I'm in the process of migrating a system to some newer hardware (Power 5 to Power 7). I've done these migrations in the past, and have not had any problems. But this system does not see the new network controllers on the Power 7 system. The system was running AIX 5.3 before, I've upgraded it to AIX 6.1 TL6 which is the latest supported TL that the software I need to run supports.
When I run a cfgmgr, I get a message saying that the following packages are missing. I'm assuming this is what is stopping the network cards from being detected. But I cannot find these packages anywhere.
smitty devices ->
Install/Configure Devices Added After IPL ->
INPUT device / directory for software ->
"AIX 6.1 TL6 Installation Media (LPP Source, /dev/cd...)"
P.S. Have you checked the minimum software requirement (TL) for your Power7 hardware?
Example:
Announcment_p770_ENUS110-025.pdf
Site 2: Key prerequisites:
AIX 6.1 with the 6100-03 Technology Level and Service Pack 5, or later, available June 25, 2010
Was running AIX 5.3 on Power7 hardware and the drivers were available.
After migration upgrade to AIX 6.1 TL6 the drivers "disappeared".
I suspect (read am guessing) you migrated using a AIX 6.1 DVD that predates Power7. I am guessing this because "probably" all support for these devices came with Power7 (correct me if I am wrong here - Model and Type will help as well).
Without a driver I am not sure what lscfg -v will be able to say but the output from that command for these devices might give some clues, at least for a google search.
The more common problem is that this concerns OLD adapters that no longer are supported by AIX 6.1 (as an example I ran into this way back when when updating from AIX 4.1 to AIX 4.2 (or to 4.3) when AIX dropped support for the 2G tape drives. AIX could see them, and reported that it did not have a driver (as your error message does) - but there was not a driver available.
And I have seen it also with old generation graphic adapters.
Assuming there are drivers - if you can install a DVD
cfgmgr -i /dev/cd0
otherwise nfs mount an lpp_source, or download a complete TL6 with latest SP to /some/directory and then run
cfgmgr -i /some/directory
If the drivers are there, cfgmgr will find and install them. Note: one of the characteristics of a complete TL plus SP download is that it contains ALL drivers!
If you go to fixcentral and download be sure to say the level of the install DVD as base (not your current level) to get "installable" (i.e. so called .I filesets) rather than "update" (.U).
FYI: yet another way is to use SUMA ( smit suma ). I prefer this whenever possible, but not everyone can direct attach (to internet) an AIX system - i.e., firewall rules prohibit it.
In short, if there are drivers - get them into /some/directory , then
The 4 port NIC that was ordered with the Power7 is a new card and I don't meet the minimum software requirements for it to work on AIX. I was a few SP's behind when I was running 5.3, and and entire TL behind when running 6.1. I have new installation/upgrade media on the way and should be "fixing" the problem.
Thanks for the update. We always appreciate getting follow-ups to know if our suggestions worked and how the problem was finally solved. Please tell us if the new TL solved your problem and i will change the thread's title accordingly.