Whether there are iFixes and/or service packs for an HMC can be determined via IBM Fix Central or the IBM Fix Level Recommendation Tool. This can also be done easily with the LPAR-Tool. The command “hmc flrt” expects an HMC (or several) as an argument and determines update and upgrade options for the specified HMC(s):

$ hmc flrt hmc01
                       CURRENT              LATEST               UPDATE            UPGRADE
NAME   MODEL     VERSION       EOSPS  VERSION       EOSPS  VERSION       EOSPS  VERSION  EOSPS
hmc01  7063-CR2  V10 R2 M1030  -      V10 R2 M1040  -      V10 R2 M1031  -      -        -
$

Note: For this functionality, the system on which the LPAR-Tool is used either needs a direct Internet connection or an HTTPS proxy must be available. If a proxy is available but not set via an environment variable (HTTPS_PROXY), then the proxy can also be configured in one of the configuration files /opt/pwrcmps/etc/lpar.cfg or ~/.lpar.cfg using the following entry: CurlProxy: http://<IP>:<port>.

The CURRENT column lists the current version (service pack) of the HMC, in the example V10R2M1030. The LATEST column shows the highest available version (service pack), at the time of writing this document this is version (service pack) V10R2M1040. The UPDATE column shows the version (service pack) recommended by IBM for an update, in this case V10R2M1031. The UPGRADE column shows the recommended version for an upgrade. However, at the time the above output was generated there was no higher version for an upgrade.

Note: The output also shows the time of the “End of Service Pack Support” in the EOSPS columns, if known.

The output shows that newer service packs are available and also gives the IBM recommendation for an update to service pack V10R2M1031. Usually, after a short time, there are already one or more iFixes for a service pack. You can display which iFixes these are in detail, by using the option “-u” (show URLs):

$ hmc flrt -u hmc01
HMC and vHMC

Current
   HMC V10 R2 M1030
   Released: 2022.12.08   EoSPS: -
   Download: http://www.ibm.com/support/fixcentral/quickorder?fixids=MF70433&function=fixId&includeRequisites=1&product=ibm/hmc/9100HMCppc&source=flrt

   Available Fixes
      MF70632
      Released: 2023.01.27
      Download: https://delivery04.dhe.ibm.com/sar/CMA/HMA/0b4qu/1/vMF70631.readme.html?mhsrc=ibmsearch_a&mhq=MF70631

Latest
   HMC V10 R2 M1040
   Released: 2023.05.19   EoSPS: -
   Download: http://www.ibm.com/support/fixcentral/quickorder?fixids=MF70894&function=fixId&includeRequisites=1&product=ibm/hmc/9100HMCppc&source=flrt

   Available Fixes
      MF70632
      Released: 2023.01.27
      Download: https://delivery04.dhe.ibm.com/sar/CMA/HMA/0b4qu/1/vMF70631.readme.html?mhsrc=ibmsearch_a&mhq=MF70631

Recommended Update
   HMC V10 R2 M1031
   Released: 2023.03.10   EoSPS: -
   Download: http://www.ibm.com/support/fixcentral/quickorder?fixids=MF70729&function=fixId&includeRequisites=1&product=ibm/hmc/9100HMCppc&source=flrt

   Available Fixes
      MF70890
      Released: 2023.04.14
      Download: http://null/support/fixcentral/quickorder?product=ibm/hmc/9100HMCppc&fixids=MF70890&source=flrt

Recommended Upgrade
   No recommended upgrade available

Minimum
   HMC V10 R1 M1021
   Released: 2022.10.24   EoSPS: 2024.04.30

$

When using this option, not only the download URLs for all specified service packs are listed, but also any additional iFixes available and their download URLs. The URLs can be cut and pasted into a browser to go directly to the right place at IBM. This is usually IBM Fix Central. Searching for service packs or iFixes on Fix Central is therefore not necessary.

In the specific example above, IBM’s update recommendation would be to update to Service Pack V10R2M1031 and additionally install iFix MF70890.