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DEVOPS - QEMU


QEMU - AIX on x86

QEMU (Quick EMUlator) is a machine emulator program, which is capable to create VMs with different processor architectures. For example if we want to test a Solaris (with RISC processor) or an HP-UX (with HPPA) or an AIX (with Power processor) QEMU can emulate that processor type and run the specified OS on that. So on Windows or Linux (on x86) with QEMU we can run AIX.

After installing QEMU, we can use a command to create an empty virtual disk and after a VM (with specified RAM and additional devices). If we use an AIX DVD during the boot, AIX will be installed there. (After installation not all AIX commands are available but many things still possible to do.)

Without any prior experience in QEMU, I used these 2 sources:
https://astr0baby.wordpress.com/2018/11/04/running-aix-7-2-tl3sp1-on-x86_64-via-qemu-system-ppc64/
http://gibsonnet.net/blog/cgaix/resource/AIX_QEMU_blog.pdf

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

AIX on Linux

Very important: be patient during this process, things can be (very) slow sometimes.

On Windows I installed VirtualBox and I created a Linux VM (CentOS 8). The plan was that on this linux VM in VirtualBox I will create an AIX VM using QEMU. After CentOS 8 installation completed, I configured network, so I could ssh to my linux server and do these steps:

0. Download AIX DVD 
From IBM ESS site download AIX DVD. I used 7.1 TL5 SP5, DVD1 is enough (710505.iso). Copy  to any directory, I used /root/aix.

1. Install Qemu
I could not find latest qemu package on linux (only version 2 was available, but that did not support latest Power systems), so it had to be compiled from source code:
(I had to install git and other missing things like glib-devel ...)
# git clone git://git.qemu.org/qemu.git   <--it downloads latest source code (automatically creates a qemu dir where I start command)
# cd qemu                                 <--go to qemu dir which was created by git
# mkdir build; cd build                   <--create a build directory and go there
# ../configure                            <--checks if all requirements are OK
# make                                    <--this compiles the source code (it can take long)
# make install                            <--it installs compiled software
# qemu-system-ppc64 --version             <--check if it works correctly
QEMU emulator version 4.2.50 (v4.2.0-2665-g3d0ac34603)
Copyright (c) 2003-2019 Fabrice Bellard and the QEMU Project developers

2. Create a disk file
Go to the AIX DVD dir and create a disk which will be used by AIX
# qemu-img create -f qcow2 hdisk0.qcow2 20G
It will create an empty 20GB qcow2 disk image file, but its initial size is very small, as it is a sparse file. (So we have AIX DVD and this image file in our dir)

3. Create an AIX VM
This command will create an AIX VM with specified settings and boot it from DVD:
# qemu-system-ppc64 -cpu POWER8 -machine pseries -m 2048 -serial stdio -drive file=hdisk0.qcow2,if=none,id=drive-virtio-disk0 -device virtio-scsi-pci,id=scsi -device scsi-hd,drive=drive-virtio-disk0 -cdrom 710505.iso -prom-env "boot-command=boot cdrom:"

Parameters used:
-cpu: processor type, here POWER8
-machine: machine type, here pseries
-m: memory size, here 2GB
-serial: redirects serial output to specified device
-drive: the disk file we created before
-device: virtio-scsi-pci (not fully sure, but maybe this will create a virt. eth. adapter device)
-device: scs-hd (probably this will create hdisk device)
-cdrom: this is our downloaded AIX DVD which will be used during boot
-prom-env: sets NVRAM variable for PPC and SPARC servers, here a boot-command is used, which points to cdrom (DVD)


AIX boot will take several minutes, sometimes output can hang for 3-5 minutes. If everything is fine, the usual AIX install menu will apper (choose console and english language and default settings during install). The install will take about 2 hours, and disk file size will grow to 2.3GB. The installation process tries to restart AIX automatically after the install completed, but it was hanging, so after some time I did CTRL-C.

4. Fix fsck64 issue in Maintenance mode
fsck fails during boot and boot will hang. A workaround to this issue is to overwrite fsck64 file with exit 0. Boot our new AIX to maintenance moe:
# qemu-system-ppc64 -cpu POWER8 -machine pseries -m 2048 -serial stdio -drive file=hdisk0.qcow2,if=none,id=drive-virtio-disk0 -device virtio-scsi-pci,id=scsi -device scsi-hd,drive=drive-virtio-disk0 -cdrom 710505.iso -prom-env "boot-command=boot cdrom:"

When the "Welcome to Base Operating System" menu appears:  choose 3 (Start Maintenance Mode) --> 1 (Access a Root VG) -->  0 Continue  --> 1 (VG on hdisk0) --> 1 (Access this VG and start a shell). 

