diff --git a/ci/Dockerfile/fedora23 b/ci/Dockerfile/fedora23
index 7fff2ff..ed50956 100644
--- a/ci/Dockerfile/fedora23
+++ b/ci/Dockerfile/fedora23
@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
 FROM fedora:23
 RUN dnf -y remove vim-minimal
-RUN dnf -y install gcc-c++ flex bison git ctags cscope expat-devel patch zlib-devel zlib-static texinfo perl-bignum "perl(XML::Simple)" "perl(YAML)" "perl(XML::SAX)" "perl(Fatal)" "perl(Thread::Queue)" "perl(Env)" "perl(XML::LibXML)" "perl(Digest::SHA1)" libxml2-devel libxslt
+RUN dnf -y install gcc-c++ flex bison git ctags cscope expat-devel patch zlib-devel zlib-static texinfo perl-bignum "perl(XML::Simple)" "perl(YAML)" "perl(XML::SAX)" "perl(Fatal)" "perl(Thread::Queue)" "perl(Env)" "perl(XML::LibXML)" "perl(Digest::SHA1)" libxml2-devel libxslt "perl(ExtUtils::MakeMaker)"
 RUN dnf -y install which wget unzip tar cpio python bzip2 bc vim redhat-lsb-core
 RUN dnf -y install findutils
 RUN dnf -y install ncurses-devel
diff --git a/op-build-env b/op-build-env
index 9cd5cb5..e6ca40e 100755
--- a/op-build-env
+++ b/op-build-env
@@ -5,6 +5,12 @@
     source ./customrc
 fi
 
+if [ ! -e buildroot/Makefile ]; then
+	echo "Please make sure you've checked out the buildroot submodule"
+	echo "  git submodule init && git submodule update"
+	return -1
+fi
+
 export BR2_EXTERNAL=${__PWD}/openpower
 export BR2_DL_DIR=${__PWD}/dl
 
