Originally posted by: TerryP

I simply cannot find definitive information about how to update my NIM resources, so that things stay in sync, and everything works without problems. Here's my environment:

I have a NIM server, running 5300-11-02-1007. I have several other AIX servers, all running the exact same version. I have an lpp_source and SPOT of that very same version. Every week, I create a mksysb DVD of my NIM server, and do a mksysb backup of every other server to my NIM server. In a DR situation, I will (and have tested my ability to) recover my NIM server using its DVD, restoring the mksysb images of my other servers onto the NIM server, and then booting the other servers from the mksysb and SPOT on the NIM server.

NOW: I want to upgrade this whole environment to 5300-12-02-1036. Can someone explain exactly what the steps are to accomplish this?

I was advised by a better AIX person than I am, that the only way to do this and be sure it'll work is to obtain a full set of AIX install media for the new version, 5300-12-02-1036, upgrade the NIM server, create an lpp_source from the new install media, and then create a SPOT from the lpp_source. Finally, update_all my other servers to the new version.

I have no doubt that that works, because that's how I got to where I am now, on 5.3.0.11. But is that really necessary? Must I really order a full set of media every time I want to do a (relatively small) update_all?

I'd surely like to be able to download only the filesets I need to upgrade from my current version to the new version, and do everything I need, without having to order a full set of AIX install media.

Here are some thoughts I have:

1. The big Redbook on "NIM from A to Z on AIX 5.3" shows how to update an lpp_source, that is quite similar to "smitty update_all". I actually created a new lpp_source my copying my old one, and did this update. It seemed to work. But...

2. There's an APAR, IZ03167, which I interpret to mean "don't EVER do that". It says if your lpp_source is "mixed", meaning it has some filesets from the install media and some from the update, it will cause trouble. Well, my lpp_source, after I updated it, as described in the Redbook, is certainly "mixed".

3. I created a SPOT from that "mixed" lpp_source. This seemed to succeed, but when I do a " nim -o fix_query spot-53012" it doesn't find all the filesets for 5300-xx_AIX_ML for several values of "xx".

4. The Redbook describes how to create a SPOT from a mksysb. So maybe this is the easy way to get a SPOT that I can use to boot any machine. IS THIS TRUE? Am I sure that if all my servers are on the same AIX version, can I create a SPOT from any one of them, and be sure it'll work with all the others?

5. I worry about item (4) above, because when I create a SPOT from a mksysb, it is MUCH smaller than one built from an lpp_source. Should I worry about that?

6. Do I even need to worry about my SPOT level so much? How closely must the SPOT match the mksysb to successfully boot the mksysb?

I hope someone can clarify most or all of this for me. If there's a document somewhere that you can simply point me to, that would be fine. Thanks.
#AIX-Forum

Originally posted by: unixgrl

wow, that is a lot of questions.

1) I used to update lpp_source all the time by just adding the latest TL to the older one. Yes, it usually works as long as you aren't adding new hardware or something else that requires a base-level fileset. New features sometimes require you to have the base-levels.

So, best practices would be to create your lpp_source using the latest base-level filesets.

2) Again, a mixed lpp_source may work especially if you are just building more LPARs on equipment you've had for awhile. I started running into problem with mixed lpp_source around 5.3TL7 and haven't done them since.

3) Maybe your SPOT/lpp_source is missing xlC, rsct, java or other filesets that aren't part of the service pack. Many of these are only updated with a TL release and not with a service pack.

4) Yes, you can create a SPOT from a mksysb and that is what some people do when they are using a "golden image". However, the SPOT might not work with newer hardware so you'd want to make a new build every time you get new equipment.

5) I would expect a SPOT from a lpp_source to be larger since it has the filesets to boot multiple types of hardware and adapters.

6) Your SPOT needs to match mksysb or system oslevel pretty closely. I've had occasions where I couldn't netboot a system because my SPOT wasn't the same level as the target system.
#AIX-Forum

Originally posted by: Siddhartha.Sinha

There are several ways to do the update.
1. From NIM Server.
2. From the CD.

Now NIM Server is better option as you don't have to change the CD. And I migrated from AIX 5.3 to AIX 7 using my NIM server. Worked like a charm.

You can order the CDs those should be free if you have software contract with IBM. Otherwise you can download the TL levels. What I do I use one of my previous TL level to craete a new lpp. Then I download the newer TL and apply that to my new lpp.

So What I do here is example

nim -o define -t lpp_source -a server=master -a source=610TL3SP1lpp -a location=/export/lpp_source/610TL4SPBASElpp\
610TL4SPBASElpp
This commands creates a new LPP Source from the old one.

Now I download the 610 TL4 Base level and run this on the new lpp

nim -o update -a packages=all -a source=/TMPUPDATE 610TL4SPBASElpp

And it copies all the downloaded files to this TL level. I never had any issue and we support almost 300-400 Customer
every year using that NIM server. If you are concerned with duplicate file set then

To list all duplicate and conflicting updates in the /myimages image source directory
/usr/lib/instl/lppmgr -d /export/lpp_source/610TL4SPBASElpp -u

To remove all duplicate and conflicting updates in the /myimages image source directory, type:
/usr/lib/instl/lppmgr -d /export/lpp_source/610TL4SPBASElpp -u -r

You can check my website www.sinhass.com aix pages for lot of NIM stuffs. But they are all command line.

I always prefer to create spot from the LPP sources as it will have all the required filesets to recover to any Risc hardware ( Yes I mean any, from P4 to P5, P5 to P6 etc)

Here what I will do to create spot from the lpp source I just created

nim -o define -t spot -a server=master -a source=610TL4SPBASElpp -a location=/export/spot 610TL4SPBASEspot

This command will create a spot named 610TL4SPBASEspot using 610TL4SPBASElpp lpp_source
#AIX-Forum