I muddled through my first NIM install, and got it working okay. But, I’ve since heard Steve Knudson several times deliver his NIM sessions? and that has really solidified the concepts better than trying to read the manuals. You can see a replay of Steve’s presentation at the AIX Virtual User Group, which I highly recommend.

I recently had to build a new NIM server, so I thought it was a good time to post my cliff notes version.

Install these on the NIM Master:

Make these directories:

Make these filesystems:

The lpp filesystem will be the lppsource for AIX 6.1 TL1 SP7, and the spot filesystem will be the coresponding spot. For AIX 6.1, the lppsource is about 4G and the spot is about 600M.  The mksysb directory is good for customized base install images and mksysb images.

Initialize the NIM master:

smitty nim

Configure the NIM Environment / Advanced Configuration / Initialize the NIM Master Only

Network name:  something like 192_168_1

Primary Network Install Interface: enX

I also let the clients register themselves, it’s just easier that way.

Create the lppsource:

Insert DVD 1

smitty bffcreate

input device: /dev/cd0

directory for storing software: /export/61/lpp_6100-01-07

extend filesystems: yes

process multiple volumes: yes

You’ll be prompted to change DVDs.

Define to lppsource to NIM:

smitty nim

Configure the NIM Environment / Advanced Configuration / Create Basic Installation Resources /  Create a New LPP_SOURCE Only

Resource SERVER: master

LPP_SOURCE Name: lpp_6100-01-07

LPP_SOURCE Directory: /export/61/lpp_6100-01-07

Create new filesystem for LPP_SOURCE: no

Make the SPOT:

smitty nim

Configure the NIM Environment / Advanced Configuration / Create Basic Installation Resources /  Create a New SPOT Only

Resource SERVER: master

Input device: hit F4 and select your lppsource

SPOT Name: spot_6100-01-07

SPOT Directory: /export/61

Create new filesystem for SPOT: no

And, that’s about it.  Just register your clients. I don’t use a hardware address, I just populate the IP.  I also use nimsh instead of rsh.  Nimsh is the newer protocol, and doesn’t require you to setup a .rhosts file on every client.

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I muddled through my first NIM install, and got it working okay. But, I’ve since heard Steve Knudson several times deliver his NIM sessions? and that has really solidified the concepts better than trying to read the manuals. You can see a replay of Steve’s presentation at the AIX Virtual User Group<\/a>, which I highly recommend.<\/p>\n

I recently had to build a new NIM server, so I thought it was a good time to post my cliff notes version.<\/p>\n

Install these on the NIM Master:<\/p>\n