diff --git a/openpower/configs/barreleye_defconfig b/openpower/configs/barreleye_defconfig
index c7882b1..abf1697 100644
--- a/openpower/configs/barreleye_defconfig
+++ b/openpower/configs/barreleye_defconfig
@@ -17,7 +17,7 @@
 BR2_ROOTFS_POST_BUILD_SCRIPT="../openpower/scripts/fixup-target-var ../openpower/scripts/firmware-whitelist"
 BR2_LINUX_KERNEL=y
 BR2_LINUX_KERNEL_CUSTOM_VERSION=y
-BR2_LINUX_KERNEL_CUSTOM_VERSION_VALUE="4.9.6"
+BR2_LINUX_KERNEL_CUSTOM_VERSION_VALUE="4.9.8"
 BR2_LINUX_KERNEL_PATCH="$(BR2_EXTERNAL_OP_BUILD_PATH)/linux"
 BR2_LINUX_KERNEL_USE_CUSTOM_CONFIG=y
 BR2_LINUX_KERNEL_CUSTOM_CONFIG_FILE="$(BR2_EXTERNAL_OP_BUILD_PATH)/configs/linux/skiroot_defconfig"
diff --git a/openpower/configs/firenze_defconfig b/openpower/configs/firenze_defconfig
index b9f49ca..33b9092 100644
--- a/openpower/configs/firenze_defconfig
+++ b/openpower/configs/firenze_defconfig
@@ -16,7 +16,7 @@
 BR2_ROOTFS_POST_BUILD_SCRIPT="../openpower/scripts/fixup-target-var ../openpower/scripts/firmware-whitelist"
 BR2_LINUX_KERNEL=y
 BR2_LINUX_KERNEL_CUSTOM_VERSION=y
-BR2_LINUX_KERNEL_CUSTOM_VERSION_VALUE="4.9.6"
+BR2_LINUX_KERNEL_CUSTOM_VERSION_VALUE="4.9.8"
 BR2_LINUX_KERNEL_PATCH="$(BR2_EXTERNAL_OP_BUILD_PATH)/linux"
 BR2_LINUX_KERNEL_USE_CUSTOM_CONFIG=y
 BR2_LINUX_KERNEL_CUSTOM_CONFIG_FILE="$(BR2_EXTERNAL_OP_BUILD_PATH)/configs/linux/skiroot_defconfig"
diff --git a/openpower/configs/firestone_defconfig b/openpower/configs/firestone_defconfig
index fcdd128..0149a17 100644
--- a/openpower/configs/firestone_defconfig
+++ b/openpower/configs/firestone_defconfig
@@ -17,7 +17,7 @@
 BR2_ROOTFS_POST_BUILD_SCRIPT="../openpower/scripts/fixup-target-var ../openpower/scripts/firmware-whitelist"
 BR2_LINUX_KERNEL=y
 BR2_LINUX_KERNEL_CUSTOM_VERSION=y
-BR2_LINUX_KERNEL_CUSTOM_VERSION_VALUE="4.9.6"
+BR2_LINUX_KERNEL_CUSTOM_VERSION_VALUE="4.9.8"
 BR2_LINUX_KERNEL_PATCH="$(BR2_EXTERNAL_OP_BUILD_PATH)/linux"
 BR2_LINUX_KERNEL_USE_CUSTOM_CONFIG=y
 BR2_LINUX_KERNEL_CUSTOM_CONFIG_FILE="$(BR2_EXTERNAL_OP_BUILD_PATH)/configs/linux/skiroot_defconfig"
diff --git a/openpower/configs/garrison_defconfig b/openpower/configs/garrison_defconfig
index e0035ed..88137f5 100644
--- a/openpower/configs/garrison_defconfig
+++ b/openpower/configs/garrison_defconfig
@@ -17,7 +17,7 @@
 BR2_ROOTFS_POST_BUILD_SCRIPT="../openpower/scripts/fixup-target-var ../openpower/scripts/firmware-whitelist"
 BR2_LINUX_KERNEL=y
 BR2_LINUX_KERNEL_CUSTOM_VERSION=y
-BR2_LINUX_KERNEL_CUSTOM_VERSION_VALUE="4.9.6"
+BR2_LINUX_KERNEL_CUSTOM_VERSION_VALUE="4.9.8"
 BR2_LINUX_KERNEL_PATCH="$(BR2_EXTERNAL_OP_BUILD_PATH)/linux"
 BR2_LINUX_KERNEL_USE_CUSTOM_CONFIG=y
 BR2_LINUX_KERNEL_CUSTOM_CONFIG_FILE="$(BR2_EXTERNAL_OP_BUILD_PATH)/configs/linux/skiroot_defconfig"
diff --git a/openpower/configs/habanero_defconfig b/openpower/configs/habanero_defconfig
index 5b0116f..9833a01 100644
--- a/openpower/configs/habanero_defconfig
+++ b/openpower/configs/habanero_defconfig
@@ -17,7 +17,7 @@
 BR2_ROOTFS_POST_BUILD_SCRIPT="../openpower/scripts/fixup-target-var ../openpower/scripts/firmware-whitelist"
 BR2_LINUX_KERNEL=y
 BR2_LINUX_KERNEL_CUSTOM_VERSION=y
-BR2_LINUX_KERNEL_CUSTOM_VERSION_VALUE="4.9.6"
+BR2_LINUX_KERNEL_CUSTOM_VERSION_VALUE="4.9.8"
 BR2_LINUX_KERNEL_PATCH="$(BR2_EXTERNAL_OP_BUILD_PATH)/linux"
 BR2_LINUX_KERNEL_USE_CUSTOM_CONFIG=y
 BR2_LINUX_KERNEL_CUSTOM_CONFIG_FILE="$(BR2_EXTERNAL_OP_BUILD_PATH)/configs/linux/skiroot_defconfig"
diff --git a/openpower/configs/hostboot/witherspoon.config b/openpower/configs/hostboot/witherspoon.config
index 5e1197d..85606bb 100755
--- a/openpower/configs/hostboot/witherspoon.config
+++ b/openpower/configs/hostboot/witherspoon.config
@@ -12,15 +12,15 @@
 set MVPD_READ_FROM_PNOR
 set MVPD_WRITE_TO_PNOR
 set DJVPD_READ_FROM_HW
-unset DJVPD_WRITE_TO_HW
+set DJVPD_WRITE_TO_HW
 set DJVPD_READ_FROM_PNOR
 set DJVPD_WRITE_TO_PNOR
-set CVPD_READ_FROM_HW
-set CVPD_WRITE_TO_HW
-set CVPD_READ_FROM_PNOR
-set CVPD_WRITE_TO_PNOR
-set PVPD_READ_FROM_HW
-set PVPD_WRITE_TO_HW
+unset MEMVPD_READ_FROM_HW
+unset MEMVPD_WRITE_TO_HW
+set MEMVPD_READ_FROM_PNOR
+set MEMVPD_WRITE_TO_PNOR
+unset PVPD_READ_FROM_HW
+unset PVPD_WRITE_TO_HW
 set PVPD_READ_FROM_PNOR
 set PVPD_WRITE_TO_PNOR
 unset CDIMM_FORMAT_FOR_CVPD
@@ -29,7 +29,7 @@
 set GPIODD
 unset PALMETTO_VDDR
 
