AIX Version 4.3 Differences Guide
AIX Version 4.3 Differences Guide
AIX Version 4.3 Differences Guide
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6.8 On-line Alternate Disk Installation<br />
The alt_disk_install command gives users another way to update <strong>AIX</strong> to the<br />
next release or maintenance level without having to schedule an extended period<br />
of system downtime.<br />
The update can be performed in two ways:<br />
mksysb image<br />
Installing a mksysb requires a <strong>4.3</strong> mksysb image or <strong>4.3</strong> mksysb tape.<br />
The alt_disk_install command is called, specifying a disk or disks<br />
that are installed in the system but are not currently in use. The<br />
mksysb is restored to those disks, such that, if the user chooses, the<br />
next reboot will boot the system on a <strong>4.3</strong> system.<br />
Note: If needed, the bootlist command can be run after the new disk<br />
has been booted, and the bootlist can be changed to boot back to the<br />
older version of <strong>AIX</strong>.<br />
Cloning<br />
Cloning allows the user to create a backup copy of the root volume<br />
group. Once created, the copy may be used either as a back up, or it<br />
can be modified by installing additional updates. One possible use<br />
might be to clone a running production system, then install updates to<br />
bring the cloned rootvg to a later maintenance level. This would<br />
update the cloned rootvg while the system was still in production.<br />
Rebooting from the new rootvg would then bring the level of the<br />
running system up to the newly installed maintenance level. If there<br />
was a problem with this level, simply changing the bootlist back to the<br />
original disk and rebooting would bring the system back to the old<br />
level.<br />
Currently, you can run the alt_disk_install command on 4.1.4 and higher<br />
systems for both of these functions. The bos.alt_disk_install.rte fileset must be<br />
installed on the system to do cloning to an alternate disk, and the<br />
bos.alt_disk_install.boot_images fileset must be installed to allow a mksysb<br />
install to an alternate disk.<br />
The mksysb image that is used must be created before installation and include all<br />
the necessary device and kernel support required for the system on which it is<br />
installed. No new device, or kernel support, can be installed before the system is<br />
rebooted from the newly-installed disk.<br />
Note: The level of mksysb that you are installing must match the level of the<br />
bos.alt_disk_install.boot_images fileset. At this time, <strong>4.3</strong>.2, <strong>4.3</strong>.1, and <strong>4.3</strong>.0<br />
mksysb images are supported. <strong>AIX</strong> <strong>4.3</strong>.1 boot images are available only on the<br />
<strong>4.3</strong>.1 installation media.<br />
When cloning the rootvg volume group, a new boot image is created with the<br />
bosboot command. When installing a mksysb image, a boot image for the level of<br />
mksysb and platform type is copied to the boot logical volume for the new<br />
alternate rootvg. When the system is rebooted, the bosboot command is run in the<br />
early stage of boot, and the system will be rebooted again. This is to synchronize<br />
the boot image with the mksysb that was just restored. The system will then boot<br />
in normal mode.<br />
System Management and Utilities 121
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