NIM - SPOT

SPOT:

Essentially the SPOT is a /usr filesystem just like the one on your NIM master. Everything that a machine requires in a /usr file system, such as the AIX kernel, executable commands, libraries, and applications are included in the SPOT. During client install client needs to run commands (mkvg, mklv..), these commands are availabe in the SPOT.

During the installation, the client machine NFS mounts this resource in order to access the code needed for the installation process. Device drivers, the BOS install program, and other necessary code needed to perform a base operating system installation are found inside the SPOT.

SPOT is responsible for
- Creating a boot image to send to the client machine over the network.
- Running the commands needed to install the NIM client.

You can think of it as having multiple "mini-systems" on your NIM master, because each SPOT is its own /usr filesystem. You can upgrade it, add fixes to it, use it to boot a client system....etc.

You can also create a SPOT from a NIM mksysb resource. This SPOT however is not as versatile as one created from an lpp_source and can not be upgraded with any fixes and can only be used with the mksysb resource it was created from.

When a SPOT is created, network boot images are constructed in the /tftpboot directory using code from the newly created SPOT. When a client performs a network boot, it uses tftp to obtain a boot image from the server. After the boot image is loaded into memory at the client, the SPOT is mounted in the client's RAM file system to provide all additional software support required to complete the operation.

root@aixnim1: / # lsnim -l spot_5300_09
spot_5300_09:
   class         = resources
   type          = spot
   plat_defined  = chrp
   Rstate        = ready for use
   prev_state    = ready for use
   location      = /nim/spot/spot_5300_09/usr    <--shows the location
   ...


operations:
    reset      = reset an object's NIM state                          
    cust       = perform software customization                       
    showres    = show contents of a resource                          
    maint      = perform software maintenance                         
    lslpp      = list LPP information about an object                 
    fix_query  = perform queries on installed fixes                   
    showlog    = display a log in the NIM environment                 
    check      = check the status of a NIM object                     
    lppchk     = verify installed filesets                            
    update_all = update all currently installed filesets              

creating a  SPOT (only the top directory should be specified, the SPOT directory will be created automatically):
nim -o define -t spot -a server=master -a location=/nim/spot -a source=5300-09-03 -a installp_flags=-aQg spot_5300-09-03

resetting a SPOT (if an operation failed, with this the resource state (Rstate) will be updated, and SPOT is ready to use):
nim -Fo reset spot_5300-09-03

preferable however to run a force check on the SPOT instead:
checking a SPOT (verifies the usability of a SPOT, and rebuild network boot image if necessary and change its state to "ready for use"):
nim -Fo check spot_5300-09-03

checking the contents of the spot (verifies that software was installed successfully on a spot resource):
nim -o lppchk -a show_progress=yes spot_5200_08

Creating a SPOT from an mksysb (created spot can be used only for this mksysb):
smitty nim_mkres -> spot -> enter the values needed (the Source of Install Image should be the mksysb)

checking if a SPOT contains a fileset:
nim -o showres 'spot_5300-11-04_bb1'  | grep bos.alt_disk_install.rte
nim -o lslpp -a filesets="bos.alt_disk_install.rte" spot_5300-11-04_bb1

checking if a SPOT contains a specific driver:
e.g. lsdev -Cc adapter displayed this driver "2514310025140100"
nim -o lslpp AIX_6100-06_SPOT |grep 2514310025140100

checking a SPOT level (similar to instfix -i | grep ML):
root@aixnim1: / # nim -o fix_query spot_5200-08 | grep ML
    All filesets for 5.2.0.0_AIX_ML were found.
    All filesets for 5200-01_AIX_ML were found.
    All filesets for 5200-02_AIX_ML were found.

update a spot with an lpp_source:
nim -o cust -a fixes=update_all -a lpp_source=5305_lpp 5305_spot

SPOT is an installed entity, like any other AIX system, so it can run into cases where it has broken filesets, broken links, or missing/corrupt files. They are also fixed in the same manner as you would on any other system:
nim -o lppchk -a lppchk_flags="v" 5305_spot    <--use the "Force Overwrite" or "Force Reinstall" options for -v errors
nim -o lppchk -a lppchk_flags="l" 5305_spot    <--using the "-ul" flags for missing links from "-l" errors
nim -o lppchk -a lppchk_flags="c" 5305_spot    <--replacing bad files for any "-c" output

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Spot creation with SMITTY:

smitty nim -> perform nim administration -> manage resources -> define a resource (spot)

  Resource Name                                      [spot_TL7_SP3]
  Resource Type                                       spot
  Server of Resource                                 [master]
  Source of Install Images                           [TL7_SP3]
  Location of Resource                               [/nim/spots]
  ...
  COMMIT software updates?                            yes

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Spot update with SMITTY:
(bos.alt_disk_install.rte fileset will be added to a spot)

smitty nim -> perform nim softw. inst. -> inst. and upd. softw. -> Inst. softw. (spot -> lpp_source)

  Installation Target                                 spot_TL7_SP3
  LPP_SOURCE                                          TL7_SP3
  Software to Install                                [+ 6.1.7.2  Alt. Disk Inst. Runt.] <--after F4 -> bos.alt_disk_install.rte with F7
  ...
  installp Flags
    COMMIT software updates?                         [yes]
    SAVE replaced files?                             [no]

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Creating a SPOT from an mksysb file:

(this SPOT is valid only for that specific LPAR, to do maintenance boot for example)

1. check mksysb level:

# lsmksysb -lf <mksysb file> | grep SERVICEPACK

(outout, likeS SERVICEPACK LEVEL: 7200-03-01-1838)

2. define mksysb resource from mksysb file

# nim -o define -t mksysb -a server=master -a location=<path to mksysb file> <mksysb resoruce name>

3. define spot from mksysb resource:

# nim -o define -t spot -a server=master -a source=<mksysb resource> -a location=<where to create the spot resource>  <spot name>

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