mksysb -i error 2

[apham09]

I am attempting to run a mksysb -i to create a backup image file on a mounted nfs share name /GPMS_Backups but getting the following error.

# mksysb -i /GPMS_Backups

Creating information file (/image.data) for rootvg.

Creating list of files to back up....
Backing up 153114 filesbackup: 0511-089 Cannot open /GPMS_Backups: Cannot write to a directory.

0512-005 mksysb: Backup Completed.
The backup command completed with errors.
The messages displayed on Standard Error contained additional
information.

currently running AIX 5.3

Anyone have any ideas?

 

[victorv]

hi,

does the error comes out early or after a long time ?

are you able to write (by your root box1 user )
a file in the mounted /GPMS_Backups nfs filesystem ?

As root you can mount remote filesystem, but usually root
cannot access the filesystem, becouse, if you don't give
in nfs share root access for your box1 host, root is mapped
as nobody.

If you make at server side the folder /GPMS_Backups 777,
and from client give a

# touch /GPMS_Backups/x

you see (server side) that x is owned by nobody or -1 or 34555?.

Other things:
1) ensure that you have filesize unlimited
(ulimit -a), otherwise, file bigger than limit will not be created.

2) I suggest to make mksysb from smitty, so stdout remain on video, and in smit.log is however stored.

3) You can use such image ( once done) just my NIM:
the image does not contain boot info. You cannot save it on a tape or CD, or better you can, but it will not be a bootable one.

bye
vic

 

[apham09]

hi vic,

The error appears about 15 seconds after I hit the enter key to kick off the job.

I am able to write to the NFS /GPMS_Backups directory when I am logged in as root. I created a folder named "test" within that directory. When I ran the #touch /GPMS_Backups/test command, I don't receive anything.

Ran a ulimit -f and file size is set for unlimited but I read in the IBM documentation that AIX is set for 2GB limit regardless of the ulimit settings.

I also get the same error when attempting to run smit mksysb.

 

[p5wizard]

Try

[tt]mksysb -i /GPMS_Backups/$(hostname)_$(date +'%Y%m%d').mksysb[/tt]

You have to specify a device name (like /dev/rmt0) or a file name (like above), NOT a directory...


HTH,

p5wizard

 

[victorv]

hi,
the 15 seconds are those needing do the system to
write something in /tmp, then when system begin to write
on nfs filesystem, it gives the error.

Probably the problem is that you have not given a filename to jour job: if /GPMS_Backups is the mount point,
you have to indicate a valid filename as:

mksysb -i /GPMS_Backups/myimage.bck

If the problem is on the filelimit, you will see a big file
on the nfs share, (ie 2gb) and your backup procedure will
terminate with an error as "not enough space",
but probably this may happen later than 15 secs.

bye
vic

 

[apham09]

thanks for the tip guys. I will have to wait until I have another window to run the mksysb. I definitely appreciate all your inputs and advie. I will update the post with the outcome later on.

 

[apham09]

Thank you victorv and p5wizard. The output file name was what I was missing from my command syntax. It worked like a charm.