After that we will get a prompt with an environment where filesystems are already mounted:
# cd /sbin/helpers/jfs2    <--go to this location
# > fsck64                 <--delete content of that file
# vi fsck64                <--vi and insert these 2 lines. File is readonly, so save and quit with :w! and :q
#!/bin/ksh
exit 0

# cat fsck64               <--it should contain 2 lines (#!/bin/ksh and exit 0)
# sync ; sync              <--write cached memory to disk
# halt                     <--halt AIX


5. Boot from disk
This is the first time AIX will be booted from disk:
# qemu-system-ppc64 -cpu POWER8 -machine pseries -m 2048 -serial stdio -drive file=hdisk0.qcow2,if=none,id=drive-virtio-disk0 -device virtio-scsi-pci,id=scsi -device scsi-hd,drive=drive-virtio-disk0 -cdrom 710505.iso -prom-env "boot-command=boot disk:"

This boot will take much longer (about 5-10 minutes) as some daemons will fail and it will hang at NFS part until timeout, but we will get a prompt. After that some services will be disabled (so next boots will be faster) and installed ssh from DVD.
Disabling services in inittab:
# rmitab rcnfs
# rmitab cron
# rmitab piobe
# rmitab qdaemon
# rmitab writesrv
# rmitab naudio2
# rmitab naudio
# rmitab aso
# rmitab clcomd
# chrctcp -S -d tftpd

Install ssh and change root pw:
# chfs -a size=+200M /home
# mount -v cdrfs -o ro /dev/cd0 /mnt
# mkdir /home/ssh; cd /mnt/installp/ppc; cp openssh.base openssh.license openssh.man.en_US openssh.msg.en_US /home/ssh; umount /mnt
# cd /home/ssh; installp -acXY -d . all
# passwd root
# halt

After that booting up from disk should be faster.

6. Network setup
I wanted to use ssh on AIX, so network setup was needed. (When I worked in qemu terminal and I did ctrl-c, the whole qemu session (process) was stopped, so I had to boot again the VM, that was another reason to use ssh sessions.) Without knowing linux network virtualization techniques, it was not easy, but found this site, which worked: http://hostrepo.com/article.php?id=193. Basically a network bridge was needed, so network communication could be possible between my Linux and AIX VM. On Linux this network bridge function can be achieved by a TAP (Terminal Access Point) device and with ARP proxy. The following steps are needed each time after Linux is restarted, so these can be put in a script as well. (There are lots of internet sites which shows different other methods.)

current IP on Linux: 10.0.2.15 (enp0s3)
planned IP on AIX: 10.0.2.16 (en0)

On the Linux VM:
# ip tuntap add tap0 mode tap                      <--create tap0 interface ('ifconfig' will not show it, 'ip a' shows state is DOWN)
# ip link set tap0 up                              <--bring up tap0 ineterface ('ifconfig' will show tap0 state is UP)
# echo 1 > /proc/sys/net/ipv4/conf/tap0/proxy_arp  <--enable proxy arp on tap0 (empty file was already there)
# ip route add 10.0.2.16 dev tap0                  <--setup routing for 10.0.2.16 (AIX IP) on tap0 device ('ip route' shows new route)
# arp -Ds 10.0.2.16 enp0s3 pub                     <--broadcast ARP for AIX IP ('yum install net-tools' was needed for arp, netstat commands)

Boot up AIX using tap0 device:
# cd /root/aix
# qemu-system-ppc64 -cpu POWER8 -machine pseries -m 2048 -serial stdio -drive file=hdisk0.qcow2,if=none,id=drive-virtio-disk0 -device virtio-scsi-pci,id=scsi -device scsi-hd,drive=drive-virtio-disk0 -cdrom 710505.iso -prom-env "boot-command=boot disk:" -net nic,macaddr=56:44:45:30:31:32 -net tap,script=no,ifname=tap0

Then on AIX:
# chdev -l en0 -a netaddr=10.0.2.16 -a netmask=255.255.255.0 -a state=up

After that ping and ssh is possible to AIX. AIX IP configuration will survive restarts, but Linux steps are needed each time after Linux VM is rebooted. In future if we want to start AIX in the background without a console this can be used:
# qemu-system-ppc64 -cpu POWER8 -machine pseries -m 2048 -drive file=hdisk0.qcow2,if=none,id=drive-virtio-disk0 -device virtio-scsi-pci,id=scsi -device scsi-hd,drive=drive-virtio-disk0 -cdrom 710505.iso -prom-env "boot-command=boot disk:" -net nic,macaddr=56:44:45:30:31:32 -net tap,script=no,ifname=tap0 -daemonize

(logout from session, after AIX shutdown is possible using "~~.", same as in HMC console)

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

AIX on Windows

It is possible to do the same steps (as above) directly on Windows without VirtualBox and a Linux VM. The only difference is that we need to give qemu commands in command prompt (cmd) or in a terminal emulator (like MobaXterm). With these terminals on Windows there could be character problems.

