Ok, some suggestions of where the error could be:
1) NIM is utilizing the bootp protocol and hence, if the NIM server and the client are on different networks, the router/bridge/switch must be able to forward bootp requests. Is that the case?
2) NIM uses the MAC adress of the client as identification. To make the server not ignore the clients request you have to pre-define the client on the server. Have you checked this definition?
3) has nothing to do with the NIM installation but:
Quote:
Further the CDROM does not even appear in the SMS boot list.
You *are* aware that you can alter this boot list in the SMS menu, aren't you? If you are not: this is hard to explain over the internet, but there is a redbook for the 43P and the process of how to alter the bootlist is described there. If you just want to install the machine and do not care if it is done via NIM or any other means, this should solve your problem.
I hope this helps.
bakunin