Commands Reference, Volume 3, i - m
mksysb_Command
Purpose
Creates an installable image of the root volume group either
in a file or
onto a bootable tape.
Syntax
mksysb [ -a ] [ -A ] [ -b Number ] [ -e ] [ -F filename ] [
-i ] [ -m ] [ -p ] [ -t argument ] [ -v ] [ -V ] [
-X ] Device | File
Description
Attention: Running the mkszfile or mksysb commands with the
LC_All
environment variable set (especially to a non-C value) can
cause
unexpected system bahavior such as a mixture of character sets
in outputs.
To resolve the problem, unset the LC_ALL variable and restart
the program.
The mksysb command creates a backup of the operating system
(that is, the
root volume group). You can use this backup to reinstall a
system to its
original state after it has been corrupted. If you create the
backup on
tape, the tape is bootable and includes the installation pro-
grams needed
to install from the backup.
The file-system image is in backup-file format. The tape for-
mat includes a
boot image, a bosinstall image, and an empty table of contents
followed by
the system backup (root volume group) image. The root volume
group image
is in backup-file format, starting with the data files and
then any
optional map files.
When a bootable backup of a root volume group is created, the
boot image
reflects the currently running kernel. If the current kernel
is the 64-bit
kernel, the backup's boot image is also 64-bit, and it only
boots 64-bit
systems. If the current kernel is a 32-bit kernel, the back-
up's boot image
is 32-bit, and it can boot both 32-bit and 64-bit systems.
One of the data files mksysb uses is the /bosinst.data file.
If a
/bosinst.data file doesn't exist, /var/adm/ras/bosinst.data is
copied to /
(root). In AIX 4.3.3 and later versions, mksysb always updates
the
target_disk_data stanzas in bosinst.data to match the disks
currently in
the root volume group of the system where the mksysb command
is running.
If you are using a customized /bosinst.data file and do not
want the
target_disk_data stanzas updated, you must create the file
/save_bosinst.data_file. The mksysb command does not update
/bosinst.data
if the /save_bosinst.data_file exists.
Notes:
1. The image the mksysb command creates does not include data
on raw
devices or in user-defined paging spaces.
2. If you are using a system with a remote-mounted /usr file
system, you
cannot reinstall your system from a backup image.
3. The mksysb command may not restore all device configura-
tions for
special features, such as /dev/netbios and some device
drivers not
shipped with the product.
4. Some rspc systems for AIX^(R) 5.1 and earlier do not sup-
port booting
from tape. When you make a bootable mksysb image on an
rspc system for
AIX 5.1 and earlier that does not support booting from
tape, the
mksysb command issues a warning indicating that the tape
will not be
bootable. You can install a mksysb image from a system
that does not
support booting from tape by booting from a CD and enter-
ing
maintenance mode. In maintenance mode you will be able to
install the
system backup from tape.
5. The mksysb command uses the backup command to create its
archive
image. The mksysb command will also save the EA format for
any JFS2
filesystems being backed up. It uses the /usr/bin/mkvgdata
shell
script to save this information.
To create a backup of the operating system to CD, please refer
to the mkcd
command.
Flags
-a Does not backup extended attributes or NFS4 ACLs.
-A Backs up DMAPI file system files.
Specifies the number of 512-byte blocks to write
in a single
output operation. When the backup command writes
to tape
devices, the default is 100 for backups by name.
-b Number The write size is the number of blocks multiplied
by the block
size. The default write size for the backup com-
mand writing to
tape devices is 51200 (100 * 512) for backups by
name. The
write size must be an even multiple of the tape's
physical
block size.
Excludes files listed in the /etc/exclude.rootvg
file from
being backed up. The rules for exclusion follow
the pattern
matching rules of the grep command.
If you want to exclude certain files from the
backup, create
the /etc/exclude.rootvg file, with an ASCII edi-
tor, and enter
the patterns of file names that you do not want
included in
your system backup image. The patterns in this
file are input
to the pattern matching conventions of the grep
command to
determine which files will be excluded from the
backup. If you
want to exclude files listed in the /etc/ex-
clude.rootvg file,
select the Exclude Files field and press the Tab
key once to
change the default value to yes.
