NIM master with multiple client subnets


 
Thread Tools Search this Thread
Operating Systems AIX NIM master with multiple client subnets
# 1  
Old 08-04-2014
NIM master with multiple client subnets

Hi Guys,

I'm building a new NIM environment with clients on 3 different subnets. I want to get some advise on what is the best approach for this kind of setup.

This is the sample network for my new NIM.

Code:
Master IP: 10.20.1.20
Client IP subnet_1: 10.20.1.21
Client IP subnet_1: 10.30.1.21
Client IP subnet_1: 10.40.1.21

Should I create 3 NIM network for this? For example:

Code:
Master IP: net_10.20.1
Client IP subnet_1: net_10.20.1
Client IP subnet_1: net_10.30.1
Client IP subnet_1: net_10.40.1

Do I also need to configure 3 different IP's for my NIM master (ie. on "ifconfig -a" output, should I see 3 IP's there?)?

I want to make sure that I can restore my clients on different network without issue. Appreciate any inputs.

- Kaelu

Moderator's Comments:
Mod Comment edit by bakunin: please use CODE-tags for this kind of data too. Thank you.

Last edited by bakunin; 08-04-2014 at 04:34 AM..
# 2  
Old 08-04-2014
Well, first off, the network IDs have to be unique, i. e. "subnet_1", "subnet_2", etc.. I suppose that was only a typo on your part.

To answer your question: yes, you will have to create separate NIM-networks for this. No, you won't have to configure 3 IP-aliases for your master.

The reason for this is: NIM operates using NFS (for "normal" package installations), bootp (for mksysb-installs) and tftp. All these protocols have to be - obviously - allowed by all the firewalls you might have in between your NIM-server and the prospective clients. In addition the NIM-server needs the standard gateway to each network to be able to act as a "bootp relay agent".

bootp (see RFC951, RFC1542 and others) works with broadcasts from (in respect of IP-numbers) anonymous interfaces and such packets would be dropped at the nearest router. Therefore bootp would not work over network boundaries. a "bootp relay agent" is a router which will take such a packet and forward it to a certain bootp-server and the same way tunnel its answer back to the client, so that bootp works in routed internetworks too.

I hope this helps.

bakunin
This User Gave Thanks to bakunin For This Post:
# 3  
Old 08-04-2014
Just to add to bakunin's comments

When you are in sms menu for client (IPL where you configure the IP, Master IP subnet and gateway), say for IP 10.30.1.21 you will use the gateway of that client ex:10.30.1.1 and NOT the NIM gateway ex:10.20.1.1. Same goes with 10.40.1.X subnet.
This User Gave Thanks to ibmtech For This Post:
# 4  
Old 08-04-2014
Yup, that was a typo.
Quote:
Well, first off, the network IDs have to be unique, i. e. "subnet_1", "subnet_2", etc.. I suppose that was only a typo on your part.
Thanks. I thought it is necessary.
Quote:
To answer your question: yes, you will have to create separate NIM-networks for this. No, you won't have to configure 3 IP-aliases for your master.
Is this something that I need to check with our network team? We currently have 4 different subnets in our AIX lpars and they can talk to each other normally.
Quote:
The reason for this is: NIM operates using NFS (for "normal" package installations), bootp (for mksysb-installs) and tftp. All these protocols have to be - obviously - allowed by all the firewalls you might have in between your NIM-server and the prospective clients
Thanks for your help Bakunin.

P.S. Just joined the forums again after years of rest. I'm still trying to get the hang of using it properly.

- kaelu

---------- Post updated at 10:55 AM ---------- Previous update was at 10:52 AM ----------

Quote:
Originally Posted by ibmtech
Just to add to bakunin's comments

When you are in sms menu for client (IPL where you configure the IP, Master IP subnet and gateway), say for IP 10.30.1.21 you will use the gateway of that client ex:10.30.1.1 and NOT the NIM gateway ex:10.20.1.1. Same goes with 10.40.1.X subnet.
Thanks ibmtech. Will remember this, I think I had issue regarding this when I'm trying to restore our VIO server via NIM.

Last edited by kaelu26; 08-04-2014 at 10:06 PM..
# 5  
Old 08-05-2014
Quote:
Originally Posted by kaelu26
Is this something that I need to check with our network team? We currently have 4 different subnets in our AIX lpars and they can talk to each other normally.
In principle: yes. In practice the overwhelming majority of switches/routers do this (at least this is my experience) per default. I just wanted to give the rationale behind having to state the default gateway for each NIM network.

