to update the system firmware using a locally available image, perform the following steps:

    1. log in as root user.

    2. if the /tmp/fwupdate directory does not exist, create it by issuing the following command:

    mkdir /tmp/fwupdate

    3. the firmware update file must be downloaded or copied into the /tmp/fwupdate directory on the system. this can be done by using the ftp command to get the image from an ftp server or nfs-mounting the directory on the host system.

    the firmware updated file can also be transferred to the target system by backing up the image onto diskettes from another server and restoring it into the /tmp/fwupdate directory.

    after the firmware update file has been downloaded or copied into the /tmp/fwupdate directory, verify its existence by entering the following command:

    ls /tmp/fwupdate/rr*.img

    the update file will have the format rryymmdd.img. the rr indicates that this is an update image for your system: yy is the year, mm is the month, and dd is the day of the update file.

    4. after the update file has been written to the /tmp/fwupdate directory, enter the following commands:

    cd /usr/lpp/diagnostics/bin

    ./update_flash -f /tmp/fwupdate/rryymmdd.img

    do not overlook the periods (.) in the commands shown above. aix commands are case-sensitive. type them exactly as shown.

    you will be asked for confirmation to proceed with the firmware update and the required reboot. if you confirm, the system will apply the new firmware, reboot, and return to the aix prompt. this may take up to ten minutes depending on the configuration of the system.

    on some systems, the message wait for rebooting before stopping may display on the system console. do not turn off the system until the system has fully rebooted to the aix login prompt. if a shutdown is necessary at that time, log in as root user and issue the shutdown command.

    while the update is in progress, you will see rebooting... on the display for several minutes.

    the firmware update is complete.