Improve your AIX Performance Skills with Updated Training
Introduction
Many of us have been working with AIX systems for years. We use the tools regularly, we troubleshoot issues as they arise, and over time we build up a solid understanding of how the platform behaves.
But when was the last time you took a step back and refreshed your performance tuning and analysis skills?
As systems evolve, so do the tools, behaviours, and best practices. What worked (or made sense) a few years ago doesn’t always line up with how modern systems behave today.
With that in mind, the IBM Power Technical Training team has recently refreshed two of the core AIX performance courses. These updates include content aligned with AIX 7.3, ensuring the material reflects current system behaviour and tooling.
Let’s take a look at what’s included.
Mastering IBM AIX: Performance Management
Course code: AN51G | Duration: 5 days
This course focuses on the fundamentals of AIX performance analysis and tuning.
It’s designed to help administrators build a structured approach to understanding system performance, rather than relying on isolated commands or metrics.
Some of the key areas covered include:
· CPU, memory, disk, and network performance analysis
· Use of tools such as vmstat, iostat, sar, svmon, netstat, and topas
· System tuning using vmo, ioo, schedo, no, and nfso
· Performance considerations in virtualised Power environments
The course includes hands-on lab exercises throughout, allowing you to apply the concepts in realistic scenarios rather than just working through theory.
This is a solid starting point if you want to build (or refresh) a consistent and reliable approach to AIX performance analysis.
Mastering IBM AIX: Advanced Tools for AIX Performance Analysis
Course code: AN52G | Duration: 4 days
Once you’re comfortable with the fundamentals, this course takes you further into more advanced analysis techniques.
AN52G is focused on situations where performance issues are not immediately obvious and require deeper investigation.
Topics include:
· Trace-based performance analysis
· CPU scheduling and thread behaviour
· Detailed memory analysis
· I/O performance characteristics under different workloads
· Correlating multiple data sources to identify root cause
· Use of tools such as perfpmr, trace, splat, hpmstat, svmon and ipcs
This course builds directly on AN51G and is aimed at those responsible for diagnosing more complex or intermittent performance issues.
As with AN51G, there is a strong emphasis on hands-on labs, giving you practical experience working through real analysis scenarios.
Why these updates are important
AIX continues to evolve, and performance characteristics change between releases.
The refreshed content in these courses reflects current system behaviour, including updates introduced in AIX 7.3, as well as improvements in tools and analysis approaches.
For both new and experienced administrators, this ensures the techniques being taught remain relevant to what you’ll actually see in production environments.
Conclusion
Both AN51G and AN52G offer structured, practical training for anyone working with AIX systems.
Each course runs for 3 days, so together they form a 6-day deep dive into AIX performance analysis and troubleshooting.
They do come at a cost, but like most things in this space, the value is in the time you save later when you’re troubleshooting under pressure. The investment is generally well worth it if AIX performance and analysis is part of your day-to-day role.
Whether you’re building your foundation or looking to sharpen deeper diagnostic skills, these refreshed courses are a good way to reset and strengthen your approach.
Mastering IBM AIX: Performance Management (AN51G)
https://www.ibm.com/training/course/mastering-ibm-aix-performance-management-AN51G
Mastering IBM AIX: Advanced Tools for AIX Performance Analysis (AN52G)
https://www.ibm.com/training/course/mastering-ibm-aix-advanced-tools-for-aix-performance-analysis-AN52G