Apache Log4j Vulnerability, AIX Tips and Tools, a Look at Time Drift, and More
January 4, 2022
System security is no laughing matter. Well, occasionally it’s a laughing matter, but I’ll get to that in a moment. On Dec. 15 IBM issued a security bulletin regarding a vulnerability in Apache Log4j that affects the Power HMC. Check the IBM PSIRT blog for the latest updates: “… Product teams are releasing remediations for […]
ArticlesAIX Tips, Tricks and Useful Tools
December 13, 2021
Periodically I like to remind everyone about the tools they have at their disposal as well as providing a few tips and tricks to help with maintaining systems. In this article we will look at some of the tools you can use to help in your day-to-day work. YUM and DNF If you’re dealing with […]
ArticlesInteresting Points About the Power HMC
November 10, 2021
Jaqui Lynch on a real-life experience upgrading a 7063-cr1 HMC from 931 to 951, and new HMC upgrades
ArticlesA New AIX Video Series and the Latest on AIX Open Beta and Power10
October 14, 2021
A quick professional note: I’ve launched a video series for TechChannel. I’ve recorded three so far, including my latest on the Technical Support Appliance (TSA). Take a moment to check them out—the videos all clock in at around four minutes—and then send me suggestions for topics you’d like to see covered going forward. Being new […]
VideoRob McNelly on the IBM Support Technical Support Appliance
September 28, 2021
Rob McNelly looks at the Technical Support Appliance (TSA) from IBM support. Transcript As I crossed the finish line after swimming 425 yards, biking 15 miles, and running 5 kilometers in the sprint triathlon I recently completed, I realized that I had not talked about the TSA lately. If you are an American you are […]
Video Tutorial: Using invscout on AIX
September 1, 2021
Learn how to use the invscout command on AIX from IBM Champion Rob McNelly: Transcript: As I paddled my Kayak down the Colorado River, I realized that many of you had fallen behind on your system patching. As server administrators, besides updating our operating system, and our virtual IO server, and our HMC code, we […]
ArticlesCLI Options for Configuring and Modifying LPARs
August 23, 2021
Gareth Coates, whose work I’ve cited previously, recently explained how to create an LPAR without using the HMC GUI: “Here is a suite of files to create an LPAR on an IBM [Power Systems server]…. There are shell scripts and configuration files. You need to make changes to suit your particular environment. I’d say that […]
ArticlesAIX Patch Management With Ansible, and the Broader Benefits of Automation
July 15, 2021
I made one of the classic blunders during a recent trip to the Grand Canyon. This had nothing to do with a land war, or a Sicilian, but as an Arizona resident and avid hiker I should know better: always, always carry your water bottle, especially during the summer. I venture to the Grand Canyon fairly often. This […]
ArticlesAttention to Patching and Other Vital System Maintenance Will Help You Avoid the Heat
May 18, 2021
As I found myself walking through the desert, pushing a bicycle with a flat tire, I wondered how I got here. That’s not a metaphor; that’s life in Arizona. With the cactus and tumbleweeds and other assorted spiky, poky things, it’s a dangerous place for tires and tubes. It’s not a great place for people, […]
ArticlesAIX/VIOS Versioning Recommendations, a POWER9-Based HMC and the Evolution of IBM Certifications
April 22, 2021
I believe AIX has stood the test of time. This opinion is based in part on the fact that legacy AIX documentation is still relevant. For example, I recently downloaded two Redbooks, “IBM Certification Study Guide eServer p5 and pSeries Administration and Support for AIX 5L Version 5.3” and “IBM eServer Certification Study Guide – […]