My question is: How do I create an lpp_source and SPOT that correspond to the new level, 5300-12-02-1036?


Answer by example:


Overview

Whenever there is a need to update the Technology Level (TL) or Service Pack (SP) in any NIM client, the first thing you need to do is to update your NIM master server. After the NIM master server is updated, you will need to update the lpp_source follow by the SPOT. If your NIM environment has a mixture of TL levels, hen in order to have some NIM clients at the original level, you need to keep a copy of the original lpp_source and SPOT level. These clients will still need the riginal level of lpp_source and SPOT. In the next section, we describe the steps to perform the lpp_source update. In this example, we have an original lpp_source nd SPOT level at TL04, and we are creating a new TL05 lpp_source and SPOT.

LPP Source

1. Create a new AIX 5L V5.3 5372 lpp_source directory, for example, /nim_export/aix53/5300-07-02-0806, and copy the AIX 5L V5.3 5371 lpp_source directory into it.
log into the ms

Code:

su -
cd /nim_export/aix53/lpp_source

For example (update with your software levels appropriately):

Code:

cp -rp 5371lpp_res 5372lpp_res

Run fix_lpp_dir.
For example:

Code:

fix_lpp_dir /nim_export/aix53/lpp_source/5372lpp_res/installp/ppc

2. Create an AIX 5L V5.3 5372 lpp_source resource from the AIX 5L V5.3 5372 lpp_source directory, as shown in Example 5-1. The following steps are followed when using the SMIT menus:

Code:

# smitty nim
Perform NIM Administration Tasks
Manage Resources
Define a Resource
Select “lpp_source = source device for optional product images”

Or, by using SMIT Fast Path:

Code:

smitty nim_mkres

Note: The NIM server must be at the same or higher level than the NIM clients. You need to upgrade your NIM server before upgrading your NIM client.

Important: Ensure that the files in /nim_export/aix53/lpp_source/5372lpp_res/installp/ppc have Read permission for everybody. If they do not, use the chmod 644 * command inside the lpp_source directory. Also ensure that the ownership of the files is root:system.

Example 5-1 Creating an AIX 5L V5.3 5372 lpp_source

Code:

Define a Resource
Type or select values in entry fields.
Press Enter AFTER making all desired changes.
[EntryFields]
* Resource Name                [LPP-AIX5372]
* Resource Type                lpp_source
* Server of Resource           [master]           +
* Location of Resource         [/nim_export/aix53/lpp_source/5372lpp_res]
Architecture of Resource       []                 +
Source of Install Images       []                 +/
Names of Option Packages       []
Show Progress                  [yes]              +
Comments                       []

You can also use the command line as follows:

Code:

nim -o define -t lpp_source -a server=master -l /export/lppsource/lpp-aix5305 LPP-AIX5372

3. Update the TL05 to the LPP-AIX5372 resource as shown in Example 5-2. You use the NIM update peration to perform the task. This operation allows you to update or remove any packages from the lppsource resource. The next steps are followed when using the SMIT menus:

Code:

  # smitty nim
Perform NIM Administration Tasks
Manage Resources
Perform Operations on Resources
Select LPP-AIX5372
Select “update = add or remove software to or from an lpp_source”
Select “Add” and enter the Software media source

Or, by using SMIT Fast Path:

Code:

smitty nim_update

Media, directory or lpp_source to copy images from /nim_export/aix53/5300-07-02-0806http://ms:8080/DBAprivate/images/attachment_small.png

Example 5-2 Adding software to an lpp_source

Code:

Add Software to an lpp_source
Type or select values in entry fields.
Press Enter AFTER making all desired changes.
[EntryFields]

Note: NIM updates the .toc file in <lppsource>/installp/ppc automatically.
Make sure the .toc file in /export/lppsource/lpp-aix5305/installp/ppc is updated.

TARGET lpp_source                                 LPP-AIX5372
SOURCE of Software to Add                         /nim_export/aix53/5300-07-02-0806
SOFTWARE Packages to Add                          [all]+
-OR
INSTALLP BUNDLE containing packages to add                [] +


gencopy Flags
   DIRECTORY for temporary storage during copying         [/tmp]
   EXTEND filesystems if space needed?                    yes +
Process multiple volumes?                                 no +

You can also use the command line as follows:

Code:

# nim -o update -a packages=all -a source=/dev/cd0 LPP-AIX5305

After you have updated the TL05 lpp_source, there might be some duplicate updates. You can perform the NIM lppmgr operation to remove them. This operation enables you remove any duplicate software, superseded updates, unnecessary languages, and non-simage software. We recommend that you remove the uplicate software and any superseded updates, but that you do not remove any language software and non-simage filesets unless you are sure that they are not needed for future use. We also recommend that you perform a preview to check what software will be removed before the actual removal.

