How to generate a mksysb.tape from a mksysb.file?

[nussmann]

Situation: Many B50's without tapedrives. IBM-Support says NIM doesn't function on a B50, (microcode update... whatever).
I try at the moment to write a mksysb to an NFS-Server with a Tapedrive -> ok. Next step is the problem: What is the way to write die file on the tape. I know i need the bosinst.data and the image.data . But i don't know the syntax to become a bootable tape. Maybe somebody can help me? thx a lot.

 

[unixfreak]

# cp mksysbfile /dev/rmt0

Just a guess but I would think the file contains what is needed to boot. Try it. It can't harm.

Cheers

 

[Gloups]

you cant boot with that type of file.


To use it, you will have to use it to make a bootable CD or DVD or it's also usable to reinstall system by NIM


See files section at the end of the mksysb man page

 

[bi]

nussmann, if you can do a NIM install by updating the microcode, why don't you update the microcode?

 

[sbix]

If you give a look to /usr/bin/mksysb shell script, you will find the make_bootape function, which creates a bootable tape by executing the following commands:
device=your_mag_tape_device
if [ -x /usr/lib/boot/unix_mp ];then
kernel="-k /usr/lib/boot/unix_mp"
fi
bosboot -d$device -a $kernel

then it creates a Dummy boot Image by executing the following:
echo "Dummy Boot Image"|dd of=$device bs=512 conv=sync
then it executes a mkinsttape on the tape ... but you can execute mkinsttape against a file (i.e. bosinst_image) and then execute:
dd if=bosinst_image of=$device
the mksysb put a "Dummy tape TOC" in then tape by issuing:
echo "Dummy tape TOC"|dd of=$device bs=512 conv=sync
Finally it copies the mksysb file into the tape.
dd

 

[kierong]

on the Server that the image is from:
cd /
mkszfile
vi the bosinst.data file and make sure PROMPT = yes
echo 512 NONE >/tapeblksz
mkinsttape /tmp/2nd.image

This will place all the system files required on the 2nd image of the mksysb tape to a file.

Next transfer the /tmp/2nd.image file to the
NFS_server and placed it in /tmp, then on the NFS_server
run the following: (assuming NFS_server has a tape drive)

chdev -l rmt0 -a block_size=512
echo "Dummy Install Image" |dd of=/dev/rmt0 bs=512 conv=sync
tctl rewind
tctl -f /dev/rmt0.1 fsf 1
dd if=/tmp/2nd.image of=/dev/rmt0 bs=512
tctl rewind
tctl -f /dev/rmt0.1 fsf 2
echo "Dummy Install Image" |dd of=/dev/rmt0 bs=512 conv=sync
tctl rewind
tctl -f /dev/rmt0.1 fsf 3
dd if=/backup/mksysb.image of=/dev/rmt0 bs=512 # This is the mksysb image
tctl -f /dev/rmt0.1 rewoffl

To recover clone system by booting off CD
and restoring from tape