Install NIM Filesets(Client, Master and SPOT)
# smitty install_latest
Create Volume Group, loglv, and filesystem for NIM resources
# mkvg -f -S -s 128 -y nim_vg hdisk3
# mklv -t jfs2log -y nim_jfs2log nim_vg 1
# logform /dev/nim_jfs2log
# mklv -t jfs2 -y nim_base nim_vg 2
# crfs -v jfs2 -d /dev/nim_base -m /nim -p rw -A yes -u NIM
# mount /nim
Create Filesystem for Installation Images
# mklv -t jfs2 -y nim_images nim_vg 100
nim_images
# crfs -v jfs2 -d /dev/nim_images -m /nim/images -p rw -A yes -u NIM
File system created successfully.
13106596 kilobytes total disk space.
New File System size is 26214400
# mount /nim/images
Create Filesystem for LPP Sources
# mklv -t jfs2 -y nim_lppsrc nim_vg 100
nim_lppsrc
# crfs -v jfs2 -d /dev/nim_lppsrc -m /nim/lppsource -p rw -A yes -u NIM
File system created successfully.
13106596 kilobytes total disk space.
New File System size is 26214400
# mount /nim/lppsource
Creat Filesystem for SPOTS
# mklv -t jfs2 -y nim_spot nim_vg 30
nim_spot
# crfs -v jfs2 -d /dev/nim_spot -m /nim/spot -p rw -A yes -u NIM
File system created successfully.
3931836 kilobytes total disk space.
New File System size is 7864320
# mount /nim/spot
Verify the Filesystems Created
# df
Filesystem 512-blocks Free %Used Iused %Iused Mounted on
/dev/hd4 917504 341240 63% 11455 21% /
/dev/hd2 16646144 329032 99% 49881 54% /usr
/dev/hd9var 1179648 356512 70% 8470 17% /var
/dev/hd3 1966080 1949800 1% 99 1% /tmp
/dev/fwdump 262144 261448 1% 4 1% /var/adm/ras/platform
/dev/hd1 131072 103728 21% 25 1% /home
/dev/hd11admin 262144 261384 1% 7 1% /admin
/proc - - - - - /proc
/dev/hd10opt 917504 540312 42% 7173 11% /opt
/dev/livedump 524288 523552 1% 4 1% /var/adm/ras/livedump
/dev/nim_base 524288 523488 1% 7 1% /nim
/dev/nim_images 26214400 26209744 1% 4 1% /nim/images
/dev/nim_lppsrc 26214400 26209744 1% 4 1% /nim/lppsource
/dev/nim_spot 7864320 7862464 1% 4 1% /nim/spot
Initialize NIM
To initiatize nim on the server with IP: 10.62.137.109 & NetMask: 255.255.255.0, run the following
# nimconfig -a netname=net_10_62_137 -a pif_name=en0 -a netboot_kernel=64 -a c>
0513-071 The nimesis Subsystem has been added.
0513-071 The nimd Subsystem has been added.
0513-059 The nimesis Subsystem has been started. Subsystem PID is 6946994.
Upon Initializing NIM, some base resources are created as shown below
# lsnim
master machines master
boot resources boot
nim_script resources nim_script
net_10_62_137 networks ent
Create Basic NIM Resources
Following basic resources must be created.
- an LPP source (NIM object of type lppsource)
- a SPOT (NIM object of type spot)
- NIM scripts (NIM objects of type script and fb_script)
For creating an LPP source from an AIX 7.1 installation DVD.We copy the files to our target filesystem (
/nim/lppsource
) using bffcreate. Since we want to be able to serve more than one LPP source we decide to store
the files in a subfolder LPP71_TL00:
# mkdir /nim/lppsource/LPP71_TL00
# smitty bffcreate
I have downloaded the TL filesets
under /datafs/ for AIX 7100-01-00-1140.
. We now copy the filesets into the LPP source. Please note the target directory should be /nim/lppsource/LPP71_TL00/installp/ppc# smitty bffcreate
I have downloaded Service pack: 7100-01-01-1141 and ran smitty bffcreate again for updating service pack
# smitty bffcreate
Define LPP Source
# cd /nim/lppsource/LPP71_TL00/installp/ppc
# inutoc .
# nim -o define -t lpp_source \
> -a server=master \
> -a location=/nim/lppsource/LPP71_TL00 \
> -a comments='Full AIX 7100-01-03 Source' \
> lpp_aix710
Preparing to copy install images (this will take several minutes)...
Now checking for missing install images...
All required install images have been found. This lpp_source is now ready.
Save some space by removing superseeded filesets : You can remove Language software by selecting yes if you don't want to keep language software.
Create SPOT from LPP source:
Create Installation Image
This is an option step needed if you want to install servers from mksysb image instead of using lpp source. If you want to define mksysb resource, create mksysb from existing AIX7 installation, copy it over to NIM Master. If you do not have any AIX 7 in your environment, then create an installation from lppsource on a spare lpar, customize it and create mksysb or create mksysb from the nim master before configuring the nim master..
After you have a mksysb image of AIX 7, you can define the mksysb nim resource as below
# nim -o define -t mksysb \
-a server=master \
-a comments='MKSYSB AIX 7 Installation - Created <DATE> \
-a location=/nim/install_mksysbimages/mksysb_aix7 \
mksysb_aix7
Create Scripts
If you have customization scripts like first boot script called fboot_aix7.sh and a postinstall script called pboot_aix7.sh in place, then we have to define two more NIM resources:
Firstboot Script# vi fboot_aix7.sh
# chmod ug+x fboot_aix7.sh
# nim -o define -t fb_script \
-a server=master \
-a comments='Firstboot script for AIX 7' \
-a location=/nim/scripts/fboot_aix7.sh \
fb_aix7
Postinstall Script
# vi pboot_aix7.sh
# chmod ug+x pboot_aix7.sh
# nim -o define -t script \
-a server=master \
-a comments='Postinstall script for AIX 7 installations' \
-a location=/nim/scripts/pboot_aix7.sh \
script_aix7_post
This completes the NIM Master setup, then do the followingon Nim Master to
Define a client: use smitty nim->Perform Nim Admin Tasks->Manage Machines->Define a Machine or command line as below.
#nim -o define -t standalone -a platform=chrp -a netboot_kernel=64 -a if1="net_10_62_137 -a cable_type1=tp <client>" <client>
Allocate resources:
# nim -o allocate -a spot=spot_aix710 -a lpp_source=LPP71_TL00 <ClientName>
Initialize lpp installation:
nim -o bos_inst -a spot=spot_aix710 -a lpp_source=LPP71_TL00 -a no_client_boot=yes -a accept_licenses=yes <client>
If the installation Fails and you have to restart installation, deallocate all resources before reallocating
# nim -Fo deallocate -a subclass=all <ClientName>
Other useful commands and resources
- remove resource:
nim -o remove spot_aix710 - add filesets to a spot
smitty nim_inst_latest Configuring the NIM master and creating basic installationresources from the command line
IBM Redbook: NIM from A to Z