After updating my NIM master to AIX 7.1 TL2 SP1 (7100-02-01-1245), I noticed a problem. Whenever I installed a new AIX partition using NIM, the resources allocated to the NIM client were not being de-allocated, even though the installation was completing successfully. Also, if I tried to run my usual ‘NIM client reset’ script (below), the resources were still allocated.

 

#!/usr/bin/ksh

# Reset a NIM client.

 

if [[ "$1" = "" ]] ; then

  echo Please specify a NIM client to reset e.g. aixlpar1.

else

  if lsnim -l $1 > /dev/null 2>&1 ; then

    nim -o reset -F $1

    nim -Fo de-allocate  -a subclass=all $1

    nim -Fo change -a cpuid= $1

  else

    echo Not a valid NIM client!?

  fi

fi

                                                                     

For example, here’s my NIM client with the lpp_source, mksysb and SPOT resources assigned to it (even though the AIX install completed OK).

                                                                       

root@nim1 : / # lsnim -l aixlpar1                                

aixlpar1:                                                           

   class           = machines                                          

   type            = standalone                                        

   connect         = shell                                             

   platform        = chrp                                              

   netboot_kernel  = 64                                                

   if1             = network1 aixlpar1 0                             

   cable_type1     = N/A                                               

   Cstate          = ready for a NIM operation                         

   prev_state      = not running                                       

   Mstate          = currently running                                 

   boot            = boot                                              

   lpp_source      = lpp_sourceaix710105                               

   mksysb          = aixlpar1-71                                 

   nim_script      = nim_script                                        

   spot            = spotaix710105                                     

   cpuid           = 00C453C75C00                                      

   control         = master                                            

   Cstate_result   = success                                           

   installed_image = aixlpar1-71                  

                                                                        

My workaround was to use 'smit nim_mac_res' to manually de-allocate  resources from the client:                               

                                                                       

====                                                                    

De-allocate  Network Install Resources                                   

aixlpar1     machines       standalone                              

                                                                       

>lpp_sourceaix710105     lpp_source                                    

>spotaix710105           spot                                          

>aixlpar1-71       mksysb                                        

====                                                                    

                                                                                                                                             

It appears that others were also experiencing this problem. I found the following thread on the IBM developerWorks AIX user forum:     

                                             

NIM de-allocate  with subclass=all doesn't work:

https://www.ibm.com/developerworks/forums/thread.jspa?threadID=464710

 

Someone even provided their own version of a ‘NIM client reset’ script that offered another workaround to the problem:

 

nim -Fo reset $1

for i in bosinst_data fb_script image_data installp_bundle lpp_source mksysb nim_script script spot ; do

  ressources_to_clean=$(lsnim -l $1 | grep $i | awk '{print $NF}')

  for j in ${ressources_to_clean} ; do

    nim -Fo de-allocate  -a $i=$j $1

  done

done

                                                                   

I reported the issue to IBM AIX support and discovered that this is a known issue with 7.1 TL2.

 

“This is a known issue which recently has been documented in 2 open     

APARs:  IV32570 and IV32670:  UPDATE NIM BINARIES FOR UPDATES.         

                                                                       

Error description                                                   

One known symptom (of this issue) is that "nim -Fo               

de-allocate  -a subclass=all <client>" returns successfully but the

resource will still be allocated.                                 

                                                                       

The problem occured because the "update" pack that brings you from     

7.1.1.x to 7.1.2.0 missed a piece that effected the bos.sysmgt.7.1.2.0 

fileset.                                                               

                                                                       

Currently there is no fix available and no projected timeframe when this

issue will be fixed (i assume it will be with the next SP for AIX      

7100-02)                                                               

                                                                       

However, a workaround is allready documented in our incidents          

database - you simply need to force reinstall the bos.sysmgt.nim.master

7.1.2.0 fileset using your AIX 7.1 TL02 media.                         

                                                                        

This is not a backleveling of the fileset, you are simply force        

overwriting the full base level at the same version that you are       

currently at.  It will still be at 7100-02.                            

                                                                        

The workaround is a force overwrite of the bos.sysmgt.nim.master 7.1.2.0

from media." 

 

The AIX support team suggested that I download the necessary install fileset from the following location:

 

ftp://testcase.software.ibm.com/fromibm/aix/bos.sysmgt.7.1.2.0.I  

 

I backed up my NIM database before re-installing the fileset, just in case.

