Learning AIX System Administration on PowerVS

Section 0: IBM Cloud: PowerVS Getting Started

Starter Pack for PowerVS: create, Account, Pricing, Credit Card, first Resource (project), and first small virtual machine (VM)
Demo of your first virtual machine, console access + Internet connection
Demo with Disks, growing the root volume group disk, adding more disks finding them from AIX, moving disks between virtual machines and deleting them.
Installing AIX Open Source tools by using the “yum” command
The video refers to this webpage, which covers lots of other videos to learn AIX and lots of suggestions to follow.	PowerVS: Learning AIX Systems Administration PowerVS : learning aix system administration
Updating AIX to the latest Technology Level and Service Park by using the AIX ” suma” command

Reading: Learning AIX System Administration on PowerVS

If you bash not have your own copy of aix to memorize along, then you be in luck. in 2021, IBM cloud with information technology PowerVS service along the internet crack a aix run on office server astatine gloomy price per day. aix price originate astatine £2 GBP, $ three u dollar operating room €3 euro per day. If these price be not your local currency, then hopefully, you know deoxyadenosine monophosphate conversion rate from one of the currentness. To suffer you cursorily start, we now rich person angstrom YouTube series of video recording. This serial be five-spot television with more design and you can receive them astatine this YouTube playlist here : hypertext transfer protocol : //www.youtube.com/playlist ? list=PLKQlFnmiWVyeK1chlV8hFtHj7Y3plhW9d Section 1: Classic 101 UNIX commands
This section be to remove fear, uncertainty, and doubt ( FUD ) that aix be unix .
note :

Your general Linux command skills apply to AIX because Linux commands were written to the UNIX POSIX standard.

Linux and AIX differ mostly in the are of the Systems Management commands. Also, AIX administrator use “smitty” to speed up and accurately perform task.

If you use aix, information technology constitute compulsory to know the six editor. information technology constitute the alone editor available in the default install package .

AIX simple commands

What constitute my current directory ( booklet ) ?
pwd
list the file and directory in my current directory :
# just the names
ls

# with details:
ls -l

# In order recently used files at the bottom:
ls -ltr
remove ( edit ) a file call myfile.txt. note : The charge can never be cured .
rm myfile.txt
prove on the screen the message of file myfile.txt .
cat myfile.txt
change the permission of adenine charge to lend radius license for everyone .
chmod ugo+r myfile.txt

# ugo = User Group Owner
# + add
# r = Read permission
change the possession of vitamin a file to drug user Nigel and group staff .
chown nag:staff myfile.txt
change the current work directory to “ /tmp ” .
# Change to /tmp
cd /tmp

# Return to you default user home directory
cd

# Go to a directory in your current working directory:
cd bin

# Go to the directory above the current working directory
cd ..
make deoxyadenosine monophosphate newly directory
# The new directory will be sub_dir
mkdir sub_dir
take out ( erase ) associate in nursing empty substitute directory. warn the file be not recoverable .
rmdir sub_dir

# To the removal of a directory with files in it
rm -fr sub_dur
determine the capacity of a charge, aside use any charming phone number at the start and character count heuristic .
file myfile.txt
The Korn shell
command line interface and Korn handwriting

Processes
list your process
ps
list wholly march and more data
ps -ef
Other
grep "UNIX filesystems" myfile
Redirection
 |  > & >
export $PATH
Section 2: Exploring AIX

What be my exploiter diagnose
id
tilt the file organization with size in gigabyte
df -g
tilt all the environment variable
env
picture the aix release, technology level, and service pack plus the class ( two finger ) and week count ( two digit )
oslevel -s
The file “ /etc/environment ” arrange the environment variable for all exploiter. To switch on six edit for the Korn shell :
vi /etc/environment

# To the end of the file add
"EDITOR=/usr/bin/vi"
list log in user
who
display the content of a text file use the cat command. For example, the file “ /etc/passwd ”, which tilt all the usernames merely not password :
cat /etc/passwd
tilt the foliate space
lsps -a  
list the disk bulk group
lsvg   
tilt disk logical volume
lslv
start deoxyadenosine monophosphate procure husk communication to another computer
ssh username@hostname
Section 3: smitty
YouTube video:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MFnbAKYkisc

21 minutes
Managing a volume group and its logical volumes.
smitty lvm
Managing a journal file system type 2.
smitty jfs2
Managing users and setting their passwords.
smitty user
Managing the servers networks but don’t change you IP address on IBM Cloud PowerVS
smitty tcpip
Set tome zone, date, and time
smitty chtz_date
Section 4: Performance monitoring with

nmon

and

nmonchart
YouTubeVideos:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jH7TnnFDWVg

Series of 4

Advanced ” nmon” topics: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OrZdL7wujLo&list=PLKQlFnmiWVyc_Dsr-3JTIEuexjdpKc-Bk

In case you are also interested in ” nmon” for Linux: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=prVzcj3vXNc

Run a workload so that the performance statistics are more interesting than mostly zeros or static numbers.
For ” nmon” online monitoring, start the command:
nmon
Then type the following options
 cmdnp

# Key:
# c = CPUs
# m = memory
# d = disks
# n = network
# p = top processes
For capturing the data to the comma separated values (CSV) file every 30 seconds for 10 minutes run:
nmon -f -s30 -c 20
hostname_datetime.nmon
note approximately people simulate the commend crash merely information technology be sitting indium the back establish a a devil and finish up collect datum, even if you log out. The dominate make ampere file indiana the local directory with adenine file name inch the format. You want to wait for ten minute .
The file is a simple text file that can be edited with the command “vi”.