-# Enable SBE updates
+# Disable SBE updates
 unset SBE_UPDATE_INDEPENDENT
 unset SBE_UPDATE_SEQUENTIAL
 set NO_SBE_UPDATES
@@ -52,11 +52,11 @@
 
 unset BMC_BT_LPC_IPMI
 
-# Enable Checktop Analysis
+# Disable Checktop Analysis
 unset ENABLE_CHECKSTOP_ANALYSIS
 unset IPLTIME_CHECKSTOP_ANALYSIS
 
-# Hostboot will detect hardware changes
+# Hostboot will not detect hardware changes
 unset HOST_HCDB_SUPPORT
 
 # set for trace debug to console
diff --git a/openpower/configs/openpower_mambo_defconfig b/openpower/configs/openpower_mambo_defconfig
index 4ec527a..d1e58c4 100644
--- a/openpower/configs/openpower_mambo_defconfig
+++ b/openpower/configs/openpower_mambo_defconfig
@@ -15,7 +15,7 @@
 BR2_ROOTFS_POST_BUILD_SCRIPT="../openpower/scripts/fixup-target-var ../openpower/scripts/firmware-whitelist"
 BR2_LINUX_KERNEL=y
 BR2_LINUX_KERNEL_CUSTOM_VERSION=y
-BR2_LINUX_KERNEL_CUSTOM_VERSION_VALUE="4.9.6"
+BR2_LINUX_KERNEL_CUSTOM_VERSION_VALUE="4.9.8"
 BR2_LINUX_KERNEL_PATCH="$(BR2_EXTERNAL_OP_BUILD_PATH)/linux"
 BR2_LINUX_KERNEL_USE_CUSTOM_CONFIG=y
 BR2_LINUX_KERNEL_CUSTOM_CONFIG_FILE="$(BR2_EXTERNAL_OP_BUILD_PATH)/configs/linux/skiroot_defconfig"
diff --git a/openpower/configs/openpower_p9_mambo_defconfig b/openpower/configs/openpower_p9_mambo_defconfig
index ef4fa96..a3ad6ba 100644
--- a/openpower/configs/openpower_p9_mambo_defconfig
+++ b/openpower/configs/openpower_p9_mambo_defconfig
@@ -15,7 +15,7 @@
 BR2_ROOTFS_POST_BUILD_SCRIPT="../openpower/scripts/fixup-target-var ../openpower/scripts/firmware-whitelist"
 BR2_LINUX_KERNEL=y
 BR2_LINUX_KERNEL_CUSTOM_VERSION=y
-BR2_LINUX_KERNEL_CUSTOM_VERSION_VALUE="4.9.6"
+BR2_LINUX_KERNEL_CUSTOM_VERSION_VALUE="4.9.8"
 BR2_LINUX_KERNEL_USE_CUSTOM_CONFIG=y
 BR2_LINUX_KERNEL_CUSTOM_CONFIG_FILE="$(BR2_EXTERNAL_OP_BUILD_PATH)/configs/linux/skiroot_defconfig"
 BR2_LINUX_KERNEL_ZIMAGE_EPAPR=y
diff --git a/openpower/configs/palmetto_defconfig b/openpower/configs/palmetto_defconfig
index 22509d8..1293c0b 100644
--- a/openpower/configs/palmetto_defconfig
+++ b/openpower/configs/palmetto_defconfig
@@ -16,7 +16,7 @@
 BR2_ROOTFS_POST_BUILD_SCRIPT="../openpower/scripts/fixup-target-var ../openpower/scripts/firmware-whitelist"
 BR2_LINUX_KERNEL=y
 BR2_LINUX_KERNEL_CUSTOM_VERSION=y
-BR2_LINUX_KERNEL_CUSTOM_VERSION_VALUE="4.9.6"
+BR2_LINUX_KERNEL_CUSTOM_VERSION_VALUE="4.9.8"
 BR2_LINUX_KERNEL_PATCH="$(BR2_EXTERNAL_OP_BUILD_PATH)/linux"
 BR2_LINUX_KERNEL_USE_CUSTOM_CONFIG=y
 BR2_LINUX_KERNEL_CUSTOM_CONFIG_FILE="$(BR2_EXTERNAL_OP_BUILD_PATH)/configs/linux/skiroot_defconfig"
