AIX install guide

© Copyright IBM Corporation 2013 TrademarksInstalling IBM AIX 7.1 on an Integrated Virtualization ManagerLPAR

Page 1 of 20

Installing IBM AIX 7.1 on an Integrated VirtualizationManager LPAR

John Ohle ([email protected])Software EngineerIBM

22 July 2013

This tutorial explains to the readers in simple steps (and with an example) how to set up avirtual server within Integrated Virtualization Manager (IVM), and how to install IBM® AIX® 7.1onto the virtual server. This allows users to economically use the available resources withintheir IVM.

Concept

I am a big fan of the movie Inception. The idea of a dream-within-a-dream-within-a-dreamis a unique and mind-blowing idea. How is this relevant, you may ask? Well, IBM IntegratedVirtualization Manager allows users to effectively install multiple server instances on a singlehardware blade as long as there are sufficient resources available. Think of it as servers-within-a-server and you can see how the two relate. This concept provides IBM customers the ability tomaximize the functionality and performance of their assets, saving customer's time and money.

This tutorial explains the steps to set up a virtual server within the Integrated VirtualizationManager and install AIX onto the virtual server. It does not document the installation process forthe Integrated Virtualization Manager, but you can refer to that step in the information center.

An example server is set up within this tutorial for reference. Screen captures are used whereverapplicable. At the end, you should have a working virtual server with AIX 7.1 installed within yourIBM IVM. This process can then be repeated for each virtual server that you want to set up.

For this tutorial, the example server is called example_server with the domain nameexample_server.mul.ie.ibm.com. We will be working with a hardware server with a resource poolof 16 dedicated processors, 64 GB RAM, and 10 TB of hard drive space. From this pool, we willcreate a virtual server with seven dedicated processors and 30 GB RAM, with a modest 8 GB harddrive space.

http://www.ibm.com/legal/copytrade.shtml

http://www.ibm.com/developerworks/ibm/trademarks/

mailto:[email protected]

http://pic.dhe.ibm.com/infocenter/director/v5r2/topic/eica7/eica7_operating_environments.htm

developerWorks® ibm.com/developerWorks/

Installing IBM AIX 7.1 on an Integrated Virtualization ManagerLPAR

Page 2 of 20

Part 1 – Setting up the virtual server within Integrated VirtualizationManager

After you have your Integrated Virtualization Manager set up, you can start to determine therequirements for your virtual server. As specified earlier, we can create a virtual server with:

• Eight processors• 30 GB RAM• 8 GB hard drive space

First, we need to create a logical partition (LPAR) to install the AIX virtual server. The specificationsfor your virtual server will be based on the pool of resources available to your IntegratedVirtualization Manager. In this section, we will create and configure a separate, dedicated partitionto install our AIX server OS.

In this example, we use Mozilla Firefox (v17.0.4) to access the Integrated Virtualization Managercontrol page, but it should work with previous and newer builds of Firefox.

1.1 – Creating the partition

You need to perform the following steps to create a partition.

1. First of all, log in to your Integrated Virtualization Manager. Then, click the View/ModifyPartitions link on the navigation bar.

2. In the right pane, click * Create Partition.... The Create Partition wizard is displayed. Usingthis wizard, you can create the LPAR partition to install our AIX OS.

3. On the Name page, enter the name of your partition and click Next.Tip:In this tutorial, we are using example_server.mul.ie.ibm.com as the example server. Whileyou can name the partition anything you like without consequence, it is a good practice toname it after the server host name that will be installed on it.From the Environment drop-down list, it is important to make sure that AIX or Linux isselected. The partition ID can be set to any value you like. In this example, the partition IDvalue is set to 4.

ibm.com/developerWorks/ developerWorks®


Page 3 of 20

4. On the next page, you can set the memory size that need to be exclusively available for thepartition.

5. Set a value in the Assigned memory field and click Next.

Note:Memory allocated to this partition cannot be dynamically altered while the server is running,but it can be changed later (if necessary) while the server is deactivated. In fact, most ofthe partition parameters can be changed at a later stage if necessary. See Part 3 - Furtherreading section for more details on this.

6. Next, we need to set the amount of processors we want to use with our partition. Usingdedicated processors generally gives a better, more stable performance for your virtual serverthan using shared processors. However, for obvious reasons, this value must be set basedon the available resources. There is no difference in this tutorial if you choose shared overdedicated processors.