Download the Korn script ” nmonchart” from: http://nmon.sourceforge.net/pmwiki.php?n=Site.Nmonchart
Assuming your file is called ” blue_210621_1237.nmon” us the ” nmonchart” Korn shell script to generate graphs with:
nmonchart blue210621_1237.nmon
Then view the resulting file “blue_210621_1237.html” with a web browser.
Section 5: Update AIX

YouTube video:

From the AIX on PowerVS services video 6: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WXad6zHwD3Y
Preview mode to check for problems and perform the upgrade.

Check the result was OK.

Restart AIX
oslevel -s
lslpp -L
Section 6: Logical Volume Manager
YouTubevideo

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L-mKv3pzNmg

34 minutes

Manual Pages: https://dichvusuachua24h.com/docs/en/aix/7.2?topic=management-logical-volume-manager

“LVM Troubleshooting” Redbooks: http://www.redbooks.ibm.com/redbooks/pdfs/sg245433.pdf
example practice :
lsvg           # list the VG names
lsvg rootvg       # list the VG specification options
lsvg -l rootvg # list of logical volumes within rootvg

# Other Volume Group commands:
mkvg
lsvg 
chvg
exportvg 
importvg
extendvg
reducevg 
varyoffvg
varyonvg
syncvg
savevg
restorevg
volume group :
lslv     lvname	details of a LV
 lslv -l  lvname	list PV of the LV
 lslv -p lvname	list PP in this LV
 lslv -m lvname	show LV mirroring	
 
# List all LVs
for vg in $(lsvg)
do
    echo -- -- $vg
    lsvg -l $vg
done

# Other Logical Volumes commands:
mklv
lslv
chlv
rmlv 
mklvcopy
cplv
extendlv  
coherent volume :
lspv			list all PV & their VGs
 lspv      hdiskN	details of a PV
 lspv -l   hdiskN	list LV in the PV
 lspv -p hdiskN	list PP in this PV

# Other Physical Volumes commands:
cfgmgr (find new disks) 
rmdev
lspv
chpv
migratepv
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physical bulk :
LVM Life cycle
AIX LVM Rules :

Make rootvg small and separate

Get every disk working for high performance

Don’t let a disk failure stop your system

Monitor your AIX error logs for disk problems

Don’t Meddle

If you need help Call AIX Support

Read and practice on a test system (No testing in production (tipping))

Skill up so in a crisis you don’t panic and make it worse

Section 7: Journaling File Systems (JFS2)
YouTubevideo

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QqocZ0PrxEA

19 minutes

You can use “smitty jfs2” for managing file systems.

Many system administrators use the underlying commands for common tasks like growing and shrinking file systems.
List the online file systems:
df -g

# -g so the results are in Gigabytes
# -m for megabytes

# To see the file system attributes use:
lsfs

# To see the current file system mount points:
mount
Create a JFS2 in a new logical volume and mount it
crfs -v jfs2 -g scratchvg  -a size=42G -m /temp -A yes -p rw

mount /temp

# The filesystem details are in the text file /etc/filesystems
Create a JFS in a previously created logical volume called “mylv”
crfs -v jfs2 -d mylv -m /temp -A yes -p rw
Grow & shrink JFS2
Change size:
 chfs -a size=+8G /temp # add 8 GB          
 chfs -a size=-2G /	# remove 2 GB
 chfs -a size=50G	# change size to 50 GB
Section 8: AIX Tuning with the ‘O’ Commands
YouTube video:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KigHoJjbKQs

13 minutes

Excellent “out of the box” settings for most AIX servers.

The ‘O’ commands optional parameter setting commands for AIX subsystems named:

” asoo” Active System Optimizer options

” ioo” Input Output options

” lvmo” Logical Volume Manager options

” nfso” Network File System options

” no” Network options

” raso” Reliability, Availability, and Serviceability options

” schedo” Process Scheduler options

” vmo” Virtual Memory options

The command reports the parameter settings is a common report format:

Name of the tuning option.

Current value.

Default value.

Boot value after next reboot.

Minimum is the lowest valid value.

Maximum is the highest valid value.

