restoring an mksysb

[RMGBELGIUM]

Hi guys,

The following problem is troubling me :

Let's say you have a system at AIX5.2 ML6, with an mksysb, and your system crashes.Restore from mksysb is needed.What is mentioned in the manual : rebuilding from the mksysb tape : Locate the correct AIX install cd ( same level as the mksysb).But the thing is , AIX52 doesn't have a base install cd with ML6 integrated... How do you get your system online then???

thx in advance,

rgds,

R.

 

[p5wizard]

Wouldn't any AIX52 boot/install CD do?


HTH,

p5wizard

 

[RMGBELGIUM]

We had a servercrash a few months ago, tried installing from AIX5.2ML4 base, with ML6 mksysb, and after a while it came into an endless loop.End of the road we ended up installing clean , recreating users, ....
We know setting up a NIM server is a solution, but that's planned for 3rd quartal of this year.Meanwhile we're still in trouble when having to do a systemrestore ...


rgds,

R.

 

[p5wizard]

Booting from the mksysb tape or cd/dvd isn't an option?


HTH,

p5wizard

 

[RMGBELGIUM]

booting from tape isn't an option , bootimage too large ....
And yes, our firmware is up to date This still is a known issue with IBM, they talked about making a bootable cd with a dummy bootimage.I had hoped there was an easier way to get my system restored


rgds,

R.

 

[p5wizard]

Just checking...

What about alt-cloning? Then you should be able to boot off the cloned rootvg disk(s) in case of a rootvg disk crash? No experience yet I'm afraid.

And how about going to ML07? Shouldn't that take care of your bootimage too large problem? Of course you'd probably want to make a working mksysb first, right? ;-)

HTH,

p5wizard

 

[RMGBELGIUM]

ML7 is said to give performance problems with oracle (90% of the apps are oracle based in our company , so we can't afford doing that yet, as being problems with lvm ( extendvg problems giving corruption of userdata) .But I'll look into the alt cloning, perhaps that can offer us some form of reassurance when having a crash.Thx for the tips !

rgds,

R.

 

[hirschaj]

Are you sure there is no AIX 5.2 base CD with ML6 or greater? Whenever I request a software refresh from IBM it has the latest ML integrated with the the base CD's.

Jim Hirschauer

http://www.aixexpert.com

 

[RMGBELGIUM]

I've specifically requested an AIX52 ML6 cd, IBM support searched over whole of europe and the States, the ML6 has not been made, and will not be made they say.Base 52 ml07 is still uncertain.The best I have is ML4 integrated for now.
The only stable solution is using a NIM server now with a SPOT on ML6 ... but that's due in 6 months


rgds,

R.

 

[spamly]

I've requested, and received, AIX 5.2 ML7 install media on both CD and DVD from IBM.

ML 7 CDs have been available since at least December. I just received the DVDs last week.

 

[Mag0007]

About the bootimage being too large.

If your rootvg is:
USED PPs: 513 (65664 megabytes)

And you create the mksysb image file, will it be 65664 Megs or larger/smaller?

 

[hfaix]

Let's go back to p5's post "Wouldn't any AIX52 boot/install CD do?"

I agree.

For what it's worth, I've done it with 5.1. We actually did a real disaster recovery about a year ago and restored several p650s with AIX 5.1 ml7 mksysb's and base cd's older than ml7.

 

[p5wizard]

Apparently there's a fix and/or workaround for this issue? Should be outlined in /usr/lpp/bos.sysmgt/README.

Also see this post from comp.unix.aix at

http://unix.derkeiler.com/Newsgroups/comp.unix.aix/2005-02/0586.html

HTH,

p5wizard

 

[mrn]

I think we answer this a couple of weeks ago.

Any 5.2 cd can be used to boot the system, then F5 / Option 3 / Restore from tape. It'll pull the actual system from tape the cd is for the initial boot.

mksysb tapes arn't bootable if your system image is over 12Mb, which is when you get the message p5. I'm sure if read that a firmware upgrade sorts this out "on some machines"

Mike

"A foolproof method for sculpting an elephant: first, get a huge block of marble, then you chip away everything that doesn't look like an elephant."

http://www.airport-parking-site.co.uk/

 

[nogg123]

With aix 5, the ideal solution is restore from mksysb tape.
If unable, then the latest ml before yours is the cd to use.