Page 4 of 20

In this example, we have eight dedicated processors available, from which can use seven forour partition. After selecting the processing mode, click Next.

7. On the Ethernet page, the attached Ethernet adapters are listed. Select your values and clickNext.

Next, the Storage Type page is displayed. However, as we have not defined an exclusivestorage area for this partition yet, we are unable to proceed with defining further parametersfor our partition for the moment.



Page 5 of 20

8. At this point, older versions of the IVM software might not provide any storage type optionshere. In this case, you can proceed no further with setting the partition parameters. So, clickFinish to create the partition definition. You should now be able to see your newly createdpartition on the partition overview page. Users experiencing this scenario should now proceedto step 1.2 - Creating the virtual storage space.Users with newer IBM updated software would find the storage type options, and they cancreate a virtual disk from this page and continue. In this case, select the Create virtual diskoption and then click Next.

9. Enter your disk requirement and then click Next. In this example, we have chosen to createan 8 GB partition on the rootvg storage pool.

10. Next, enter you Virtual Fiber Channel options. Click Add and then select your available virtualFiber Channels from the drop-down lists. When ready to proceed, click Next.



Page 6 of 20

11. Under the Virtual Optical Devices section, click Create to create the vitual optical drive.Within this virtual optical drive, we will place our AIX ISO file to install AIX on our partition.Select your AIX ISO file from the and click OK. Repeat this process and add your second AIXISO file. To add your ISO files to your IVM, refer to the 1.3 - Adding virtual installation discs tothe virtual server section. This can be done without restarting the create partition process onthe original IVM browser window. When you are ready to proceed, click Next.



Page 7 of 20

12. Finally, on the Summary page, review the options (and if necessary, click Back to return toa section where you need to alter your choices). If all the options are correct, click Finish tocreate your partition.



Page 8 of 20

After completing these steps, proceed with the steps in the 1.3 - Adding virtual installationdiscs to the virtual server section.

1.2 – Creating the virtual storage space

You need to perform the following steps to create the virtual storage space.

1. Click the View/Modify Virtual Storage link on the navigation bar.2. Next, click * Create Virtual Disk...

In the Create Virtual Disk dialog box, fill in your virtual storage information. Set the valuein the Assigned partition field to that of your previously created server partition. (For thisexample, we will use the values shown in the following figure.) Then, click OK.



Page 9 of 20

You should now see your newly created virtual storage in the overview window.

1.3 - Adding virtual installation discs to the virtual server

Before we continue, we need to upload the AIX .iso files to the Integrated Virtualization Manager.In this example, we install AIX v7.1, which comes on two discs. The first disc is the maininstallation disc, while the second disc contains extra optional add-on features and securityoptions. These can be obtained from your IBM vendor both in physical and digital format.

For this example, we will be uploading the two-disc .iso files for AIX on to the LPAR.

1. In the main Integrated Virtualization Manager window, click the View/Modify Virtual Storagelink. On the right pane, click the Optical/Tape tab and expand all sections.

2. Under the Virtual Optical Media section, note that thesize of the media library is displayed.The combined size of the two AIX .iso files is approximately just under 6 GB. So, make sure



Page 10 of 20

that the size of your media library is set to a high enough value. If required, click ExtendLibrary and add the required size to your media library.

3. After this is set, click Add Media.... The Add Media dialog box is displayed.

4. Because the upload limit is set to 2 GB, the best option is to connect directly with yourIntegrated Virtualization Manager system and use FTP to send the AIX .iso files over to it. Forthis example, I have copied the AIX .iso files to the Integrated Virtualization Manager throughFTP to the location: /home/padmin/.

5. As the .iso files are now on the LPAR server, select Add existing file and enter the locationand file name of the AIX .iso files. Then click OK. This step needs to be done twice, once foreach of the AIX v7.1 .iso files, if needed.

Note that it can take a minute or two to load in the .iso files.

1.4 – Creating and configuring a virtual optical media driveIn order to install AIX, we need a way to load the AIX .iso files onto the virtual server.

So, we need to create a virtual optical media drive to load our .iso files. This is similar to loadinga computer with an OS installation disc in the disc drive. It reads data from the disc drive uponstartup and installs the OS software.

1. To create this virtual optical disk drive, click the created partition from the partition overviewpage. This opens a new window with our created virtual server partition detail on it.