Units the measurement value sizes.
Example
$ no -h
Usage:  no -h [tunable] | {[-F] -L [tunable]}
        no [-p|-r] [-y] (-D | ({-d tunable} {-o tunable=value}))
  -h                      Display help about the command and its arguments
  -h tunable       Display help about a tunable
  -L [tunable]     List info about one or all tunables in a table
  -x [tunable]     List info about one or all tunables in CSV
  -a                    Display value for all tunables, one per line
  -F                    Force display of restricted tunables  -a/-L/-x
  -o tunable       Display current value of a tunable
  -o tunable=value Set tunable to value
  -D                   Reset all tunables to their default values
  -d tunable       Reset tunable to its default value
  -r                    Make change(s) (-D/-d/-o) to nextboot value
  -p                   Make change(s) (-D/-d/-o)  permanent (current + nextboot)
  -y                    Suppress prompt before executing bosboot
Section 9: Active Memory Expansion (AME)

WARNING: Active Memory Expansion requires an HMC setting (which is not currently possible with PowerVS).

YouTubevideo:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XtWxC5IJWKg

9 minutes

To see the benefits of AME the system must have many processes running by using memory otherwise AME is not needed.

Run workload that heavily uses a large proportion of memory so the free space is low or even some memory paging.

Run the command “amepat” to generate a report of the AME effect on higher CPU use and higher effective memory.

Section 10: “AIX Open Source Tools” and “yum”
YouTube video:

From the AIX on PowerVS services video 4: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LzVCQCo7kMU

Alternative longer YouTube video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tPTXXnYLb-w

Example commands
#get the help info for yum
yum

# Update all the already installed package to the latest version
yum update

# Looking for a package by name
yum list python3*

# Looking for a package using a string
yum search get

# Find details of a package
yum info python3

# install and automatically add pre-reqs
yum install python3.ppc

rpm -qa
Can’t cover all packages wget, C, Python3, Go, Apache, and PostgreSQL
Section 11: Roll-Based Access Control (RBAC)

YouTube video:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CvylFrQX93U

AIX, like all UNIX based operating systems, has the all powerful superuser called “root”. If you want less important function available for non-root users, then that is a problem. Some examples are a user that can control printers but no other “root” user functions. Or a user that is allowed to mount and unmount particular file systems. It is this class of problem that is addressed by Roll-based Access Control.

The RBAC feature allows fine grain access to a matrix of commands and resources to specific users or user groups.

Section 12: Workload Partitions

YouTube video playlist:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=osoG3CsfDjk

workload partition manual of arms foliate

https://dichvusuachua24h.com/docs/en/aix/7.1?topic=workload-partitions-aix

Covering versioned, system and application workload partition types.

Also, configuring and managing workload partition with advanced topics.

Sections 13: AIX System Hardening with aixpert

YouTube video:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L1MmuZOntxI

Manual page https://dichvusuachua24h.com/docs/en/aix/7.2?topic=aixpert-command

Warning: If the root password is old (not changed for week) and you go for the “high security” setting, then you can permanently lock yourself out of the root user.

The PowerSC offering gives the systems administrator a GUI for editing setting and mass roll-out for 100’s of AIX servers and automated audits.

Section 14: Performance monitoring with

njmon

YouTube video playlist:

https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLKQlFnmiWVydb5QdX2wz9iRfJkuuB2ec1

From the developer behind ” nmon”

No more ” .nmon” files as the performance statistics are saved to a Time-Series Database like InfluxDB or also elastic, Prometheus, or Splunk

The Grafana is used to draw the graphs, which can handle all four databases.

More details are here http://nmon.sourceforge.net/pmwiki.php?n=Site.Njmon

Section 15: Network Installation Manager (NIM)

The NIM Redbooks: https://www.redbooks.ibm.com/redbooks/pdfs/sg247296.pdf

Installing AIX over a network by using a NIM server. The NIM server is running AIX and responds to ” bootp” and ” tftp” requests from a booting LPAR (VM) to mount the AIX installation media to allow the AIX installation.

There are many web articles on NIM.

NIM can be managed by using commands or by using “smitty”.

Section 16: AIX Live Update (LU)

Live Update is a feature in AIX 7.2 and higher release.

Previously call Live Kernel Update (LKU) but now covers more than the AIX Kernel

Note Live Update is an advanced function for experience AIX system administrators and is aware of the prerequisites.

YouTube video:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N_KczipJ04w

For more data

AIX Enhancements and Modernization

Red

books

new in 2020 in total 220 page. For LKU, see chapter 1.1 & 1.5 about eleven page

hypertext transfer protocol : //www.redbooks.ibm.com/redbooks/pdfs/sg248453.pdf

Example of use:
# Edit the details into this file: 
vi /var/adm/ras/liveupdate/lvupdate.data 

# Set the authorisation for HMC access
hmcauth -u hscroot -a hmc_name 

# Start the Update
geninstall -k [-p] [-Y] [-D] [ -d  ]
                [ -f  |  | all | update_all ]
Other possible topics:

PowerHA

XIVE

Flash Cache

GZIP on the POWER9 processor

Dynamic LPAR

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