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How to create bootable DVD from existing mksysb file

  • 1.  How to create bootable DVD from existing mksysb file

    Posted 16 days ago

    I created a DVD media using the following mkcd command, but I can not boot from the DVD media.

    I believe I can create a restorable/bootable DVD media from an existing mksysb file, am I doing something wrong? 

    Cann anyone help me?

    -----<create DVD media from existing mksysb file>-----

    # mkcd -m /bkup/AIX72TL2SP2_20250207.mksysb -d /dev/cd0 -L -I /cd_images
    Initializing mkcd log: /var/adm/ras/mkcd.log...
    Verifying command parameters...
    Creating temporary file system: /mkcd/cd_fs...
    Populating the CD or DVD file system...
    Building chrp boot image...
    Copying backup to the CD or DVD file system...

    Creating Rock Ridge format image: /cd_images/cd_image_9634224
    Running mkisofs ...

    mkrr_fs was successful.

    Making the CD or DVD image bootable...
    Writing the CD or DVD image to device: /dev/cd0...
    Running readcd ...
    ................................
    burn_cd was successful.


    Removing temporary file system: /mkcd/cd_fs...
    #
    ----------
    -----<boot from the DVD media>-----
    select the following options on SMS.
    5. Select Boot Options -> 1. select Install/Boot device -> 2. CD/DVD ->5.USB ->1.USB CD-ROM ->2. Normal mode boot


    ------------------------------
    YUKARI KOBAYASHI
    ------------------------------


  • 2.  RE: How to create bootable DVD from existing mksysb file

    Posted 15 days ago

    Hi

    Let's say that system you are restoring is a Lpar based and there a powervm o vios Lpar, you can transfer that file cd_image_9634224 to a repository in the vios and using the loadopt command you can mount this image as virtual optical device. 

    Another idea: you can transfer that cd_image_9634224 file to a windows or Linux based system and burn it to a USB device and then boot your system from that USB device.

    Hth.



    ------------------------------
    Cesar Daniel Delgado Ponce
    ------------------------------

    Original Message


  • 3.  RE: How to create bootable DVD from existing mksysb file

    Posted 14 days ago

    Thank you for your advise.

    There is no VIOS LPAR on this server. 

    I would actually like to complete this operations on AIX, but if I try a few more times and it still doesn't work, I will also consider transferring to Linux and burning the images to a new media.



    ------------------------------
    YUKARI KOBAYASHI
    ------------------------------

    Original Message


  • 4.  RE: How to create bootable DVD from existing mksysb file

    Posted 15 days ago

    Hi,

    Based on the output, your mkcd looks successful. Please make sure that you have mounted the ISO on to an optical disk using VIOS's VML or use a USB as Cesar mentioned and boot from the correct device.

    Please let us know if you have any issue.



    ------------------------------
    Saikrishna Akkela
    ------------------------------

    Original Message


  • 5.  RE: How to create bootable DVD from existing mksysb file

    Posted 14 days ago

    Thank you for your advise.

    Unfortunately I have no VIOS, but I'm glad to see that mkcd was successful.

    After I create the media by mkcd command, I leave it in the DVD drive.

    I should be able to boot from the media I created by mkcd command, right?

    If so, I will check the boot device again.



    ------------------------------
    YUKARI KOBAYASHI
    ------------------------------

    Original Message


  • 6.  RE: How to create bootable DVD from existing mksysb file

    Posted 12 days ago

    Yes, you should be able to boot from the media created by mkcd command.



    ------------------------------
    Saikrishna Akkela
    ------------------------------

    Original Message


  • 7.  RE: How to create bootable DVD from existing mksysb file

    Posted 13 days ago

    Hi Saikrishna,

    I confirmed the boot device is right.  In case of inserting  the new install media to the boot device, the system was booted and the installation menu was showed.

    I also  tried with "smitty mkdvd" and the smit was successful, but the boot was failed. (the detailed is the following)

    Is there anything else I should check? Any information would be appreciate.

    This was a smit screen and the command.

    The smit was successful.

    But when booting from the boot device, "No operating system" was shown.



    ------------------------------
    YUKARI KOBAYASHI
    ------------------------------

    Original Message


  • 8.  RE: How to create bootable DVD from existing mksysb file

    Posted 12 days ago

    Hi,

    Did you try to create an ISO and burn it to the DVD outside the mkcd command? Do you see an error in this case as well? Can you try this so that we can understand where the problem is..

    I can read the mksysb level. What is the AIX level of your system, where you are running this? 

    Also, what is the size of your mksysb?



    ------------------------------
    Saikrishna Akkela
    ------------------------------

    Original Message


  • 9.  RE: How to create bootable DVD from existing mksysb file

    Posted 12 days ago

    Hello Saikrishna,

    I really appreciate your reply.