For example, to exclude all the contents of the
directory
called scratch, edit the exclude file to read as
follows:
/scratch/
-e
For example, to exclude the contents of the direc-
tory called
/tmp, and avoid excluding any other directories
that have /tmp
in the pathname, edit the exclude file to read as
follows:
^./tmp/
All files are backed up relative to . (current
working
directory). To exclude any file or directory for
which it is
important to have the search match the string at
the beginning
of the line, use ^ (caret character) as the first
character in
the search string, followed by . (dot character),
followed by
the filename or directory to be excluded.
If the filename or directory being excluded is a
substring of
another filename or directory, use ^. (caret char-
acter
followed by dot character) to indicate that the
search should
begin at the beginning of the line and/or use $
(dollar sign
character) to indicate that the search should end
at the end
of the line.
Specifies a previously created mksysb image from
which a
-F filename backup tape will be created. An attempt will be
made to make
the backup tape bootable. Additionally, this flag
must be used
in conjunction with a tape device.
Calls the mkszfile command, which generates the
/image.data
file. The /image.data file contains information on
volume
groups, logical volumes, file systems, paging
space, and
physical volumes. This information is included in
the backup
for future use by the installation process.
Note:
Before running the mkszfile command, ensure that
enough space
is available in the /tmp file to store a boot im-
age. This
-i space is needed during both backup and installa-
tion. To
determine the amount of space needed in the /tmp
file, issue
the following command:
bosboot -q -a -d device
If you use the -X flag with the mksysb command,
you do not
need to run the bosboot command to determine the
amount of
space needed in the /tmp file.
Calls the mkszfile command, with the -m flag to
generate map
files.
-m Note:
The use of the -m flag causes the functions of the
-i flag to
be executed also.
Disables software packing of the files as they are
backed up.
-p Some tape drives use their own packing or compres-
sion
algorithms.
Specifies the path to the directory or file system
used to
create a boot image from the mksysb file specified
by the -F
-t argument flag. If the -t flag is not used with the -F flag,
the boot
image is created in the /tmp file by default. Ap-
proximately
100 MB of free space is required. After the boot
image is
created, this space is freed.
-v Verbose mode. Lists files as they are backed up.
Verifies a tape backup. This flag causes mksysb to
verify the
-V file header of each file on the backup tape and
report any
read errors as they occur.
Specifies to automatically expand the /tmp file
system if
-X necessary. The /tmp file system may need to be ex-
tended to
make room for the boot image when creating a
bootable backup
to tape.
Parameters
Device | File Specifies the name of the device or
file.
Examples
1. To generate a system backup and create an /image.data file
(generated
by the mkszfile command) to a tape device named /dev/rmt0,
type:
mksysb -i /dev/rmt0
2. To generate a system backup and create an /image.data file
with map
files (generated by the mkszfile command) to a tape device
named
/dev/rmt1, type:
mksysb -m /dev/rmt1
3. To generate a system backup with a new /image.data file,
but exclude
the files in directory /home/user1/tmp, create the file
/etc/exclude.rootvg containing the line /home/user1/tmp/,
and type:
mksysb -i -e /dev/rmt1
This command will backup the /home/user1/tmp directory but
not the
files it contains.
4. To generate a system backup file named /mksysb_im-
ages/node1 and a new
/image.data file for that image, type:
mksysb -i /mksysb_images/node1"
Note:
This file will not be bootable and can only be installed
using Network
Installation Management (NIM).
5. To generate a system backup on the tape in /dev/rmt0, and
then verify
the readability of file headers, enter:
mksysb /dev/rmt0 -V
Files
/usr/bin/mksysb Contains the mksysb command.
Related Information
The backup command, bosboot command, mkcd command,
mkszfile command.
The /image.data file.
A procedure to verify the mksysb backup can be found in the
article
Creating system backups in the Installation and migration.
