the below is what our tips and tricks sheet says about doing this. I haven't tested it though since we do not have physical access to our boxes anyway. But you might want to give it a try?
Rgds
zxmaus
On the server, look for a file system with about 3-5 GB free space.
For the example below, there is a /backup file system with 10GB
free space.
1. Create the directory structure needed by the OS backup procedure
2. Run the OS backup command "smit mkcd". (Note that you could also run
"smit mkdvd" but this requires that you have a DVD writer.)
The first screen is a dialogue box asking if you want to use an existing
mksysb image. Answer "no" to this question and press the
ENTER key.
In the smit screen that follows, change the following fields to the
values listed below:
"File system to store mksysb image"
Value: /backup/mkcd/mksysb_image
"File system to store CD file structure"
Value: /backup/mkcd/cd_fs
"File system to store final CD images"
Value: /backup/mkcd/cd_images
Remove final images after creating CD?
Value: no
"Create the CD now?"
Value: no
Execute the command by pressing the ENTER key.
The command will run for a while and then it should indicate that the OS
has been backed-up and the CD images have been created.
Exit the SMIT screen.
Check the images:
Move (FTP) the images to a system equipped with a CD-writer and burn
them unto blank CD-R CDs.
NOTE: you may need to rename the images for some Windows-based
CD-writing software to recognize them as valid CD images.
e.g., from a command prompt rename the files with:
(on Windows)
(on Windows)
mkcd and/or mkdvd can be used to create bootable images. Generally, these commands are used to create a bootable mksysb image. But these commands can also be used to create a boot-only CD/DVD that you can use to boot a system and then get into maintaince mode using the information on the failed boot device - e.g. AIX in installed, but not booting. Or you have a tape that is not bootable, Etc..
On any AIX system at the SAME kernel level as the system you are wanting to (re)boot (e.g. 5300-05)
1. # cd /var/adm/ras
2. # ls ./bosinst.data ./image.data | backup -ivqf /tmp/fakemksysb
3a: # mkcd -m /tmp/fakemksysb -d /dev/cdX ## X is device number of cd/dvd writer
3b. # mkcd -m /tmp/fakemksysb -S ## will create a .iso formated file in a "default location" - it will not end in .iso Transfer this file to system with a cd/dvd burner and burn the CD
Note that towards the end of the process there will be some installp error messages. You can ignore these.
Sometimes you have to use special CD / DVD media for making backup on it. IT is called DVD RAM ; not any blank CDRW+- will work ...
Try to get a DVD RAM and try making backup. If it fails post here,
----------------
Did you know you can burn a bootable mksysb image from your CDRW/DVDRW capable PC or laptop when the server/LPAR doesn't have one available? Here's how:
1. Log in to the server as the root user.
2. Run the smitty mkcd command.
3. Select No from the Use an existing mksysb image menu. Selecting No allows you to create a new system backup that reflects your current running environment.
4. Select the options that are appropriate to your environment from the Back Up This System to CD menu. You can also leave the default options as they are.
5. Select Yes for the Do you want the CD to be bootable option.
6. Select No for the Remove final images after creating CD option.
7. Select No for the Create the CD now option.
8. Press Enter to begin the system backup creation when you finish making selections. When the operation completes successfully, there is a file or files located in the /mkcd/cd_images directory.
9. FTP (binary mode) the ISO backup image to your PC or laptop. (you may need to change the file extension to be .iso prior to burning the image on to CD.)
10. Create a bootable CD from the ISO backup image using your CD-burning software
IF /mkcd/cd_images is already there and mounted this procedure will not work. do the following:
1. umount /mkcd/cd_images
2. remove the lv associated to the mount
3. rm -r /mkcd/cd_images
4. Now restart the smitty mkcd
Now you have a bootable CD or DVD created from your PC. its just that easy.
Quote:
Command: OK stdout: yes stderr: no
Before command completion, additional instructions may appear below.
61442 of 61442 files (100%)0512-038 mksysb: Backup Completed Successfully.
Creating temporary file system: /mkcd/cd_fs...
Populating the CD or DVD file system...
Copying backup to the CD or DVD file system...
...
Building chrp boot image...
Creating Rock Ridge format image: /mkcd/cd_images/cd_image_1282154
Running mkisofs ...
....
mkrr_fs was successful.
Hi Experts,
I am very new to AIX, I have a mksysb image in one of my aix server (V6), I would like to install this mksysb image on newly lpar. Is it possible without tape and NIM?
Advice would be appreciated.
Regards,
Rockie (11 Replies)
i have an AIX server and planning to upgrade the operating system, before that i want to take a system backup which can be used in case of upgrade failure. i dont have NIM server t hold the mksysb backups. so i have the only option of taking the backup on DVD. i have the following optical drive... (5 Replies)
Hi,
Currently we are taking mksysb backup through smitty mksysb command and directing the backup to happen on a tape.We have inbuilt tape drives in the AIX servers. Can we take the mksysb backup through 3rd party software tool (Symantec netbackup of IBm TSM). If yes what is the procedure and... (4 Replies)
hi
we are having one rootvg in that we created one lv named mksysb_backuplv
and normally script will run accordingly to take the backup in the cron,here i just want to know if any rootfilesystem was correpted like /usr or /tmp ,then how could i restore the particular filesystme from the... (1 Reply)
Hello,
Last night I applied a DB2 fix pack which is now causing problems with the application that uses db2. Prior to applying the fix pack I did a mksysb(rootvg) which includes the file system that has db2 installed on it. If I do a restore from this will it restore the db2 version back to... (1 Reply)
hi guys,
i just want to take my server's mksysb backup through dvd-rom.but am having the doubt that, while am taking the mksysb backup in image it shows 8GB. So can i confirm that it takes 2 dvds and after writing in 1st cd it will ask for 2nd cd??????
please help me out. (1 Reply)
Hi All
i have a number of IBM servers with different models, and i want to do a backup for the rootvg using mksysb and that backup will be stored on a 4mm DDS tape.
i have only one machine (p550) which i can use it for testing purposes, so the quesion is that can i test my mksysb backups on... (6 Replies)
Whats up guys. I dont ask many questions but this time i need a quick one answerd.
NOS: AIX 4.3.3 and 4.3.2
BOX: RS/6000 F50
i have 12 pv's (mirrored) and 2 vg's and i want them both backed up @ once on one tape drive so i can do it via cron.
I have looked at mksysb and backup. my main... (5 Replies)