We need to install latest Qemu on Windows: https://www.qemu.org/download/#windows. After install completed, above steps can be  followed, with slight modification in qemu commands:

Create a disk file: 
"C:\Program Files\qemu\qemu-img.exe" create -f qcow2 hdisk0.qcow2 20G

Boot an AIX VM and install AIX from DVD:
"C:\Program Files\qemu\qemu-system-ppc64.exe" -cpu POWER8 -machine pseries -m 2048 -serial stdio -drive file=hdisk0.qcow2,if=none,id=drive-virtio-disk0 -device virtio-scsi-pci,id=scsi -device scsi-hd,drive=drive-virtio-disk0 -cdrom 710505.iso -prom-env "boot-command=dev / 0 0 s\" ibm,aix-diagnostics\" property boot cdrom:\ppc\chrp\bootfile.exe -s verbose" -display vnc=:1

Boot our newly installed VM into Maintenance Mode and fix fsck64:
"C:\Program Files\qemu\qemu-system-ppc64.exe" -cpu POWER8 -machine pseries -m 2048 -serial stdio -drive file=hdisk0.qcow2,if=none,id=drive-virtio-disk0 -device virtio-scsi-pci,id=scsi -device scsi-hd,drive=drive-virtio-disk0 -cdrom 710505.iso -prom-env "boot-command=boot cdrom:" -display vnc=:1

Boot AIX from disk:
"C:\Program Files\qemu\qemu-system-ppc64.exe" -cpu POWER8 -machine pseries -m 2048 -serial stdio -drive file=hdisk0.qcow2,if=none,id=drive-virtio-disk0 -device virtio-scsi-pci,id=scsi -device scsi-hd,drive=drive-virtio-disk0 -cdrom 710505.iso -prom-env "boot-command=boot disk:" -display vnc=:1

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

54 comments:

Zeinab said...

Awesome post. Complicated set-up. Congratulations and many thanks!

aix said...

thx :)

Anonymous said...

I am currently using Windows 10.
Based on my explanation, we are successful in installing aix7.1 in qemu. By the way, installation takes a long time, is it supposed to be like that?


Since he is Korean, there is a possibility of misunderstanding the conversation by using a translator.

aix said...

Yes installation takes a long time, I think with QEMU it is normal.

moonrainbow1945 said...

qemu-system-ppc64 -cpu POWER8 \
> -machine pseries \
> -m 2048 \
> -serial stdio \
> -drive file = hdisk0.qcow2, if = no, id = drive-virtio-disk0 \
> -device virtio-scsi-pci, id = scsi \
> -device scsi-hd, drive = drive-virtio-disk0 \
> -cdrom aix7.2.iso -prom-env "boot-command = boot cdrom :"
qemu-system-ppc64: -drive file: Could not open 'on': No such file or directory


I am testing on qemu 5.1.0 version.
When I type the command as above after creating disk, a message saying that on could not be found appears. The AIX CD is 7.2.

gangadhar said...

where can i get image for AIX

aix said...

Unfortunately I don't know the answer, but I would try with 4GB memory, and in my example I used if=none and maybe if possible with AIX 7.1 (if I remember right I had also some issue with 7.2)

aix said...

Hi, it is not opensource, so my official answer is, that you need to get in contact with IBM.

Anonymous said...

got a question please . i get a keymap error for "en-us" when -display vnc=:1 is set any idea howto resolve it ! Thanks !

aix said...

Probably you can try to change keyboard layout on your windows to en-us, but it is just a guess.

Riyadh S said...

Thanks for your detailed steps. While trying to run the commands I get the below error.

Attempting to configure device 'sys0'
Time: 0 LEDS: 0x811
Invoking /usr/lib/methods/cfgsys_chrp -1 -l sys0
exec(/bin/sh,-c,/usr/lib/methods/cfgsys_chrp -1 -l sys0){1310762,1245234}
Number of running methods: 1
exec(/usr/lib/methods/cfgsys_chrp,-1,-l,sys0){1310762,1245234}
LED{A20}
Illegal Trap Instruction Interrupt in Kernel
058C1ACC tweqi r0,0 r0=0
KDB(0)>

Could you please help me to proceed further. I am using Aix 7.1.

aix said...

