1. A method for managing system firmware in a data processing system having a plurality of logical partitions, the method comprising the steps of: responsive to a request to update the system firmware from a first logical partition within the plurality of logical partitions in the data processing system, determining whether the first logical partition within the plurality of logical partitions is present in the data processing system; responsive to determining a first logical partition within the plurality of logical partitions is present in the data processing system, updating the system firmware from the first logical partition in the data processing system; and inhibiting starting of additional partitions within the plurality of logical partitions in the data processing system until the system firmware update from the first logical partition is complete.