Need help on 11iv1 to v3 upgrade on vPar

[Ganesan R]

Hi All,

We have a requirement to upgrade HPUX 11.11 to 11.31 on one of the virtual partition running on RP7420. This server has three vpars totally and all are running 11.11. We are planning to go for a fresh install rather than update-ux.

We need to upgrade only one vpar, not all three vpars.

First question,
Is it possible to run 11.11 and 11.31 vpars on same nPar?
What are the prerequiests before we go for a upgrade?
Can we install via ignite golden image if we do not have cddrive locally?
How about the vpar versions across virtual partitions? will different vpar versions work together ?

Current vpar version is
T1335AC A.03.03.06 HP-UX Virtual Partitions

Provide me if any other details which are necessary related to this upgrade.

[Steven E. Protter · Accepted solution]

Shalom,

Your current version of vpars based on our experience here will not run multiple OS on a single npar.

We have an 11.23 npar and an 11.11 npar on our rp8420 complex.

On our superdome, we have vpar 5.04, which says it supports multiple OS in the same npar, however we have not tried it. Those npar are pure Itanium 11.31.

SEP

[Torsten.]

Is it possible to run 11.11 and 11.31 vpars on same nPar?

Yes.
I would suggest to read the manual about all the (many) details.

Can we install via ignite golden image if we do not have cddrive locally?

Yes, but also from a "normal" install depot.

How about the vpar versions across virtual partitions? will different vpar versions work together ?

Yes, see 1)




Important: The vpmon must be the highest version (if you mix 11.11 and 11.31, the 11.31 vpmon must be used.

[SoorajCleris]

Hi Ganesan,

HP-UX Virtual Partitions A.05.05: vPars A.05.05

This is the latest version available and it supports different versions together.

But I remember, you should boot VPMON A.05.05 (11.31 ) for downward compatibility.

Regards,
Sooraj

[Ganesan R]

Hi Torsten,

Can you provide me the exact document link or itrc threads discuss about all these things ?

[SoorajCleris]

Hi Ganesan,

http://h20000.www2.hp.com/bc/docs/support/SupportManual/c01941281/c01941281.pdf (BSC link updated by admin)

Please find the link. Please read " known problems and work around" , however all the topics are important.

Regards,
Sooraj

[SoorajCleris]

Hi Ganesan,

Here is the HP-UX Virtual Partitions Administratorâ s Guide

http://h20000.www2.hp.com/bc/docs/support/SupportManual/c02029116/c02029116.pdf (BSC link updated by admin)

Regards,
Sooraj

[Torsten.]

Here are the links:

http://docs.hp.com/en/oshpux11iv3.html#Virtual%20Partitions

http://h20000.www2.hp.com/bc/docs/support/SupportManual/c02029116/c02029116.pdf (BSC link updated by admin)

[Olivier Masse]

I mixed 11.23 and 11.31 last year on a 7620 and it worked well but it needed lots of reading and preparation.

First, see this whitepaper, it explains what is involved:
http://h20000.www2.hp.com/bc/docs/support/SupportManual/c02018859/c02018859.pdf (BSC link updated by admin)

So roughly you'll first need upgrade all your 11.11 vPars to run the 3.05 monitor. Then, designate your 11.31 vPar as the "master" vpar that runs the 5.05 vpmon and boots the other 11.11 vPars running 3.05. Remember to perform all administrative functions from the 11.31 vPar.

In all cases you're looking into some downtime for all the 11.11 vPars that will remain.

If you build a golden image, be careful as you cannot build it on a VM since you need to add the vPar software in the system used to make the image and this is incompatible with a VM guest. There might be ways to add the vPar package on the fly with an image but I don't know how.

Good luck