Question What's the procedure to install an AIX base ISO to an AIX partition using a VIOS media repository? What's the procedure to create/use/remove a virtual media repository? Can a mksysb ISO be restored through the virtual media repository? Cause This document provides a step by step command line procedure for using a virtual media repository or Virtual Media Library (VML) to install/restore an AIX partition. This applies to VIOS version 2.2.x. Answer PART I. REQUIREMENTS BEFORE PROCEEDING PART II. PERFORMING NEW AIX INSTALL WITH VML PART III. PERFORMING MKSYSB RESTORE WITH MKSYSB ISO AND VML
LPAR Placement sheet
PART I. REQUIREMENTS BEFORE PROCEEDING: Please ensure the following requirements are met before proceeding: 1. There should be an existing pair of virtual scsi adapters paired between the VIO server (vhost) and the VIO client (vscsi). Since the client may not have an OS, the adapter pairing can be verified through the partition properties/profile on the HMC or IVM. 2. A basic understanding of managing VIO virtual optical devices. 3. A basic understanding of the AIX Installation Menu and how to install AIX.
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PART II. PERFORMING NEW AIX INSTALL WITH VML: Step 1: Obtain AIX base ISO image from ESS and store on the VIO server. AIX base ISO images can be obtained by contacting Entitled Software Support (ESS) at 1-800-879-2755 option 2, option 2. The representatives should be able to verify entitlement and guide customers on how to download the ISO image. Once the AIX ISO image has been downloaded, the image can be stored in the /home/padmin directory of the VIO server. $ ls -al /home/padmin/AIX_iso total 8687952 drwxr-xr-x 2 padmin staff 256 Apr 13 17:07 . drwxr-x--- 9 padmin system 4096 Apr 13 17:10 .. -rw-r--r-- 1 root staff 4448223232 Apr 13 17:08 AIX_6.1_Base_Operating_System_TL_6100-07-00_DVD_1_of_2_102011.iso
Step 2: Create/Modify the media repository 1. Create the repository in rootvg: $ mkrep -sp rootvg -size 6G Virtual Media Repository Created Repository created within "VMLibrary" logical volume 2. Create the repository in a new VG: $ mkvg -vg <new volume group name> hdisk# $ mkrep -sp <repository name> -size 6G 3. Increasing the size of the media repository: $ lsrep Size(mb) Free(mb) Parent Pool Parent Size Parent Free 6118 6118 rootvg 139776 26624 $ chrep -size 4G > Adds an additional 4GB to the repository $ lsrep Size(mb) Free(mb) Parent Pool Parent Size Parent Free 10198 10198 rootvg 139776 22528 NOTE: Increasing the size is currently the only option. To reduce the size, the repository will need to be removed and recreated.
Step 3: Create the virtual media disk $ mkvopt -name <new media disk name> -file <ISO filename> -ro Example: $ mkvopt -name base_61_TL7 -file /home/padmin/AIX_iso/A IX_6.1_Base_Operating_System_TL_6100-07- 00_DVD_1_of_2_102011.iso -ro NOTE: This command may take a few minutes to complete.
Step 4: Verify the virtual media disk is part of the repository $ lsrep Size(mb) Free(mb) Parent Pool Parent Size Parent Free 10198 5955 rootvg 139776 22528 Name File Size Optical Access base_61_TL7 4243 None ro
Step 5: Create the file backed optical device and map it to a vhost: ~ Shown without the vtopt device ~
VTD L1_rootvg Status Available LUN 0x8100000000000000 Backing device lpar1_lv Physloc Mirrored N/A
Create the vtopt device. $ mkvdev -fbo -vadapter vhost0 vtopt0 Available
~ Shown with the vtopt device ~ $ lsmap -vadapter vhost0 SVSA Physloc Client Partition ID --------------- ----------------------------- ------------------- vhost0 U9117.MMA.10708D0-V1-C11 0x00000002
VTD vtopt0 Status Available LUN 0x8200000000000000 Backing device Physloc Mirrored N/A
NOTE: Additional vtopt devices can be created and mapped to other vhosts. Consequently, each vtopt device will appear as a virtual CD_ROM device on the clients' side. Furthermore, the same virtual media disk (base_61_TL7 in this example) can be simultaneously loaded (in Step 6) onto more than one virtual optical (vopt) device allowing the same virtual media disk (ISO image) to be used to install more than one AIX client at the same time.
