IBM Notifications, AIX Migration Tips and More

I’m regularly reminded of the benefits of IBM’s My Notifications email service. Yes, we all have too much traffic in our inboxes, but My Notifications is a flexible offering that provides worthwhile news and information. For instance, I subscribe to get alerts on recently released fixes. I also receive useful tips on topics like SAS disk array management:

How do I create, list and manage SAS Disk Array?
– General Help:
# sissasraidmgr -h
– Viewing the Disk Array Configuration:
# sissasraidmgr -Ll controller_name -j1
– Preparing Disks for Use in SAS Disk Arrays:
# sissasraidmgr -P -z disk_list
(For example, # sissasraidmgr -P -z hdisk1 hdisk2 pdisk3 pdisk4)
– Changing pdisks to hdisks:
# sissasraidmgr -U -z pdisk_list
– Creating a SAS Disk Array:
# sissasraidmgr -C -r raid level -s  stripe size -z pdisk_list
– Deleting a SAS Disk Array:
# sissasraidmgr -D -l controller name -d array_name
– Adding Disks to an Existing Disk Array:
# sissasraidmgr -A -l array name -z pdisk list
– Creating Hot Spare Disks:
# sissasraidmgr -H -z pdisk_list
– Deleting Hot Spare Disks:
# sissasraidmgr -I -z pdisk_list
– Displaying Rechargeable Battery Information:
# sissasraidmgr -M -o0 -l adapter_name
– Forcing a Rechargeable Battery Error:
# sissasraidmgr -M -o1 -l adapter_name
– Recovering from Disk Failures:
# sissasraidmgr -R -z pdisk_list
– Viewing the SAS device resource locations:
# sissasraidmgr -Z –o0 –j3 -l adapter_name
– Viewing the SAS device resource information:
# sissasraidmgr -Z –o1 –j3 -l adapter_name
– Viewing the SAS path information for the attached device:
# sissasraidmgr -T –o1 –j3 -l device_name
– Viewing the SAS path information graphically for the attached device:
# sissasraidmgr -T –o0 –j3 -l device_name

On a somewhat-related note, if you’re seeking AIX-specific news and information, Built On Power, a provider of solutions and services for Power Systems environments, is aggregating news and links on AIX and other topics.

DNF and AIX 7.3 Migrations

Chris Gibson has been tweeting about DNF, an install manager used in AIX migrations.

There’s an IBM Power Community blog devoted to DNF as well as an IBM Support page that lists potential errors when migrating to AIX 7.3:

“The rpm.rte 7.15.1.2004 installed on AIX 7.3 delivers 64-bit rpm. The DNF on AIX 7.1 and 7.2 used 32-bit rpm. You need to run the dnf_aixtoolbox.sh script again, to update to 64-bit DNF.”

Getting NTP Running on AIX

A client was having trouble getting network time protocol (NTP) working on AIX. They would run lssrc –s xntpd and see it was inoperative. They would try to start it, and it would immediately die.

After running through the common issues like checking the config file, they called me. We read through more documentation before following one of the suggestions: run ps | grep ntp. Upon doing so, we learned that an xntpd process was running. After killing the process, we ran startsrc and the subsystem came right up.

For all of our technical know-how, sometimes diagnosing a problem requires little more than putting a fresh set of eyes on it.

Virtual Serial Numbers Provide Flexibility for IBM i Clients

This seems very interesting for IBM i clients:

“IBM now offers you the ability to acquire a virtual serial number and assign it to a logical partition, also known as a virtual machine (VM). IBM i software can then be ordered on or transferred to the virtual serial number instead of being tied to a physical IBM Power serial number. Having the IBM i entitlement, keys, and support entitlement on the virtual serial number provides the flexibility to move a VM to a different Power machine.”

Whenever I’d bring up using Live Partition Mobility (LPM) with my IBM i friends, they would always remind me that many of their applications and licenses are tied to a physical serial number. This announcement will go a long way toward making LPM a reality for IBM i clients.

AIX 7.3 Certified for Oracle Database 19c; New IBM Redpaper; Power10 Quick Start Guide and System Firmware Releases

In December, Oracle announced the availability of the Oracle Database Release 19c with AIX 7.3. The press release points to this link, where users can confirm the supported combinations of IBM AIX 7.3 and POWER Systems (64-bit).

On Twitter, IBM Redbooks project leader Dino Quintero noted the release of a new Redbook that describes IBM Geographic Logical Volume Manager (GLVM) for data mirroring in Cloud deployments:

“This publication is intended to help with the requirements to configure and implement GLVM   for cloud configurations. This book addresses topics for IT architects, IT specialists, sellers and anyone looking to implement and manage high availability and disaster recovery in the Cloud.”

Per Chris Gibson, IBM has published additional Power10 performance information. You’ll find a number of tips and tricks in this 15-slide presentation.

IBM’s firmware release schedule was updated on Jan. 31:

“In order to plan correctly for system firmware maintenance, there is a need to know when new Releases are coming out along with when a Release is planned to go end of service pack support. Therefore, the below table was created to provide this detail. Things can come up that alters this schedule somewhat, but this is the current plan. As things change, the table is updated to reflect status.”

Grand Plans

For those of you interested in—or at least willing to tolerate—updates on my outdoor adventures, I have news. Next month I’ll be attempting my first one-day rim-to-rim hike of the Grand Canyon. I’ll actually start and finish from the South Rim, which is technically considered a rim-to-rim hike. Then in May I’ll spend a day hiking from the North to the South rim. Wish me luck.

---