Availability Guide for Change Management

Making System Software and Hardware Changes
Online
Availability Guide for Change Management–125506
3-2
Installing a New Operating System Release
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SCF is Tandem’s online configuration and management tool used for configuring
system objects or monitoring their status. Making changes to communications
subsystems is discussed in Section 5, “Making Communications Subsystem
Changes Online.” SCF is also described in Section 7, “Tools for Online Change.”
Installing a New Operating System Release
Tandem currently requires that you shut down your NonStop system to install any major
operating system release. You use the Distributed Systems Management/Software
Configuration Manager (DSM/SCM) product to install a new operating system release.
Section 6, “Reducing the Time Required for Planned Outages,” explains techniques you
can use to reduce the time required to install a new operating system release.
Installing an IPM
An IPM may contain code that adds new function to a Tandem software product or may
include one or more fixes to Tandem code. You generally receive an IPM on a
BACKUP tape or on your disk through a network connection. The IPM consists of the
updated program and documentation files in one or more distribution subvolumes
(DSVs). You use the DSM/SCM product to install IPMs.
Depending on the installation instructions listed in the IPM softdoc, IPM installation
may have a minimal impact on availability, or it may require you to shut down your
system and perform a system load.
Hardware Changes
Many hardware changes can be performed while your Tandem NonStop system is still
operational. Although you can perform most of these changes without assistance from
Tandem, some changes must be performed by a Tandem-trained customer engineer (CE)
or system engineer (SE).
Performing Common Hardware Changes Online
You can usually perform the following hardware changes online without Tandem
assistance:
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Adding and upgrading processors
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Adding and upgrading processor memory
•
Adding, upgrading, and moving controllers
•
Adding, upgrading, and moving disk drives
•
Adding peripheral devices such as terminals, printers, and tape devices
•
Updating firmware
For a complete list of customer-replaceable units (CRUs), refer to the installation and
support documentation for your system. CRUs are designed to be installed and removed
by Tandem customers while the system is operating. Installation and support manuals
are listed in Table 3-1 on page 3-8.