diff --git a/openpower/configs/witherspoon_defconfig b/openpower/configs/witherspoon_defconfig
index d9a5a68..437d90b 100644
--- a/openpower/configs/witherspoon_defconfig
+++ b/openpower/configs/witherspoon_defconfig
@@ -17,7 +17,7 @@
 BR2_ROOTFS_POST_BUILD_SCRIPT="../openpower/scripts/fixup-target-var ../openpower/scripts/firmware-whitelist"
 BR2_LINUX_KERNEL=y
 BR2_LINUX_KERNEL_CUSTOM_VERSION=y
-BR2_LINUX_KERNEL_CUSTOM_VERSION_VALUE="4.9.6"
+BR2_LINUX_KERNEL_CUSTOM_VERSION_VALUE="4.9.8"
 BR2_LINUX_KERNEL_USE_CUSTOM_CONFIG=y
 BR2_LINUX_KERNEL_CUSTOM_CONFIG_FILE="$(BR2_EXTERNAL_OP_BUILD_PATH)/configs/linux/skiroot_defconfig"
 BR2_LINUX_KERNEL_ZIMAGE_EPAPR=y
diff --git a/openpower/configs/zaius_defconfig b/openpower/configs/zaius_defconfig
index f685ef3..ed7a7e2 100644
--- a/openpower/configs/zaius_defconfig
+++ b/openpower/configs/zaius_defconfig
@@ -17,7 +17,7 @@
 BR2_ROOTFS_POST_BUILD_SCRIPT="../openpower/scripts/fixup-target-var ../openpower/scripts/firmware-whitelist"
 BR2_LINUX_KERNEL=y
 BR2_LINUX_KERNEL_CUSTOM_VERSION=y
-BR2_LINUX_KERNEL_CUSTOM_VERSION_VALUE="4.10-rc4"
+BR2_LINUX_KERNEL_CUSTOM_VERSION_VALUE="4.10-rc7"
 BR2_LINUX_KERNEL_USE_CUSTOM_CONFIG=y
 BR2_LINUX_KERNEL_CUSTOM_CONFIG_FILE="$(BR2_EXTERNAL_OP_BUILD_PATH)/configs/linux/skiroot_defconfig"
 BR2_LINUX_KERNEL_ZIMAGE_EPAPR=y
diff --git a/openpower/configs/zz_defconfig b/openpower/configs/zz_defconfig
index b9024f6..03a86b5 100644
--- a/openpower/configs/zz_defconfig
+++ b/openpower/configs/zz_defconfig
@@ -16,7 +16,7 @@
 BR2_ROOTFS_POST_BUILD_SCRIPT="../openpower/scripts/fixup-target-var ../openpower/scripts/firmware-whitelist"
 BR2_LINUX_KERNEL=y
 BR2_LINUX_KERNEL_CUSTOM_VERSION=y
-BR2_LINUX_KERNEL_CUSTOM_VERSION_VALUE="4.10-rc3"
+BR2_LINUX_KERNEL_CUSTOM_VERSION_VALUE="4.10-rc7"
 BR2_LINUX_KERNEL_USE_CUSTOM_CONFIG=y
 BR2_LINUX_KERNEL_CUSTOM_CONFIG_FILE="$(BR2_EXTERNAL_OP_BUILD_PATH)/configs/linux/skiroot_defconfig"
 BR2_LINUX_KERNEL_ZIMAGE_EPAPR=y
diff --git a/openpower/linux/0004-Release-4.9.6-openpower1.patch b/openpower/linux/0004-Release-4.9.8-openpower1.patch
similarity index 82%
rename from openpower/linux/0004-Release-4.9.6-openpower1.patch
rename to openpower/linux/0004-Release-4.9.8-openpower1.patch
index d888467..87bbcca 100644
--- a/openpower/linux/0004-Release-4.9.6-openpower1.patch
+++ b/openpower/linux/0004-Release-4.9.8-openpower1.patch
@@ -1,7 +1,7 @@
 From 0000000000000000000000000000000000000000 Mon Sep 17 00:00:00 2001
 From: Joel Stanley <joel@jms.id.au>
 Date: Tue, 16 Aug 2016 23:00:23 +0930
-Subject: [PATCH 4/4] Release 4.9.6-openpower1
+Subject: [PATCH 4/4] Release 4.9.8-openpower1
 