    No I didn't try the way outside the mkcd command. So, I will try it.

    Here is some information about AIX level and size of mksysbfile.

    AIX level 

    # oslevel -s
    7300-02-02-2420

    # lspv
    hdisk0          00c05040dedcf51e                    rootvg          active
    hdisk1          00c05040df17d653                    bkupvg          active
    hdisk2          00c05040ee029d0d                    None
    # lsvg -l bkupvg
    bkupvg:
    LV NAME             TYPE       LPs     PPs     PVs  LV STATE      MOUNT POINT
    fslv00              jfs2       640     640     1    open/syncd    /bkup
    # ls -ltr /bkup
    total 3392008
    drwxr-xr-x    2 root     system          256 Feb  7 15:28 lost+found
    -rw-r--r--    1 root     system   1736704000 Feb 13 10:09 AIX73TL2SP2_mksysb
    #



    ------------------------------
    YUKARI KOBAYASHI
    ------------------------------

    Original Message


  • 10.  RE: How to create bootable DVD from existing mksysb file

    Posted 9 days ago

    Hi Yukari,

    what is the FW level and model of the server hardware you are trying to boot.  I understand that you are using an external USB connected DVD drive.  Are you trying to boot the same server or LPAR where you create the mksysb DVD ISO image with mkcd? or a different one?  What is the AIX level you are trying to boot? What is the AIX level you are running that  creates the DVD?  

    Also you may try to put an active powered USB hub in between the USB port on the server and the physical DVD unit or try a different external DVD.  As stated before not all USB ports and all DVD units are supported by IBM and I remember in the past with some servers having this kind of symptoms that were resolved "magically" with a good quality USB cable and USB powered hub and IBM supported external drive.

    I hope this might help isolate the problem.

    Regards



    ------------------------------
    Ivan Montesino Martinez del Cerro
    ------------------------------

    Original Message


  • 11.  RE: How to create bootable DVD from existing mksysb file

    Posted 8 days ago

    Thank you for your advise.

    This server is S914(9009-41A) with FW950.80(VL950_131).

    The USB drive is #EUA5 standalone DVD from the USB port in front of the S914.

    The LPAR I want to restore is the same as LPAR I made bootable DVD-R with mkcd  command based on existing mksysb.

    These AIX levels on all environment are the same with AIX 7.3 TL2 SP2.



    ------------------------------
    YUKARI KOBAYASHI
    ------------------------------

    Original Message


  • 12.  RE: How to create bootable DVD from existing mksysb file

    Posted 8 days ago

    Did you try also the rear USB ports? Are all of the USB-like I/O devices dedicated to LPAR's profile?



    ------------------------------
    Igor Novotny
    MHM Computer
    ------------------------------

    Original Message


  • 13.  RE: How to create bootable DVD from existing mksysb file

    Posted 15 days ago

    Try another USB port for DVD connection. Not all ports on Power system are boot capable. It's my experience from USB stick boot attempts...



    ------------------------------
    Igor Novotny
    Principal Consultant
    MHM Computer, a.s.
    Prague 15
    00420602369375
    ------------------------------

    Original Message


  • 14.  RE: How to create bootable DVD from existing mksysb file

    Posted 14 days ago

    Thank you for your idea.

    I am now trying to boot from a DVD drive connected to the USB port on the front of the S914.

    I will try to boot from the other USB port.



    ------------------------------
    YUKARI KOBAYASHI
    ------------------------------

    Original Message


  • 15.  RE: How to create bootable DVD from existing mksysb file

    Posted 14 days ago

    Hi

    Dont'forget to use DVD-R media

    Another type doesn't work

    I hope it will work.



    ------------------------------
    Gilles MENDOZA
    ------------------------------

    Original Message


  • 16.  RE: How to create bootable DVD from existing mksysb file

    Posted 9 days ago

    Slightly off topic: many years ago, around the days of AIX 5.3 on POWER5, I was able to use DVD+RW media for mksysb on AIX. But to make this work I had to first format the disc on Windows as the formatting was not possible on AIX. I haven't used optical disc media on AIX for some years now but back then, writing a mksysb was amazingly slow as the writing was done directly without any buffering. The AIX developers' reason for this was that if a power outage occurs before the last block have been written then the backup would be unusable. This while ignoring that you are more likely to lose a backup due to power loss if the backup takes several hours longer to write.



    ------------------------------
    Zaki Jääskeläinen
    ------------------------------

    Original Message


  • 17.  RE: How to create bootable DVD from existing mksysb file

    Posted 5 days ago

    To everyone who replied me,

    I really appreciate you.

    I'm happy to let you know that I've managed to solve this issue. I was able to creat a bootable DVD using DVD-RAM.

    Thank you again.



    ------------------------------
    YUKARI KOBAYASHI
    ------------------------------

    Original Message