AIX

We are running into a problem that we thought had solved but no go...

We have multiple machine types but 1 AIX and 2 i550 (AS/400) with 4 lpar each.

Existing AIX is an old (2004 vintage) machine with 5.2 on it for historical use only.

Existing Power6 i550 running code that will used for 2 yrs and historical from there for at least another 7 yrs.

We have space to move the AIX into a LPAR and currently have a AIX 6.1 running in there just fine.

Now how do we get the running 5.2 to replace the 6.1 system and then upgrade in place to 6.1???

We have tried NFS and moving files - but issues with mismatched UID and finally /home and /usr brought that to a hard and dead end (reloaded 6.1 from scratch again).

We have been trying with MKSYSB but running into "OC12" issues.

Now I am finding that:
. . 5.2 goes from PowerPC to Power5 support (we are Power6),
. . 5.3 goes from Power4 to Power6, and
. . 6.1 is Power5 to Power7... no overlap.

Alt_boot does not work (at this time) since the drive in new LPAR is a "single space" virtual actually loaded in AS/400. Not my choice.

We are trying VERY hard not to upgrade existing box software, since if it failed, we are not sure if a reload will even work.

OH and topper - Legal has come out with "electronic records are to be kept forever".

Can some suggest a method to go forward?

Sounds like you need a power 7 box and AIX 7 and then you can migrate your AIX 5.2 into a versioned WPAR on the new kit:

Help - AIX 7.1 Information Center

AIX 7.1, power7, and work load management should not be the only solution. That is multiple $100,000 dollar solution - at that cost I could buy another used (or 2). I have the space on existing hardware - what would be a plan that would not require buying more equipment and another OS?

What is the OC12 thing, I don't think that is a valid LED code.
NIM move up will allow AIX 5.2 to 6.1 mksysb migration on to newer hardware.
Check out the redbook:
http://www.redbooks.ibm.com/redbooks/pdfs/sg247296.pdf
Chapter 4.5.1...
HTH

Dukessd -

4.5.1 is exactly what is needed... but we do not have NIM server -no equipment to set one up. AIX only exists in one instance and trying to move to another location again single instance.

There is a note of using a diskette - but there not one in the machine - is there another method? What about laptop diskette the hooks up via a usb? A custom CD? Read it to a window's directory - patch the bosinst.data - write new cd?

AIX boxes are fussy about USB diskette drives but if you have one it is worth a try - the AIX drivers only support a couple of USB chips but you may get lucky.

I think the CD - hack bosinst.data file - burn new CD way should work fine.

If you have enough disk, even virtual, 0.1 cpu and about 0.5GB of RAM spare on the power5 box you can quite quickly build an AIX nim server partition and go the move up route.

you may use this lpar as a nim server