Originally posted by: aixlparuser1

Hi,
Do you know how to configure NetApp iSCSI storage on AIX so that a AIX LPAR can be created on that storage device? I did a search on google, and found some materials regarding how to do that through a virutal target device on VIOS, but do you know if there is a way to let a iSCSI storage be setup and used by a AIX LPAR directly without using a VIOS? Could you please provide the steps to reach this?
Thank you very much!
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Originally posted by: wloszczowa

google returns for your question :

http://www.ibm.com/developerworks/aix/library/au-iscsi.html
http://publib.boulder.ibm.com/infocenter/pseries/v5r3/topic/com.ibm.aix.commadmn/doc/commadmndita/iscsi_config.htm

or if you have iscsi adapter:
http://publib.boulder.ibm.com/infocenter/aix/v6r1/topic/com.ibm.aix.baseadmn/doc/baseadmndita/config_iscsi_adapter_aix.htm

as I get it correctly iscsi initiator you have to obtain from your NetApp storage once you configure the iscsi disk for your AIX destination...
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Originally posted by: wloszczowa

btw. in SMS menu you should have an option for iscsi disk configuration to boot it from / install OS on it I guess...
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Originally posted by: aixlparuser1

Thank you very much for your reply! In fact I read up all the links you mentioned here, I think my question is, once I located a iscsi disk device, e.g. hdisk2, how can I create a new LPAR on it?
As you pointed out, "in SMS menu you should have a option to select iscsi disk configuration to ...", do you know how I can do that from command line instead of SMS? Thank you again!!!
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Originally posted by: SystemAdmin

an lpar is not created on a disk.
an lpar is created (among others) on a physical power system (hardware).
an lpar can be compared (roughly) to a vmware vm or a solaris domain.

right?

when you see an sms menu you already have an lpar.
maybe you want to know how to install aix on the new iscsi disk accessible by the lpar you sit in front of?
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Originally posted by: aixlparuser1

Thanks for the clarification on LPAR! I am new to it, and haven't tried to create one yet, I am just researching on how LPAR can use a iscsi storage from NetApp. I thought when I created a LPAR, I could specify a root volume group (which here I would to select the iscsi disk I configured) for that LPAR so that LPAR could boot from there.

I also did some research on Solaris Zone and VM, and both of them could allow to specify a path to create a zone or VM. So I though LPAR would be similar.

You got my point there. If we can not specify a root volume group for a LPAR when it gets created, then my question is, how to install AIX on the new iscsi disk accessible by the LPAR?

Thanks a lot!
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Originally posted by: unixgrl

I don't know the specifics on iSCSI but you can install AIX on any disk
that the LPAR can access. So, whether the disk is provisioned to the LPAR through local attached, direct attached SAN, VIO, or NPIV, it can be used for
the root disk group.

You also asked whether there was a command line way to avoid the SMS. You have to boot in SMS menu and tell the LPAR where to get the OS image or do the same thing using the "lpar_netboot" command from the HMC.

I would highly recommend you read some Redbooks or other documentation you can find on LPARs and understand what a LPAR is and how to create one before you start asking questions about iSCSI.
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Originally posted by: aixlparuser1

Thank you for your suggestion! Could you please recommandate some good articals related to AIX LPAR setup/configuration, etc. so that I can learn the basic from there? Thank you again!
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Originally posted by: SystemAdmin

all about powervm (lpars etc.)
redbook sg247940

install aix (let me google that for you...)
"installing aix"
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Originally posted by: aixlparuser1

Thanks a lot. I found this one is pretty good for me to start up, although it's via VIOS. I think the bottomline for LPAR is (with or with VISO), once a LPAR is created, when you install AIX OS on it, there you can select a root vg created on any disk, local or remote, iSCSI or not. Is that right?

Thanks!

http://www.redbooks.ibm.com/redbooks/pdfs/sg247940.pdf
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Originally posted by: SystemAdmin

exactly. you make the disk available to the lpar either via vio (virtual adapters) or dedicated adapter (probably ethernet in your case) and install the os by booting from an installation medium (dvd or install server or even tape) and get to choose where to put the os or rootvg.

the redbook is not only about vio, but that's the topic that needs most explanation.

have fun.
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