 Signed-off-by: Joel Stanley <joel@jms.id.au>
 ---
@@ -9,13 +9,13 @@
  1 file changed, 1 insertion(+), 1 deletion(-)
 
 diff --git a/Makefile b/Makefile
-index ef95231d1625..45726a9b4774 100644
+index 1130803ab93c..9931edcea668 100644
 --- a/Makefile
 +++ b/Makefile
 @@ -1,7 +1,7 @@
  VERSION = 4
  PATCHLEVEL = 9
- SUBLEVEL = 6
+ SUBLEVEL = 8
 -EXTRAVERSION =
 +EXTRAVERSION = -openpower1
  NAME = Roaring Lionus
diff --git a/openpower/package/garrison-xml/garrison.mk b/openpower/package/garrison-xml/garrison.mk
index 5b95379..a4a5065 100644
--- a/openpower/package/garrison-xml/garrison.mk
+++ b/openpower/package/garrison-xml/garrison.mk
@@ -4,7 +4,7 @@
 #
 ################################################################################
 
-GARRISON_XML_VERSION ?= c4d238ee2f893d2b52b88c36c993e2c497ee6443
+GARRISON_XML_VERSION ?= 847371f2141e2d4320fa6700ee2dd9b97057831b
 GARRISON_XML_SITE ?= $(call github,open-power,garrison-xml,$(GARRISON_XML_VERSION))
 
 GARRISON_XML_LICENSE = Apache-2.0
diff --git a/openpower/package/hostboot-binaries/hostboot_binaries.mk b/openpower/package/hostboot-binaries/hostboot_binaries.mk
index a814769..b4a74ce 100644
--- a/openpower/package/hostboot-binaries/hostboot_binaries.mk
+++ b/openpower/package/hostboot-binaries/hostboot_binaries.mk
@@ -4,7 +4,7 @@
 #
 ################################################################################
 