Hi please check this link, it may help: https://bugs.launchpad.net/qemu/+bug/1846816

aix said...

... or try with a newer AIX image: https://www.ibm.com/support/pages/lpar-wont-boot-power-8-machine

Unknown said...

Hi,how can make the aix on windows to be ssh?

aix said...

Hi, no idea (probably something similar which is described in step 6 for linux).

On the sky said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
Anonymous said...

Hi,
I am installing it on my CentOS VM and everything is fine, but I need the AIX to be able to connect with other VMs.
For example :
CentOS IP: 10.0.0.2
AIX on CentOS IP: 10.0.0.3
otherVM IP: 10.0.0.4

My other WM is not able to conect with AIX, only with CentOS.

May you help me please?

On the sky said...

Just follow the tutorial. I could access other VM in the same subnet but I couldn't goto the internet. Ping 8.8.8.8 was okay.
AIX IP:192.166.1.20
Host IP:192.168.1.29

Modem router: 192.168.1.1

Anyone can help me?

On the sky said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
On the sky said...

Now I could connect to the internet by mixing the tutorial network script and some from my searching.
#!/bin/sh -v


ip tuntap add tap0 mode tap
ip link set tap0 up
echo 1 > /proc/sys/net/ipv4/conf/tap0/proxy_arp
ip route add 192.168.1.20 dev tap0
arp -Ds 192.168.1.20 ens192 pub
echo 1 > /proc/sys/net/ipv4/ip_forward
iptables -t nat -A POSTROUTING -o ens192 -j MASQUERADE
iptables -I FORWARD 1 -i tap0 -j ACCEPT
iptables -I FORWARD 1 -o tap0 -m state --state RELATED,ESTABLISHED -j ACCEPT

aix said...

Hi On the sky, I really appreciate that you are sharing your great solution. Thx!

subbu said...

pls explain me

Unknown said...

Hi, I'm trying to boot with two hard drives but without success, is there anyone who knows if it's possible ?
Thank you.

Unknown said...

很棒的网站,干净整洁,非常专业!

Weizhong Gong said...

When I tried to create an AIX 6.1 or AIX 7.1 qemu with latest qemu version, both hung at "Welcome to AIX" stage.

Weizhong Gong said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
Weizhong Gong said...

Found on the terminal window,
AIX Version 6.1
Illegal Trap Instruction Interrupt in Kernel
041E1AB4 tweqi r0,0 r0=0
KDB(0)>

same for AIX 7.1

Weizhong Gong said...

Also QEMU emulator version 4.1.1 (qemu-4.1.1-1.fc31), and QEMU emulator version 6.0.93 gave same result.

aix said...

There are some hits in Google for Illegal Trap..., which says that you need an updated AIX version to avoid this.

Unknown said...

I tried 7.1 and 7.2 in a CentOS 7.8 in VirtualBox, both failed with 'Illegal Trap Instruction Interrupt in Kernel', anyone built it in a Virtual Machine can share or sell? either VirtualBox or VMware are ok

Anonymous said...

Hi,
tryed with qemu 6.1.0 and AIX 7.2 TL3 (AIX_v7.2_Install_7200-03-00-1837_DVD_1_of_2_92018.iso)
but after I see the boot Message the VM stop.
I build the VM with virt-manager 3.2.0
because if I run the qemu by hand it is so slow you can see a new charter per 2 seconds

Guanghui said...

macaddr=56:44:45:30:31:32 , why specify the MACADDR ?

krasiaa123 said...

Be quite and get it from here => https://thepiratebay.org/description.php?id=6943475

LWW said...

Hello, how to config the network if the qemu hosting on a windows 10 pc

MoonLightUUmbreon said...

Apparently it was a random MAC Address, but! It worked...

Andrew Scott said...

I was able to use these network arguments to connect the VM to my existing bridge interface, allowing it to grab DHCP from my home router and interact without having to set up a tap device each time:

-net nic,macaddr= -net bridge,id=n1,br=

Andrew Scott said...

Ok, well, formatting munged up the commands. Here's the exact example, substitute your own MAC and bridge interface name for the br= option:

-net nic,macaddr=56:44:45:30:31:32 -net bridge,id=n1,br=br0

Kanishetty Venkata Siva Prasad said...

Hi, can you pls share virtual box image. I found very difficult to do above process. Thanks in advance

Kanishetty Venkata Siva Prasad said...

