LPP_SOURCE:

An lpp_source is a directory similar to AIX install CDs. It contains AIX Licensed Program Products (LLPs) in Backup File Format (BFF) format and RPM Package Manager (RPM) filesets that you can install.

root@aixnim1: / # lsnim -l 5300-TL_00_to_08_works
5300-TL_00_to_08_works:
   class       = resources
   type        = lpp_source
   arch        = power
   Rstate      = ready for use
   prev_state  = unavailable for use
   location    = /nim/lppsource/5300-TL_00_to_08_works
   simages     = yes                    <--yes is needed for creation of a SPOT, or for installation over the network
   ...


operations:
    showres = show contents of a resource
    lslpp   = list LPP information about an object
    check   = check the status of a NIM object
    lppmgr  = eliminate unnecessary software images in an lpp_source
    update  = add or remove software to or from an lpp_source

nim -o showres lpp5300            lists filesets in the lpp_source
nim -Fo check <lpp_source>        checks and rebuilds the .toc file, and determines if all files are included for simages=yes
nim -o remove lpp5300             removes the lpp_source object (the object definitions will be removed but the directory/filesets remain)
nim -o lppmgr <lpp_source>        removes duplicate filesets from an lpp_source
nim -o lppmgr -a lppmgr_flags=rub <lpp_source> removes (-r) all duplicate updates (-u) and duplicate base levels (-b)
nim -o update -a source=/dev/cd0 -a packages=all 5305_lpp  add software to lpp_source

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

Creating a NIM lpp_source (above 5300): Base (5300) + TL update (installable for a new system)

1. Replicating a base level lpp_source (and give the name lpp5304, what we will extend with other filesets later)
   
    using a lpp_source (lpp5300) as source:
    nim -o define -t lpp_source -a server=master -a source=lpp5300 -a location=/nim/lppsource/lpp5304 lpp5304

    using a directory (pathname) as a source:
    nim -o define -t lpp_source -a server=master -a source=/nim/lppsource/lpp5300 -a location=/nim/lppsource/lpp5304 lpp5304

    -----
    another way if we don't give the "source":
    nim -o define -t lpp_source -a server=master -a location=/nim/lpp_sources/OSFilesets/bb/DVD_1/installp/ppc 5300-08_bb
    (here the "location" already existing directory, and the filesets will not be copied to anywhere, only the nim object will be created)
    -----

2. Download a TL level and create an lpp_source from it + check (remove) duplicate filesets

    -creating an lpp_source from TL update directory
    nim -o define -t lpp_source -a server=master -a location=/nim/lppsource/530004 TL5304
   
    (it can warn us, that simages attribute can not be set, so it can not be used for BOS install (it is a TL update only), it is OK)

   
    -checking and removing duplicate filesets
    nim -o lppmgr -a lppmgr_flags=rub TL5304
    (r:remove, u:update filesets, b:base levels)

3. Updating the base level lpp_source (in point 1 named as lpp5304) with TL update lpp_source (TL5304)

    -updating base level lpp_source from a TL directory
    nim -o update -a show_progress=yes -a packages=all -a source=TL5304 lpp5304
    (source:downloaded update lpp_source; lpp5304:the base lpp_source what we wanted to update with the downloaded update lpp_source)

    -checking and removing duplicate filesets
    nim -o lppmgr TL5304

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

Creating a NIM lpp source + TL update (with SMITTY)

(An lpp_source from TL6 SP6 DVD image will be updated by TL7 SP3 filesets downloaded from FixCentral)

1. I copied 2 AIX DVDs into 1 directory:
  cp -prh /iso/installp/ppc/* /nim/lppsource/TL6_SP6_base
  (for both DVDs)

2. lpp_source creation
  smitty nim -> nim administration -> manage resouces -> define a resource (lpp_source)

  Resource Name                                       [TL6_SP6_base]
  Resource Type                                       lpp_source
  Server of Resource                                  [master]
  Location of Resource                                [/nim/lppsource/TL6_SP6_base]

  then it showed this:
  ...
  Now checking for missing install images...
  All required install images have been found. This lpp_source is now ready.

  (if lpp_source will be used for install, simages must be on yes, check with lsnim -l <lpp_source>


3. Checking if there are duplicate filesets (no language filesets were removed)
  smitty nim -> nim administration -> manage resouces -> perform operations (lpp_source name -> lppmgr)

  TARGET lpp_source                                   TL6_SP6_base
  PREVIEW only? (remove operation will NOT occur)     yes
  REMOVE DUPLICATE software                           yes
  REMOVE SUPERSEDED updates                           yes
  REMOVE LANGUAGE software                            no
      PRESERVE language                               [C]
  REMOVE NON-SIMAGES software                         no
  SAVE removed files                                  no
      DIRECTORY for storing saved files               []
  EXTEND file systems if space needed?                yes


4. Downloaded from FixCentral and then copied TL update filesets to NIM
  (It was TL7 SP3)

5. Create lpp_source from TL update direcory
  Resource Name                                       [TL7_SP3_update]
  Resource Type                                       lpp_source
  Server of Resource                                  [master]
  Location of Resource                                [/nim/lppsource/TL7_SP3_update]

  then it showed this:
  warning: 0042-267 c_mk_lpp_source: The defined lpp_source does not have the
        "simages" attribute because one or more of the following packages are missing:
                bos
                bos.net
                bos.diag
                ...
  (it is OK, we do not need simages=yes, because it is only a TL update lpp_source not a base install)
  (removed duplicate (superseded) as in step 3)


6. Update TL6_SP6_base with TL7_SP3_update
  smitty nim -> nim administration -> manage resouces -> perform operations (base what we want tu update -> update

  TARGET lpp_source                                   TL6_SP6_base
  SOURCE of Software to Add                           TL7_SP3_update
  SOFTWARE Packages to Add                            [all]
                                                                         
  After this TL6_SP6_base was renamed, because it contains now everything.
  I did the following:
   - I copied the content of TL6_SP6_base to a new directory (TL7_SP3_all)
   - created a new lpp_source from directory TL7_SP3_all
   - removed TL6_SP6_base