________________________________________________________________________________
Commands Reference, Volume 3, i - m
mksysb_Command
Purpose
Creates an installable image of the root volume group either
in a file or
onto a bootable tape.
Syntax
mksysb [ -a ] [ -A ] [ -b Number ] [ -e ] [ -F filename ] [
-i ] [ -m ] [ -p ] [ -t argument ] [ -v ] [ -V ] [
-X ] Device | File
Description
Attention: Running the mkszfile or mksysb commands with the
LC_All
environment variable set (especially to a non-C value) can
cause
unexpected system bahavior such as a mixture of character sets
in outputs.
To resolve the problem, unset the LC_ALL variable and restart
the program.
The mksysb command creates a backup of the operating system
(that is, the
root volume group). You can use this backup to reinstall a
system to its
original state after it has been corrupted. If you create the
backup on
tape, the tape is bootable and includes the installation pro-
grams needed
to install from the backup.
The file-system image is in backup-file format. The tape for-
mat includes a
boot image, a bosinstall image, and an empty table of contents
followed by
the system backup (root volume group) image. The root volume
group image
is in backup-file format, starting with the data files and
then any
optional map files.
When a bootable backup of a root volume group is created, the
boot image
reflects the currently running kernel. If the current kernel
is the 64-bit
kernel, the backup's boot image is also 64-bit, and it only
boots 64-bit
systems. If the current kernel is a 32-bit kernel, the back-
up's boot image
is 32-bit, and it can boot both 32-bit and 64-bit systems.
One of the data files mksysb uses is the /bosinst.data file.
If a
/bosinst.data file doesn't exist, /var/adm/ras/bosinst.data is
copied to /
(root). In AIX 4.3.3 and later versions, mksysb always updates
the
target_disk_data stanzas in bosinst.data to match the disks
currently in
the root volume group of the system where the mksysb command
is running.
If you are using a customized /bosinst.data file and do not
want the
target_disk_data stanzas updated, you must create the file
/save_bosinst.data_file. The mksysb command does not update
/bosinst.data
if the /save_bosinst.data_file exists.
Notes:
1. The image the mksysb command creates does not include data
on raw
devices or in user-defined paging spaces.
2. If you are using a system with a remote-mounted /usr file
system, you
cannot reinstall your system from a backup image.
3. The mksysb command may not restore all device configura-
tions for
special features, such as /dev/netbios and some device
drivers not
shipped with the product.
4. Some rspc systems for AIX^(R) 5.1 and earlier do not sup-
port booting
from tape. When you make a bootable mksysb image on an
rspc system for
AIX 5.1 and earlier that does not support booting from
tape, the
mksysb command issues a warning indicating that the tape
will not be
bootable. You can install a mksysb image from a system
that does not
support booting from tape by booting from a CD and enter-
ing
maintenance mode. In maintenance mode you will be able to
install the
system backup from tape.
5. The mksysb command uses the backup command to create its
archive
image. The mksysb command will also save the EA format for
any JFS2
filesystems being backed up. It uses the /usr/bin/mkvgdata
shell
script to save this information.
To create a backup of the operating system to CD, please refer
to the mkcd
command.
Flags
-a Does not backup extended attributes or NFS4 ACLs.
-A Backs up DMAPI file system files.
Specifies the number of 512-byte blocks to write
in a single
output operation. When the backup command writes
to tape
devices, the default is 100 for backups by name.
-b Number The write size is the number of blocks multiplied
by the block
size. The default write size for the backup com-
mand writing to
tape devices is 51200 (100 * 512) for backups by
name. The
write size must be an even multiple of the tape's
physical
block size.
Excludes files listed in the /etc/exclude.rootvg
file from
being backed up. The rules for exclusion follow
the pattern
matching rules of the grep command.
If you want to exclude certain files from the
backup, create
the /etc/exclude.rootvg file, with an ASCII edi-
tor, and enter
the patterns of file names that you do not want
included in
your system backup image. The patterns in this
file are input
to the pattern matching conventions of the grep
command to
determine which files will be excluded from the
backup. If you
want to exclude files listed in the /etc/ex-
clude.rootvg file,
select the Exclude Files field and press the Tab
key once to
change the default value to yes.
