AIX 5.1 cloning via NIM (under construction)


NIM cloning is a convenient mechanism but needs the cooperation with the DVEE AIX system group (M.Feyerabend). Prerequisite is a recent clone system (mksysb) of an existing bio-machine. This must reside on some NIM installation server in the RZ, currently
clri6l.gsi.de, 140.181.98.69.
Also SPOTs must exist of current base OS CDs, in case additional device drivers are needed for machines with different hardware. A new machine must have a host name and an IP address assigned. For machines with pre-installed operating systems you might choose the easier NIM client triggered cloning, whereas pristine machines must clone from ground up.
In either case, verify that the latest firmware is installed.
Note further, that cloning a system with a mirrored rootvg will require a 2-disk target system as well (or you have to "break" the mirror before creating the clone image).

NIM client triggered cloning

  1. ensure that on the server side the appropriate mksysb and spot is available and allocated.
  2. Cleanup first
    mv /etc/niminfo /etc/niminfo.save
    
  3. smitty - nim - Configure Network Installation Management Client Fileset
    
    and fill the mandatory fields
  4. smitty - nim - Manage Network Install Resource Allocation - Allocate ...
    
    select the appropriate spot and mksysb
  5. smitty - nim - Perform a NIM Client Operation  
    
    select bosinst, mksysb and, important, set ACCEPT licenses to yes
  6. here we go, just answer the questions.
  7. when the basic installation is complete, ensure that
    1. the correct network adapter is active (in case the machine has two of them, use smitty to get rid of the superfluous one)
    2. the host name does not contain the domain (gsi.de)
    3. the machine is known to GSI's NIS netgroups (M.Feyerabend@gsi.de)
      (otherwise it won't let you login)
    4. special drivers (e.g. GL extensions for graphics cards) which weren't included in the original clone are installed additionally
Proceed.

Cloning from ground up

First the machines ethernet hardware address must be known there. For a running system you get it with:
lscfg -v
The output should contain sth like:
Network Address.............08005AC75567

For an "empty" system you extract it from the startup menu (hardware configuration), accessible during the boot procedures described below.
Once the clone is set-up on the NIM server you start the installation process:

What's next ?

If the target machine has mirrored system disks, do not forget to
  bootlist -m normal hdisky hdiskx
where hdisky is the original and hdiskx the mirrored disk volume.
After cloning you should go through the
standard customization check list for normal bio* machines. Note that tkr* machines have their own customization procedures.
Last update: 25-Jul-2006, M.Kraemer