5/os.  But normally it's more of a hardware issue. 
If you are moving to a Power 5+, or a Power 6, then you need to be at a 
certain level of firmware - that sort of rot.

Here's a nice table to show you what version of HMC supports which version 
of FSP.
https://www14.software.ibm.com/webapp/set2/sas/f/power5cm/supportedcodep5.html

However, if someone finds a nice table of which version of firmware is 
required for which version of i5/os, let me know.
Here's an attempt:
http://publib.boulder.ibm.com/infocenter/iseries/v5r4/topic/rzahc/rzahcwhatnew.htm

I tried that paragraph's "Prerequisite" link, but find that to be a 
morass.
http://www-912.ibm.com/e_dir/eServerPrereq.nsf


Rob Berendt