For example, to exclude all the contents of the
directory
called scratch, edit the exclude file to read as
follows:
/scratch/
-e
For example, to exclude the contents of the direc-
tory called
/tmp, and avoid excluding any other directories
that have /tmp
in the pathname, edit the exclude file to read as
follows:
^./tmp/
All files are backed up relative to . (current
working
directory). To exclude any file or directory for
which it is
important to have the search match the string at
the beginning
of the line, use ^ (caret character) as the first
character in
the search string, followed by . (dot character),
followed by
the filename or directory to be excluded.
If the filename or directory being excluded is a
substring of
another filename or directory, use ^. (caret char-
acter
followed by dot character) to indicate that the
search should
begin at the beginning of the line and/or use $
(dollar sign
character) to indicate that the search should end
at the end
of the line.
Specifies a previously created mksysb image from
which a
-F filename backup tape will be created. An attempt will be
made to make
the backup tape bootable. Additionally, this flag
must be used
in conjunction with a tape device.
Calls the mkszfile command, which generates the
/image.data
file. The /image.data file contains information on
volume
groups, logical volumes, file systems, paging
space, and
physical volumes. This information is included in
the backup
for future use by the installation process.
Note:
Before running the mkszfile command, ensure that
enough space
is available in the /tmp file to store a boot im-
age. This
-i space is needed during both backup and installa-
tion. To
determine the amount of space needed in the /tmp
file, issue
the following command:
bosboot -q -a -d device
If you use the -X flag with the mksysb command,
you do not
need to run the bosboot command to determine the
amount of
space needed in the /tmp file.
Calls the mkszfile command, with the -m flag to
generate map
files.
-m Note:
The use of the -m flag causes the functions of the
-i flag to
be executed also.
Disables software packing of the files as they are
backed up.
-p Some tape drives use their own packing or compres-
sion
algorithms.
Specifies the path to the directory or file system
used to
create a boot image from the mksysb file specified
by the -F
-t argument flag. If the -t flag is not used with the -F flag,
the boot
image is created in the /tmp file by default. Ap-
proximately
100 MB of free space is required. After the boot
image is
created, this space is freed.
-v Verbose mode. Lists files as they are backed up.
Verifies a tape backup. This flag causes mksysb to
verify the
-V file header of each file on the backup tape and
report any
read errors as they occur.
Specifies to automatically expand the /tmp file
system if
-X necessary. The /tmp file system may need to be ex-
tended to
make room for the boot image when creating a
bootable backup
to tape.
Parameters
Device | File Specifies the name of the device or
file.
Examples
1. To generate a system backup and create an /image.data file
(generated
by the mkszfile command) to a tape device named /dev/rmt0,
type:
mksysb -i /dev/rmt0
2. To generate a system backup and create an /image.data file
with map
files (generated by the mkszfile command) to a tape device
named
/dev/rmt1, type:
mksysb -m /dev/rmt1
3. To generate a system backup with a new /image.data file,
but exclude
the files in directory /home/user1/tmp, create the file
/etc/exclude.rootvg containing the line /home/user1/tmp/,
and type:
mksysb -i -e /dev/rmt1
This command will backup the /home/user1/tmp directory but
not the
files it contains.
4. To generate a system backup file named /mksysb_im-
ages/node1 and a new
/image.data file for that image, type:
mksysb -i /mksysb_images/node1"
Note:
This file will not be bootable and can only be installed
using Network
Installation Management (NIM).
5. To generate a system backup on the tape in /dev/rmt0, and
then verify
the readability of file headers, enter:
mksysb /dev/rmt0 -V
Files
/usr/bin/mksysb Contains the mksysb command.
Related Information
The backup command, bosboot command, mkcd command,
mkszfile command.
The /image.data file.
A procedure to verify the mksysb backup can be found in the
article
Creating system backups in the Installation and migration.