Chapter 2. Architecture and technical overview  99
including guided repair and verify, concurrent firmware updates for managed systems, and 
around-the-clock error reporting through IBM Electronic Service Agent™ for faster support.
The HMC management features help to improve server utilization, simplify systems 
management, and accelerate provisioning of server resources using the PowerVM 
virtualization technology.
The Power 720 and Power 740 platforms support two main service environments:
 Attachment to one or more HMCs is a supported option by the system
This environment is the common configuration for servers supporting logical partitions 
with dedicated or virtual I/O. In this case, all servers have at least one logical partition.
 No HMC attachment
There are two service strategies for non-HMC attached systems:
– Full system partition: A single partition owns all the server resources and only one 
operating system may be installed.
– Partitioned system: In this configuration, the system can have more than one partition 
and can be running more than one operating system. In this environment, partitions 
are managed by the Integrated Virtualization Manager (IVM), which includes some of 
the functions offered by the HMC.
Hardware support for customer-replaceable units comes standard along with the HMC. In 
addition you have the option to upgrade this support level to IBM on-site support to be 
consistent with other Power Systems servers.
If you want to use an existing HMC to manage any POWER7+ processor-based server, the 
HMC must be a model CR3, or later, rack-mounted HMC, or model C05, or later, deskside 
HMC. 
HMC V7R7.7.0 is the last release to be supported on models 7310-C04, 7315-CR2, and 
7310-CR2. Future HMC releases will not be supported on the C04 or CR2 models.
When IBM Systems Director is used to manage an HMC or if the HMC manages more than 
254 partitions, the HMC should have 3 GB of RAM minimum and be a CR3 model, or later, 
rack-mounted, or a C06, or later, deskside.
HMC code level
HMC V7R7.7.0 (SP1) contains the following new features:
 Support for managing IBM Power 720 and Power 740 systems
 Support for PowerVM functions such as new HMC GUI interface for VIOS install
 Improved transition from IVM to HMC management
 Ability to update a user password in Kerberos from the HMC for clients using remote HMC
HMC V7R7.7.0 (SP1) supports up to 48 servers (non Power 590, Power 595, and Power 795 
models) or 32 IBM Power 590, Power 595, and Power 795 servers. A maximum of 2000 
LPARs is supported when you use a HMC V7R7.6.0 code at a minimum level and the HMC is 
a model 7042-CR6 or later.
If you attach an existing HMC to a new server such as the Power 720 and Power 740 or add 
functions to an existing server that requires a firmware update, the HMC machine code might 
Requirements: When using the HMC with the Power 720 and Power 740 server, the HMC 
code must be running at V7R7.7.0 (SP1) level, or later.