2. Click the Optical/Tape Devices tab and expand the sections on the tab.



Page 11 of 20

3. Under the Virtual Optical Devices section, click Create Device. This creates the virtualoptical drive for us to load our AIX .iso files. From the created device that is created when youclick Create Device, click Modify under Current Media and set the value to be your AIX Disc1 ISO. When done, click OK.You should now be able to see your AIX ISO file loaded into your Virtual Optical Drivessection (as shown in the following figure).

Tip:If you need to install elements from disc 2, come back here after AIX has been installed andchange this value to your AIX disc 2 and restart the virtual server. The restart process will loadup from the AIX disc 2 ISO on launch.

Part 2 – Installing AIX 7 on the virtual server

Now that we have the virtual server created and configured, and have the virtual optical mediadrive created and loaded with our AIX 7 Disc 1 ISO, it is time to install AIX v7 on our createdserver. However, without any OS yet on the partition, we cannot simply use Secure Shell (SSH)to connect to the server as we would with an installed OS. Instead, we connect to the IntegratedVirtualization Manager server and create a virtual terminal to the partition ID specified in Part 1.

2.1 – Creating the virtual terminal

You need to perform the following steps to create a virtual terminal.



Page 12 of 20

1. First of all, connect to the Integrated Virtualization Manager through SSH or Remote DesktopClient. This depends on the OS of the server on which your Integrated Virtualization Manageris installed. For this example, we use SSH to connect to the Integrated Virtualization Manager.

2. We want to connect to the partition ID we created in Part 1. To do this, from the IntegratedVirtualization Manager SSH session, we use the mkvt command with the -id flag. So for ourserver example, we use: mkvt -id 2

Nothing happens yet in the SSH session as our partition is still down. However, it is nowlistening for input from the partition. So, when we start it up, we can see this terminalpopulating with data.

3. Next, return to the Integrated Virtualization Manager in your browser and start up your createdpartition.

4. On the partitions overview page, select the check box corresponding to your partition andthen click Activate.

5. In the Activate Partitions dialog box, click OK.

6. While your partition is starting, click the terminal you have created.

2.2 - Installing AIX 7.1

Perform the following steps to install AIX 7.1.

1. After completing the steps in the previous section, a screen as shown in the following figuregets displayed.

Press 0 on your keyboard as prompted.2. After a short while, you would see the message shown in the following figure and you will

know that the AIX 7 Installation Disc 1 ISO is being read:



Page 13 of 20

Soon, the on-screen prompts appear and guide you through the rest of the setup.

You should install AIX v7.1 as per your requirement and allowances, based on the licencetype you have attained from your IBM vendor (Express, Standard or Enterprise). Theinstallation process can take upwards of an hour.

3. As soon as this is complete, set the input to xterm (or a different choice if you so prefer) andaccept the licence agreements.Tip:To access the on-screen options, use the Esc key plus the corresponding number insteadof the indicated Function keys (with the exception of the F10 key). For example, instead ofpressing the F3 key to cancel an action, press Esc+3.



Page 14 of 20

4. Press Tab to change the value from no to yes and press Enter.

The COMMAND STATUS screen (as shown in the following figure) is displayed.



Page 15 of 20

5. Press F10 to continue.6. Next, accept the software maintenance terms and conditions.

7. If necessary, press Tab to change the value from no to yes, and press Enter.

The COMMAND STATUS screen (as shown in the following figure) is displayed.

8. Press F10 to continue.9. Next, complete the Installation Assistant options that are displayed.



Page 16 of 20

10. Select Tasks Completed – Exit to Login after configuring the options.

You have now successfully installed AIX v7.1 on your virtual server.

2.3 - Mandatory post-installation steps

For the steps in this section, it is necessary to shut down the AIX virtual server.

To do this, enter this command:shutdown -F now

It is only necessary to complete the steps in this section once.Tip:In order to reduce the number of times you need to restart, it is recommended to read section2.4 Setting ulimit values before proceeding. Although it is not technically a mandatory step, it canprevent the need of an additional restart if you complete that step first.