Hi all, if any one installed AIX on Virtual box, can you pls share the image. I am unable to install in my machine. Thanks in advance.

TT BLOGGER said...

me too. i stuck at "Illegal Trap Instruction Interrupt in Kernel". Anyone success to install AIX with qemu on windows 11? or anyone installed AIX on Virtual box, please share the VM image. Thanks in advance.

Found on the terminal window,
cfgmgr is running in phase 1
----------------
Time: 0 LEDS: 0x538
Invoking top level program -- "/etc/methods/defsys"
exec(/bin/sh,-c,/etc/methods/defsys ){1245222,1179696}
exec(/etc/methods/defsys){1245222,1179696}
exec(/bin/sh,-c,/usr/lib/methods/define_rspc -n -c sys -s node -t chrp){1310760,1245222}
exec(/usr/lib/methods/define_rspc,-n,-c,sys,-s,node,-t,chrp){1310760,1245222}
Time: 0 LEDS: 0x539
Return code = 0
***** stdout *****
sys0

*** no stderr ****
----------------
Attempting to configure device 'sys0'
Time: 0 LEDS: 0x811
Invoking /usr/lib/methods/cfgsys_chrp -1 -l sys0
exec(/bin/sh,-c,/usr/lib/methods/cfgsys_chrp -1 -l sys0){1245224,1179696}
Number of running methods: 1
exec(/usr/lib/methods/cfgsys_chrp,-1,-l,sys0){1245224,1179696}
LED{A20}
Illegal Trap Instruction Interrupt in Kernel
05861AAC tweqi r0,0 r0=0
KDB(0)>

Anonymous said...

Hi,
How to add one more disk to aix vm,

Sampath said...

Hi,
very nice explanation, i have installed it on my local machine,
here i need your suggestion how to add one more disk to that qemu machine
if i add the below line
-drive file = hdisk1.qcow2, if = no, id = drive-virtio-disk1
it show error like no bootable device found.
if it modified something like this -drive file=hdisk0.qcow2,if=none,id=drive-virtio-disk0 -drive file=hdisk1.qcow2
no another disk found after vm is up.

Mario said...

Hi, your tutorial was good! How do I use VGA as console?

Anonymous said...

I mean I don't want to serial, I wish instead to use VGA

Anonymous said...

to use serial*

Mario said...

Whoops I replied as anonymous, my bad!

Mario said...

So, I said that how do I use VGA instead of serial on console/tty?

Unknown said...

Hello sir , I have attempted to install AIX on QEMU running on Windows, but the installation process gets stuck and displays the message '♀AIX ♀Star', which repeats several times , should i wait or i need to change something please , thank you for your help

Anonymous said...

I am using qemu 6.2.0
I followed this guide until step 4. Step 4 I didnt need to execute it.
Step 5 I just used the qemu command to boot from disk.
Disabling inittab services is not mandatory, up to you.
Installing AIX thru menu you have the option to add ssh client/server.
Step 6. I didnt execute it. It is enough to activate the qemu network in virt-manager.
This creates virbr0 interface. You just need to execute ip tuntap add tap0 mode tap
and brctl addif virbr0 tap0. Then go to AIX and enable dhcp client through smitty.
You do not need to assign IP adress, will use one from the qemu network.
Finally you will get error from packages. Use the link to solve it.
https://www.ibm.com/support/pages/how-resolve-rpm-dbrunrecovery-errors
run rpm -qa to check it is solved.

Weizhong Gong said...

For the past 3 days I have been trying to setup the AIX 7.2TL3SP0 with qemu, tried qemu 8.1, 7.1 6.2 and then 5.1, but all not good, when finished installation, boot from the disk, always got led code 0554. Tried the https://www.jazakallah.info/post/how-to-install-ibm-aix-in-your-laptop gave fix, but still would get the same led code.

Weizhong Gong said...

The 0554 issue is resolved, however when the AIX7.2 is up, I tried to run ps command, it got a segmentation fault, core dump. My other progtrams got from AIX6.1 also got segmentation faults when they shouldn't be.

Weizhong Gong said...

Not sure if it's the AIX 7.2TL4SP2's problem or the qemu problem, the ps command will core dump. the bash command will hang, vmstat command will hang; our software a few commands will core dump when they are running all OK on AIX6.1 physical machine.

SM said...

This is Great!
Working from Windows 10 using QEMU 8.1.2, connected with a bridged tap device to may local lan, AIX 7.2 7200-05-06-23.
ps and vmstat working OK!

Hope to use VGA some day!!!

aix said...

Thanks for all the feedback!