Notice that "default gateway" here means the gateway used to access the client network: suppose you have a NIM-server with IP A out of network NetA and a client with the IP B out of network NetB. The NIM network you have to create will be NetB and its "default gateway" will be the router IP in NetB, not some interface on the NIM server. For example (suppose x.1 is always the router port for network x):

Code:
NIM-Server: 10.1.1.10 SNM 255.255.255.0
Client:     10.2.2.20 SNM 255.255.255.0

NIM-Network: 10.2.2/24, Gateway: 10.2.2.1

The gateway is NOT 10.1.1.1, which would be the standard gateway for the NIM server.

Quote:
Originally Posted by kaelu26
P.S. Just joined the forums again after years of rest. I'm still trying to get the hang of using it properly.
In this case: welcome back! Use CODE-tags and you will experience the eternal friendship of the whole moderation team. ;-))

I hope this helps.

bakunin
# 6  
Old 08-05-2014
Thanks Bakunin. That helps a lot especially the detailed examples. I can't wait to build my new NIM server and do all of this. I have my design already and just waiting for it to implement.

Thanks for your hospitality as well and really glad to be back. Smilie
Login or Register to Ask a Question

Previous Thread | Next Thread

10 More Discussions You Might Find Interesting

1. AIX

Problem in communication nim client with nim master

Hello, I have an AIX6.1 machine which is a nim client to my nim master which is also AIX6.1 machine. I had some problem to perform an installation on my client using smit nim . i removed /etc/niminfo file in order to do the initialization again but when i run the command niminit -a name=client... (0 Replies)
Discussion started by: omonoiatis9
0 Replies

2. AIX

NIM Master hostname

hi Admins, How can I check the NIM master hostname/IP name from NIM client ? I don't see any option that I can try with nimclient command. Let me know.. Thanks, (5 Replies)
Discussion started by: snchaudhari2
5 Replies

3. AIX

Nim client with different subnet to Master

Iam attempting to add a client to NIM however the new client has a different subnet than master 10... & 193... , I've established from redbooks that it should be possible but can't find anything that states how? Does anyone use nim in this way? (5 Replies)
Discussion started by: gefa
5 Replies

4. AIX

NIM : remove nim client info from the client

Hi. I change my client's IP and hostname but I forgot to change anything on the master. How can I redefine or modify my client's resource from my master, or with using smit niminit from my client ? Tks (2 Replies)
Discussion started by: stephnane
2 Replies

5. AIX

NIM Master as Mgmt Server

Guys, I need your help I got a requirement from a cUstomer asking for a specific design He wants to use the NIM Master as one single mgmt server and access the nodes maintained by it there by the accounting is in one single server for all the nodes Note:- Direct login to the nodes will... (3 Replies)
Discussion started by: kkeng808
3 Replies

6. AIX

Back up a client NIM from nim master

Hello everyone Im trying to backup a nim client from nim master but I got this message COMMAND STATUS Command: failed stdout: yes stderr: no Before command completion, additional instructions may appear below. 0042-001 nim:... (2 Replies)
Discussion started by: lo-lp-kl
2 Replies

7. AIX

NIM master-client connectivity issue

Hello All, I believe my NIM master is fine. lsnim and cat /etc/niminfo gives me the right output. While doing "lsnim" on a client machine, I get ksh:lsnim:"not found". Please someone be nice enough to explain what are the steps to verify the master and client connectivity to do all the NIM... (3 Replies)
Discussion started by: solaix14
3 Replies

8. AIX

nim master

Hi, I want to know how to create nim master in AIX 5.3. Regards, Manoj (0 Replies)
Discussion started by: manoj.solaris
0 Replies

9. AIX

nim master

Hi, I want to know what are steps required to create nim master in aix? Regards, Manoj (1 Reply)
Discussion started by: manoj.solaris
1 Replies

10. AIX

Nim Master Problem

All, I'm testing NIM on a 7026-m80 machine. But everytime i want to setup the master, i get this error message... Anyone who knows how to solve this issue? google doesn't seem to know much about it # nim_master_setup ############################## NIM master setup... (1 Reply)
Discussion started by: kvanelshocht
1 Replies
Login or Register to Ask a Question