1. Removing virtual optical media driveSimilar to leaving a disc in a physical optical media drive at startup, leaving the AIX Disc ISOin the virtual optical media drive on the virtual server can cause startup and shutdown delayissues.As a result, it is important to remove all .iso files from the virtual optical media drive after AIXhas been successfully installed.To do this, open the Partition Properties window by clicking the partition name in theIntegrated Virtualization Manager browser under the View/Modifiy Partitions link. Click theOptical/Tape Devices tab and expand the Virtual Optical Devices section. Click the Modifylink and change the value to None. Click OK to save the change. If you go back to this pointlater, you can view the Virtual Optical Devices section as shown in the following figure.



Page 17 of 20

2. Adding virtual Fibre ChannelsIf you plan to use a SAN storage network, you need to complete this step. Otherwise you canskip it.Note: While you can skip it, in practice, it is recommended to complete this step anywayas it ensures easier future compatibility and upgrade-ability with your virtual server, withoutrequiring to restart your server in the future.On the partition overview page, click the partition you have created. This opens a new windowwith the partition details. Then click the Storage tab and expand the sections within the tab byclicking the small blue arrows (as shown in the following figure).

Under the Virtual Fibre Channel section, click Add and select a physical port.

If more physical ports are available, add those from the drop-down as wellThen click OK to save these changes.

3. Allowing communication to and from the serverThough your AIX server is set up, it is likely that it is invisible to other computers on thenetwork. Do not forget to configure your new virtual server in accordance with your network



Page 18 of 20

security protocols and compliancy checks. You can use the smitty tool to easily configure theserver to your network parameters.A good starting point is to use the mktcpip command. You can use this with the smitty tool toeasily configure this command's arguments:smitty mktcpip

You can contact your network administrator if you are facing issues with connecting yourvirtual server to your network.

2.4 - Recommended post-installation steps

1. Setting ulimit valuesEnter the "ulimit -a" command (without the quotation marks) to see the current ulimit valuesat any time. Incorrect ulimit values can seriously undermine and affect performance. You canchange these values by editing the limits file at /etc/security/limits.Note:Altering the values of /etc/security/limits requires a restart of the AIX server for the changesto take effect. As a result, to cut down on restarts needed, you should set this value first afterinitial configuration has been set.

2. Updating your AIX serverIt is recommended to download and update your AIX server with the latest fixes in order tomaintain optimum compliance, security, and functionality within your OS.You can update AIX using the command line, but it might be easier to use the smitty tool.Smitty is a tool that is unique to AIX and allows easier access to operating systemconfigurations, settings, and tools.To upgrade the virtual server, first we must download the updates, and next, we must installthem.To download the updates, use the following command:smitty suma

Then follow the on-screen prompts and options.Once the updates have been downloaded, you can then install them with the followingcommand, and by entering in the necessary information when prompted:smitty update_all

Part 3 – Further reading

You can change any of the partition properties at any stage in order to accommodate the changingnature of your virtual server. However, the server partition must be shut down in order to changeany partition properties. This means that critical servers for which downtime cannot be toleratedme be thoroughly planned at the creation stage to avoid potential downtime at a later time.

To change any partition property, first shut down the AIX OS with the following command:shutdown -F now

After it is down, the partition should also be deactivated within the Integrated VirtualizationManager browser. If not, select the partition check box and click Shutdown.



Page 19 of 20

After completing the shutdown procedure, click the partition name to open the Partition Propertieswindow.

From here, you can click any tab and alter the parameters. However, if you change any valuewithin a tab, you need to click OK at the bottom before changing tabs, as otherwise, the changewill not be saved. After making the changes, start the partition again. (Starting the partition will alsostart the OS.)

Resources

Recommended reading:

• IBM Systems Director Virtualization Manager information center• AIX 7.1 information center



http://pic.dhe.ibm.com/infocenter/aix/v7r1/topic/com.ibm.aix.doc/doc/base/kc_welcome.htm

http://pic.dhe.ibm.com/infocenter/aix/v7r1/topic/com.ibm.aix.doc/doc/base/kc_welcome.htm



Page 20 of 20

About the author

John Ohle

John is a Systems Administrator and Software Engineer using and maintaining IBMAIX 7.1 systems for the IBM Connections software.

© Copyright IBM Corporation 2013(www.ibm.com/legal/copytrade.shtml)Trademarks(www.ibm.com/developerworks/ibm/trademarks/)

http://www.ibm.com/legal/copytrade.shtml

http://www.ibm.com/developerworks/ibm/trademarks/

Documents

AIX install guide