 

---------------------------------------------------------

Starting NIM Database Backup on nim1 at Wed Dec 12 12:39:43 EETDT 2012

 

a ./etc/objrepos/nim_attr 32 blocks.

a ./etc/objrepos/nim_attr.vc 112 blocks.

a ./etc/objrepos/nim_object 8 blocks.

a ./etc/objrepos/nim_object.vc 24 blocks.

a ./etc/NIM.level 1 blocks.

a ./etc/niminfo 1 blocks.

a ./etc/NIM.primary.cpuid 1 blocks.

 

Finished NIM Database Backup on nim1 at Wed Dec 12 12:39:44 EETDT 2012

---------------------------------------------------------

 

I placed the fileset into a separate directory on the NIM master and ran inutoc.

 

root@nim1 : /home/cgibson/NIMPMR # ls -ltr

total 36170

-rw-r--r--    1 cgibson  staff      18512896 Dec 12 12:21 bos.sysmgt.7.1.2.0.I

-rw-r--r--    1 root     system         4778 Dec 12 12:35 .toc

 

Then I re-installed the fileset (force OVERWRITE) on the NIM master:

 

                             Install Software

 

Type or select values in entry fields.

Press Enter AFTER making all desired changes.

 

                                                        [Entry Fields]

* INPUT device / directory for software               .

* SOFTWARE to install                                [@ 7.1.2.0  Network Install Manager - Master Tools                      @@I:bos.sysmgt.nim.master 7>

  PREVIEW only? (install operation will NOT occur)    no

  COMMIT software updates?                            yes

  SAVE replaced files?                                no

  AUTOMATICALLY install requisite software?           no 

  EXTEND file systems if space needed?                yes

  OVERWRITE same or newer versions?                   yes

  VERIFY install and check file sizes?                no 

  Include corresponding LANGUAGE filesets?            yes 

  DETAILED output?                                    yes 

  Process multiple volumes?                           yes 

  ACCEPT new license agreements?                      yes  

  Preview new LICENSE agreements?                     no      

 

 

The fileset re-installed without a problem.

 

Installation Summary

--------------------

Name                        Level           Part        Event       Result

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------

bos.sysmgt.nim.master       7.1.2.0         USR         APPLY       SUCCESS

 

root@nim1 : /home/cgibson/NIMPMR # lslpp -l bos.sysmgt.nim.master

  Fileset                      Level  State      Description

  ----------------------------------------------------------------------------

Path: /usr/lib/objrepos

  bos.sysmgt.nim.master      7.1.2.0  COMMITTED  Network Install Manager -

                                                 Master Tools

 

I re-tried installing AIX on a NIM client.

 

root@nim1 : / # lsnim -l aixlpar1

aixlpar1:

   class           = machines

   type            = standalone

   connect         = shell

   platform        = chrp

   netboot_kernel  = 64

   if1             = network1 aixlpar1 0

   cable_type1     = N/A

   Cstate          = Base Operating System installation is being performed

   prev_state      = BOS installation has been enabled

   Mstate          = in the process of booting

   info            = verifying_data_files

   boot            = boot

   lpp_source      = lpp_sourceaix710105

   mksysb          = aixlpar1-71

   nim_script      = nim_script

   spot            = spotaix710105

   cpuid           = 00C453C75C00

   control         = master

   Cstate_result   = success

   installed_image = aixlpar1-71

 

Once the install completed I found that all allocated NIM resources (lpp_source, mksysb and SPOT) were de-allocated. Problem solved.

 

root@nim1 : / # lsnim -l aixlpar1

aixlpar1:

   class           = machines

   type            = standalone

   connect         = shell

   platform        = chrp

   netboot_kernel  = 64

   if1             = network1 aixlpar1 0

   cable_type1     = N/A

   Cstate          = ready for a NIM operation

   prev_state      = in the process of booting

   Mstate          = not running

   cpuid           = 00C453C75C00

   Cstate_result   = success

   installed_image = aixlpar1-71

 

So if you are planning on updating your NIM master to 7.1 TL2, please take note and make sure you implement the workaround.

 

 

 

 

 

Tags:  issue resources chris_gibson aix 7.1 de-allocate not tl2 nim working