Step 6: Load the virtual media disk on the vtopt device: $ lsrep Size(mb) Free(mb) Parent Pool Parent Size Parent Free 10198 5955 rootvg 139776 22528
Name File Size Optical Access base_61_TL7 4243 None ro
Name File Size Optical Access base_61_TL7 4243 vtopt0 ro
Verify that the vtopt# backing device is the virtual media disk location. $lsmap -vadapter vhost0 ... VTD vtopt0 Status Available LUN 0x8200000000000000 Backing device /var/vio/VMLibrary/base_61_TL7 Physloc Mirrored N/A
Step 7: Boot the client partition from the virtual optical device:
A.) Activate the AIX Partition to the SMS Menu B.) Select the virtual optical device (CD-ROM)
SMS 1.7 (c) Copyright IBM Corp. 2000,2008 All rights reserved. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Main Menu 1. Select Language 2. Setup Remote IPL (Initial Program Load) 3. Change SCSI Settings 4. Select Console 5. Select Boot Options <<<
Select Device Type 1. Diskette 2. Tape 3. CD/DVD 4. IDE 5. Hard Drive 6. Network 7. List all Devices <<<
Select Device Device Current Device Number Position Name 1. - Interpartition Logical LAN ( loc=U9117.MMA.10708D0-V2-C3-T1 ) 2. - SCSI CD-ROM ( loc=U9117.MMA.10708D0-V2-C2-T1-L8200000000000000 ) <<<
NOTE: The location code lun ID L8200000000000000 should match the LUN ID of the vtopt mapped to the vhost:
$lsmap -vadapter vhost0 ... VTD vtopt0 Status Available LUN 0x8200000000000000 Backing device /var/vio/VMLibrary/base_61_TL7 Physloc Mirrored N/A
Name File Size Optical Access base_61_TL7 4243 None ro # ls -al total 38609016 ... -rw-r--r-- 1 root system 3120545792 Apr 25 19:01 cd_image_6357164 ...
Step 2: Create the virtual media disk out of the mksysb ISO and add to the repository: Note: The file must be a bootable, mksysb ISO file. Prior to doing this step, ensure the file is created as noted at Creating ISO image from a mksysb backup file. $ mkvopt -name lpar1_sysb -file /home/padmin/mount/cd_image_6357164 - ro Step 3: Verify the new virtual media disk in the repository: $ lsrep Size(mb) Free(mb) Parent Pool Parent Size Parent Free 10198 2979 rootvg 139776 22528
VTD L1_rootvg Status Available LUN 0x8100000000000000 Backing device lpar1_lv Physloc Mirrored N/A
VTD vtopt0 Status Available LUN 0x8200000000000000 Backing device <== Available to add backing device Physloc Mirrored N/A
Verify that the virtual media disk is assigned as the backing device: $ lsmap -vadapter vhost0 SVSA Physloc Client Partition ID --------------- -------------------------------------------- ------------------ vhost0 U9117.MMA.10708D0-V1-C11 0x00000002
VTD L1_rootvg Status Available LUN 0x8100000000000000 Backing device lpar1_lv Physloc Mirrored N/A
VTD vtopt0 Status Available LUN 0x8200000000000000 Backing device /var/vio/VMLibrary/lpar1_sysb Physloc Mirrored N/A
Follow Step 6 and Step 7 to boot the client LPAR and restore from the virtual media disk.
Step 5: Restoring a mksysb with multiple volumes
Locate the directory with your multiple ISO images.
NOTE: Ensure that the volume order (vol1,vol2, etc.) are identifiable to reduce the probability of corrupting the restore.
$ ls -al /home/padmin/mount/*lpar2* total 6139912 drwxr-xr-x 2 root system 256 Apr 26 07:21 . drwxr-xr-x 5 root system 4096 Apr 25 22:28 .. -rw-r--r-- 1 root system 674078720 Apr 26 00:24 cd_image_3014874.vol1 -rw-r--r-- 1 root system 676304896 Apr 26 02:20 cd_image_3014874.vol2 -rw-r--r-- 1 root system 676304896 Apr 26 04:10 cd_image_3014874.vol3 -rw-r--r-- 1 root system 676304896 Apr 26 05:56 cd_image_3014874.vol4 -rw-r--r-- 1 root system 440211456 Apr 26 07:21 cd_image_3014874.vol5
(Total Sum of ISO file sizes = 3143204864 or 3.143 G)
Verify that all of the volumes have been made into a virtual disk: $ lsrep Size(mb) Free(mb) Parent Pool Parent Size Parent Free 12239 2022 rootvg 139776 20480
Check that a vtopt has been mapped to the appropriate vhost serving the client and that the backing device is available: $ lsmap -vadapter vhost1 SVSA Physloc Client Partition ID --------------- -------------------------------------------- ------------------ vhost1 U9117.MMA.10708D0-V1-C12 0x00000003
VTD L2_rootvg Status Available LUN 0x8100000000000000 Backing device lpar2_lv Physloc Mirrored N/A
VTD vtopt1 Status Available LUN 0x8200000000000000 Backing device <== Available for a virtual media disk from repository Physloc Mirrored N/A
Load volume 1 of the virtual media disks to the virtual optical device: $ loadopt -vtd vtopt1 -disk lpar2_sysb_vol1
Verify it's been assigned as the backing device: $ lsmap -vadapter vhost1 ... VTD vtopt1 Status Available LUN 0x8200000000000000 Backing device /var/vio/VMLibrary/lpar2_sysb_vol1 Physloc Mirrored N/A
Boot the client from the virtual optical device and begin the install with virtual media disk volume 1 (Follow Part II Steps 7 and 8)
When prompted for volume 2 (and every additional volume) "Please remove volume 1, insert volume 2, and press the ENTER key.", on the VIOS we'll need to unload the current volume and load the next volume:
Example: $ unloadopt -vtd vtopt1 $ set -o vi $ loadopt -vtd vtopt1 -disk lpar2_sysb_vol2
Back on the client getting installed, strike ENTER/RETURN to begin reading from the second volume and continue the install.
Continue the process of unloading and loading the virtual media disk volumes in order as the client asks for them until the restore has completed.