Migration aix 7.1 to 7.2 using nimadm

Migration aix 7.1 to 7.2 using nimadm

NIMADM takes a copy of client server rootvg to spare disk(hdisk1) and simultaneously migrate the server to new OS version

Advantage:

Minimum downtime: Once OS migration completed, downtime required for reboot the client to take into new OS version(AIX7.2).  

Easy to Rollback: If applications/Databases are not running as easier, it very simple to rollback to old level. Just change the bootlist and reboot client server. NIMADM fails in middle whatever the changes are made in altinst_rootvg. It won't impact to original rootvg.

Pre-check on NIM MASTER:

1. Make sure the NIM master is on aix 7200-05

oslevel -s

2. Create a lpp_source

nim -o define -t lpp_source -a server=master -a source=/export/AIX_ISO/AIX_V7.2_Install_7200-05_DVD1of2.iso  -a packages=all -a location=/export/lpp_source/lpp_7200-05  lpp725

or via smitty:   smitty nim_mkres

3. Create the SPOT:

nim -o define -t lpp_source -a server=master -a source=lpp725  -a location=/export/spot/spot-725  spot-725

or via smitty: smitty nim_mkres

4. Check if the nim client is defined

lsnim  |grep “client_name”

if not create the nim client with smitty: smit nim_mkmac

5. bos.alt_disk_install.rte fileset must be installed on NIM master and also in the SPOT.If not you have to add the fileset to SPOT.  
   # lslpp -l bos.alt_disk_install.rte
   # nim -o showres lpp725 | grep -i bos.alt_disk_install.rte (Check on lpp_source)

   # nim -o showres spot-725 | grep -i bos.alt_disk_install.rte (Check on SPOT)

If the fileset is missing, add the fileset to the lpp

   # nim -o cust -a filesets=bos.alt_disk_install.rte -a lpp_source=lpp725 spot-725 (add fileset to SPOT)

6. Check if there is a spare vg nimadmvg, which can be used to create the client rootvg. If not, ask storage team add a new one and create a  empty vg

7. Make sure the nimsh connection to the client is good and or rsh service is opened. Check /etc/inetd.conf and make sure shell/kshell, login/klogin/,exec service is not comment out, if any of these server is comment out, change it and restart the the service by

# refresh -s inetd

# lssrc -s nimsh

# nim -o showlog nimclientname

Pre-check on NIM client

1. Ask the application team to precheck the compatibility for all the applications should be good with aix 7.2
2. Take a mksysb backup for the client
3. Check rootvg lv names must be less than 11 characters

lsvg -l rootvg

4. Verify the /etc/niminfo file. NIM master details must updated on this file. If not run smitty: smit nim

5. Check if there is a spare disk for the alt rootvg

6. Run the pre_migration script

/usr/lpp/bos/pre_migration

7. Commit all applied fileset

installp -c all

Run NIMADM on nim master to perform the upgrade

1.nimadm -j nimadmvg -c clientname -s spot-725 -l lpp725 -d hdisk1 -Y

The hdisks is the spare disk name on the client, if you already have an alt_rootvg disk there, you can delete that alt_rootvg and use it as the spare disk

Once migration starts cache file systems are created in nimadmvg,  the migration process will take in 12 phases.

Post migration:

1. After  the NIMADM completed, check the bootlist on the client

Bootlist -m normal -o

Which should set to the hdisk1(altinst_rootvg)

1. Reboot the server