4. Remove any duplicate updates in lpp_source resource, as shown in Example 5-3. The following steps are followed when using the SMIT menus:

Code:

# smitty nim

Perform NIM Administration Tasks
Manage Resources
Perform Operations on Resources
Select LPP_AIX5372
Select “lppmgr = eliminate unnecessary software images in an lpp_source”

Or, by using SMIT Fast Path:

Code:

smitty nim_lppmgr

Example 5-3 Removing duplicate updates in the lpp_source

Code:

                              Eliminate Unnecessary Software Images in an lpp_source
Type or select values in entry fields.
Press Enter AFTER making all desired changes.
[EntryFields]

TARGET lpp_source                     LPP-AIX5372
PREVIEW only?                         no +
REMOVE DUPLICATE software             yes +
REMOVE SUPERSEDED updates             yes +
REMOVE LANGUAGE software              no +
PRESERVE language                     [en_US]
REMOVE NON-SIMAGES software           no +
SAVE removed files                    no +
DIRECTORY for storing saved files     []
EXTEND filesystems if space needed?   yes +

You can also use the command line as follows:

Code:

# nim -o lppmgr -a lppmgr_flags="-bu -x -r -e" LPP-AIX5372

SPOT

Next, we need to create the AIX 5L V5.3 TL05 SPOT. We will create the SPOT using the latest LPP-AIX5372 lpp_source.
Note: this will take quite a while to run, perhaps 30 minutes.

5. Create the AIX 5L V5.3 TL05’s SPOT as shown in Example 5-4. The following steps are followed when using the SMIT menus:

Example 5-4 Creating a SPOT

Code:

# smitty nim_mkres
Select “spot = Shared Product Object Tree - equivalent to /usr file”

Define a Resource
Type or select values in entry fields.
Press Enter AFTER making all desired changes.
[Entry Fields]
* Resource Name                          [SPOT-AIX5372]
* Resource Type                          spot
* Server of Resource                     [master] +
* Source of Install Images               [LPP_AIX5372] + (Hit F4 and select:)
* Location of Resource                   [/nim_export/aix53/spot]/
EXPAND file systems if space needed?     yes +
Comments                                 []

installp Flags
COMMIT software updates?                  no +
SAVE replaced files?                      yes +
AUTOMATICALLY install requisite software? yes +
OVERWRITE same or newer versions?         no +
VERIFY install and check file sizes?      no +

Note: Run lsnim -l LPP-AIX5372 to check the Rstate and simages. Rstateshould show Ready for use and simages = yes.

Check

After the updated lpp_source and SPOT are created, you can perform a NIM check operation to check the usability of these resources. When you perform the NIM check operation on the lpp_source resource, it rebuilds the table of contents (.toc) file in the lpp_source directory and checks whether all the necessary filesets are in the directory to qualify the lpp_source for the simage attribute.
Check the usability of the lpp_source and SPOT as shown in Example 5-5. The following steps are followed when using the SMIT menus:

Code:

# smitty nim_res_op
Select                 SPOT-AIX5372 Or LPP-AIX5372
Select “check = check the status of a NIM object”

Example 5-5 Checking the SPOT

Check the Status of a SPOT

Code:

Type or select values in entry fields.
Press Enter AFTER making all desired changes.
[EntryFields]
* Resource Name SPOT-AIX5305
Build Debug Boot Images?                     no +
Force                                         no +

After the lppsource and SPOT resources are updated and ready for use, you can perform software maintenance on NIM clients. Refer to “Client-initiated software maintenance tasks (“pull”)” on page 496 for details.

---------- Post updated at 09:52 AM ---------- Previous update was at 09:45 AM ----------

I always make a new SPOT and LPP_SOURCE.

Copy the old LPP_SOURCE to a new directory. Then update that LPP_SOURCE with the new patches.

Copy your 5300-11-02-1007 to 5300-12-02-1036 and then patch 5300-12-02-1036.

This way you have both versions. You need both versions as long as you have severs at each level.

If you update your LPP_SOURCE and need to boot a server that has not been updated, you will not be able to boot. The levels of the filesets must match exactly (from my experience).

After every server is updated, and some time has gone by, erase 5300-11-02-1007.