-HOSTBOOT_BINARIES_VERSION ?= 7425fb1d540920f0397f57f6c54a180f4f6a720e
+HOSTBOOT_BINARIES_VERSION ?= 01cbe096ec1bc1d3f6957efa00f6a6cea914ad34
 HOSTBOOT_BINARIES_SITE ?= $(call github,open-power,hostboot-binaries,$(HOSTBOOT_BINARIES_VERSION))
 HOSTBOOT_BINARIES_LICENSE = Apache-2.0
 HOSTBOOT_BINARIES_LICENSE_FILES = LICENSE
diff --git a/openpower/package/hostboot/hostboot.mk b/openpower/package/hostboot/hostboot.mk
index 0e64418..caefa2e 100644
--- a/openpower/package/hostboot/hostboot.mk
+++ b/openpower/package/hostboot/hostboot.mk
@@ -3,8 +3,8 @@
 # hostboot
 #
 ################################################################################
-HOSTBOOT_VERSION_BRANCH_MASTER_P8 ?= f2b28bf6eee57757be45c45e514d2542d72aa350
-HOSTBOOT_VERSION_BRANCH_MASTER ?= b9fd10a99329adb4093c453bf9f80b05a6f31fa3
+HOSTBOOT_VERSION_BRANCH_MASTER_P8 ?= fe5c556993ce24fae1f70f6be9a071fbd89e616c
+HOSTBOOT_VERSION_BRANCH_MASTER ?= 441fb19059b39a3d440f6db17278fb9567b80e5f
 
 HOSTBOOT_VERSION ?= $(if $(BR2_OPENPOWER_POWER9),$(HOSTBOOT_VERSION_BRANCH_MASTER),$(HOSTBOOT_VERSION_BRANCH_MASTER_P8))
 HOSTBOOT_SITE ?= $(call github,open-power,hostboot,$(HOSTBOOT_VERSION))
diff --git a/openpower/package/hostboot/p9Patches/hostboot-0006-fix-AST2500-config.patch b/openpower/package/hostboot/p9Patches/hostboot-0006-fix-AST2500-config.patch
deleted file mode 100644
index 2c52864..0000000
--- a/openpower/package/hostboot/p9Patches/hostboot-0006-fix-AST2500-config.patch
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1,26 +0,0 @@
-From 4bd0930e6d63bf714188ecacbe06a162b3529351 Mon Sep 17 00:00:00 2001
-From: Matt Ploetz <maploetz@us.ibm.com>
-Date: Sun, 6 Nov 2016 19:20:39 -0600
-Subject: [PATCH] Change AST2400 to default only if AST2500 isn't set
-
-Change-Id: Ic9c1da281fcdc650e7528a84377d4fbe51355c84
----
- src/usr/pnor/HBconfig | 2 +-
- 1 file changed, 1 insertion(+), 1 deletion(-)
-
-diff --git a/src/usr/pnor/HBconfig b/src/usr/pnor/HBconfig
-index c0dfde8..9ce13b1 100644
---- a/src/usr/pnor/HBconfig
-+++ b/src/usr/pnor/HBconfig
-@@ -5,7 +5,7 @@ config SFC_IS_IBM_DPSS
-         The Serial Flash Controller is the IBM DPSS FPGA.
- 
- config SFC_IS_AST2400
--    default y
-+    default y if !SFC_IS_AST2500
-     depends on !SFC_IS_IBM_DPSS && !SFC_IS_FAKE && !SFC_IS_AST2500
-     help
-         The Serial Flash Controller is the AST2400 BMC.
--- 
-1.8.2.2
-
diff --git a/openpower/package/witherspoon-xml/witherspoon.mk b/openpower/package/witherspoon-xml/witherspoon.mk
index 05d3726..db4b764 100644
--- a/openpower/package/witherspoon-xml/witherspoon.mk
+++ b/openpower/package/witherspoon-xml/witherspoon.mk
@@ -4,7 +4,7 @@
 #
 ################################################################################
 
-WITHERSPOON_XML_VERSION ?= b92c88f3106bfea675874b14eb66968fd3e17264
+WITHERSPOON_XML_VERSION ?= a3b74dd7d0e13bc4fec6f1de7ace3039aa6f27d4
 WITHERSPOON_XML_SITE ?= $(call github,open-power,witherspoon-xml,$(WITHERSPOON_XML_VERSION))
 
 WITHERSPOON_XML_LICENSE = Apache-2.0