How to replace a Disk Drive in IBM AIX

# lsvg -p rootvg
rootvg:

PV_NAME PV STATE TOTAL PPs FREE PPs FREE DISTRIBUTION

hdisk0 active 542 264 109..00..00..46..109

hdisk1 active 542 278 88..00..00..81..109

* Here we make sure that both disks are assigned to the volume group
(rootvg)

# lsvg –l rootvg
rootvg:

LV NAME TYPE LPs PPs PVs LV STATE MOUNT POINT

hd5 boot 1 2 2 closed/syncd N/A

hd6 paging 64 128 2 open/syncd N/A

hd8 jfslog 1 2 2 open/syncd N/A

hd4 jfs 6 12 2 open/syncd /

hd2 jfs 127 254 2 open/syncd /usr

hd9var jfs 4 8 2 open/syncd /var

hd3 jfs 37 74 2 open/syncd /tmp

hd1 jfs 3 6 2 open/syncd /home

hd10opt jfs 21 42 2 open/syncd /opt

dumplv sysdump 14 14 1 open/syncd N/A

*Here we check to make sure there’s a 1:2 relationship, meaning that there
are copies. Notice dumplv. It’s not copied so we need to make sure dumplv
data isn’t on the failing disk. To check, run;

# lslv -l dumplv
dumplv:N/A

PV COPIES IN BAND DISTRIBUTION

hdisk0 014:000:000 100% 000:014:000:000:000

*This is telling us that the logical volume dumplv is on hdisk0. If hdisk1 is

the failing disk, then we are okay. Otherwise, we would have to migrate the
data over to the good drive and proceed.

# Unmirrorvg rootvg hdisk1

# Reducevg rootvg hdisk1

# Rmdev -l hdisk1 –d

*Before you power down, it’s a good idea to check the system to make sure
it will boot from the good drive. Do that by performing;

# Bootinfo -b
hdisk1

*This tells us from which drive it was last booted up. We want to change
this so that it boots from new drive.

# Bosboot -ad /dev/hdisk0

And check bootlist

# bootlist –m normal –o

NOW WE CAN POWER DOWN THE BOX AND REPLACE THE DRIVE

Once disk has been replaced, power up the server. Once at command
prompt, run;

# Cfgmgr

This will install the new device and allow the OS to see it.

# lsdev -Cc disk

hdisk0 Available 40-60-00-4,0 16 Bit LVD SCSI Disk Drive

hdisk1 Available 40-60-00-8,0 16 Bit LVD SCSI Disk Drive

*Make sure that the OS says it’s available. If it is, we can assign it to a
volume group.

# Extendvg rootvg hdisk1

*This will assign it a PVID and assign it to the volumegroup rootvg to make
it available for use. Now we can mirror;
# Mirrorvg rootvg

*This will take some time as it’s taking all data now on hdisk0 and making a
copy to hdisk1.

# lsvg -p rootvg
rootvg:

PV_NAME PV STATE TOTALPPs FREE PPs FREE DISTRIBUTION

hdisk0 active 542 264 109..00..00..46..109

hdisk1 active 542 278 88..00..00..81..109

*Once it’s mirrored , we can check that it’s assigned to rootvg by doing the
above. We can also check that there are mirror copies;

# lsvg -l rootvg
rootvg:

LV NAME TYPE LPs PPs PVs LV STATE MOUNT POINT

hd5 boot 1 2 2 closed/syncd N/A

hd6 paging 64 128 2 open/syncd N/A

hd8 jfslog 1 2 2 open/syncd N/A

hd4 jfs 6 12 2 open/syncd /

hd2 jfs 127 254 2 open/syncd /usr

hd9var jfs 4 8 2 open/syncd /var

hd3 jfs 37 74 2 open/syncd /tmp

hd1 jfs 3 6 2 open/syncd /home

hd10opt jfs 21 42 2 open/syncd /opt

dumplv sysdump 14 14 1 open/syncd N/A

*Now we need to modify the bosboot to recreate the boot image;

# bosboot –a

*Check your bootlist to make sure hdisk1 is in there;

# bootlist –m normal –o