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AIX Tips and Tricks

See also

• System configuration parameters

• Useful AIX commands

• AIX Logical Volume Manager

• Performance monitoring commands

• AIX Networking

Old News ;-)

entstat

Netstat in AIX does pretty much what netstat does everywhere else. entstat has some things in common but is especially useful because it shows the link status of a network connection. Many times I'm a few hundred miles from the server I'm managing and when networking isn't working, I need to figure out where the problem is. Entstat tells me whether I'd be seeing a link light if I was looking at the server and what speed the link is running at.

Commands for conversion DOS/Windows file to Unix format are:

• AIX: strings dos.txt > aix.txt
• HP-UX: dos2ux
• Solaris: dos2unix
• Linux: dos2unix

AIX 4.X Hints, Tips, and Reference

Manipulating the /etc/exports file The /etc/exports file controls the access and availability for remote hosts to mount filesystems from a host. It is possible to edit this file directly, but after editing or changing /etc/exports it is necessary to run /usr/bin/exportfs to make changes effective. Supported commands for modifying /etc/exports are:

• chnfsexp - Changes the options used to export a directory to NFS clients.
• lsnfsexp - Displays the characteristics of directories that are NFS exported.
• mknfsexp - Exports a directory to NFS clients.
• rmnfsexp - Unexports a directory from NFS clients.
• exportfs - Exports and unexports directories to NFS clients.

  To remove an NFS export from the /etc/exports file

  /usr/sbin/rmnfsexp -d Directory [-f Exports_file] [ -I | -B | -N ]
  Example: rmnfsexp /usr/local

  To add an NFS export to the /etc/exports file

  
  Example: mknfsexp

  To change an NFS export entry in the /etc/exports file

  /usr/sbin/chnfsexp -d Directory [ -f Exports_file ] [ -t [ { rw | ro | rm -h HostName [ ,HostName ... ] } ] ] [ -a UID ] [ -r HostName [ , HostName ... ] ] [ -c HostName , HostName ... ] ] [ -s | -n ] [ -I | -B | -N ] [ -P | -p ]
  Example: chnfsexp -d /usr -t rw -c host1,host3,host29 -B

  To show an NFS export entry in the /etc/exports file

  /usr/sbin/lsnfsexp [ -c | -l ] [ Directory ] [-f Exports_file ]
  Example: lsnfsexp /usr

  To re-export entries in the /etc/exports file

  /usr/sbin/exportfs [ -a ] [ -v ] [ -u ] [ -i ] [ -fFile ] [ -oOption [ ,Option ... ] ] [ Directory ]
  Example: exportfs -a

AIX Support Tips

System Information

• ls -b (list garbage file names in octal)
• lscfg (lists installed devices, -v for versions or -c)
• lsgroup (lists user groups)
• lsuser (lists users)
• lscons (displays the current console tty value)
• lsswconfig -a (lists the s/w catalog)
• lsdev -C -c <class> -H (lists devices)
• lsattr -l <class> -a <item> -E (for current)
  • class values =tty, printer, tape, disk, adapter, dlc, bus, diskette, if, memory, logical_volume, mouse, port

Wiki AIX Note - Wiki@Lodbrok

JFS2 freeze/thaw

See APAR: IY66043

• http://www-1.ibm.com/support/docview.wss?uid=isg1IY66043

 
To freeze a filesystem:
chfs -a freeze=<timeout in seconds> /fsname

To thaw a filesystem:
chfs -a freeze=off /fsname

AIX packaging

• lslpp -f "package" # results in filelist
• lslpp -w "/path/file" # results in package name that contains the file
• lslpp -L "package" # results in package version
• lppchk # verify files of installed software
• instfix -ik IY5400 # check for APAR complience
• instfix -ic | grep :-: # check for downlevel packages

Link between rpm and lpp

The command enables the rpm command to recognize that the libraries have been installed using installp.

/usr/sbin/updtvpkg

What is the current AIX Level?

  
$ oslevel
5.2.0.0

$ oslevel -r
5200-07

$ oslevel -s
5200-07-00

In what LPAR is this OS running?

  
$ uname -L # "AIX -1 NULL" Means there are no LPAR's (1 OS on 1 box).

Recommended Links

Sun Solaris to IBM AIX 5L migration -- Solaris is "normal" Unix system and this redbook can help to find solution for problem that you know how to solve in Solaris.

AIX Tips

AIX 4.X Hints, Tips, and Reference

Wiki AIX Note - Wiki@Lodbrok

IBM AIX Tips and Tricks

• A document that describes the default set of user accounts.

• Document describing how to archive raw logical volumes using dd.

• How to boot your server into Service mode (aka Maintenance mode).

• Having problems making CDE work with HACMP?

• How can I find the CD-ROM device on AIX?

• Trying to get your cron job to run every other week?

• List all the disks that are currently not being used, where they are, and what their size is.
• List all the info about which logical volumes reside on which disks.

• AIX Command Crib Sheet PDF
• Pimpin' Networks IBM resources
• IBM has lots of good Redbooks to help you.
• Various articles from SysAdmin magazine about AIX administration.

• AIX FAQ (PDF)

• How to reduce the /var or /tmp filesystem.
• When using raw logical volumes, does VMM or sync handle the updates?
• How to resolve issues with local JFS filesystems that have run out of available space.

• How can I determine the CPU Speed in my AIX server the IBM way or the easier script method to find out how fast your CPU is running?
• Figure out the serial number of your server, even if it isn't near you.

• This should be the first site you go to for info on AIX.

• Logical Volume Manager intro and concepts (pdf)
• LVM commands and Troubleshooting tips (pdf)

• Script to figure out what speed your network adapter is using.
• AIX 4.3 Network Hardening paper

• What is the best way to determine when a system was installed?
• How to recover the root password in AIX 4.x.
• Use errpt to check if there are any errors you should know about.
• Why du and df don't return the same ouput.
• Check to see if the OS is running in 32 or 64 bit mode as well as if it is 64 bit capable.
• Info about 64-bit mode on AIX.
• Some 5L upgrade gotchas you need to watch out for.

• How to get the partition number on AIX partitions.
• How to assign a specific PVID when your system won't cooperate.

• Compares: AIX Logical Volume Manager and Veritas Volume Manager (PDF)
• Compares: AIX 5.1 and Solaris 8 (PDF)
• Compares: AIX, FreeBSD, HP-UX, Redhat, Solaris, Tru64 (PDF)
• Compares: Everything and the kitchen sink (PDF)

• Lots of good info (memory refreshers) on KSH.

• See what the temperature is on your SSA enclosures.