xcat-core/xCAT-client/pods/man1/mknimimage.1.pod

=head1 NAME
 
B<mknimimage> - Use this xCAT command to create AIX image definitions. 

=head1 SYNOPSIS

B<mknimimage [-h | --help ]>

B<mknimimage [-V] [-f|--force] [-l location] [-s image_source] [-i current_image] [-t nimtype] [-m nimmethod] [-n mksysbnode] [-b mksysbfile] osimage_name [attr=val [attr=val ...]]>

=head1 DESCRIPTION

This command may be used to create an AIX image.  It will create both an xCAT osimage definition and the corresponding NIM resource definitions. 

This command will also install the NIM master software and configure NIM if needed.

The naming convention for the NIM SPOT resource definition is to use the same name as the xCAT osimage.  The naming convention for any other NIM resources that are create is"<osimage_name>_<resource_type>". (ex. "61image_lpp_source" )

The "-n" option can be used to create a mksysb image from an existing NIM client machine.   When creating an osimage definition you will have to specify the corresponding SPOT resource and any additional resources you need by using the "attr=val" option. You can also create the mksysb image manually using the "mksysb" command and then use the image as a source when creating the osimage definition.

To list the contents of the xCAT osimage definition use the xCAT lsdef command ("lsdef -t osimage -l -o <osimage_name>").

To change the xCAT osimage definition you can use the xCAT chdef command.

To remove an xCAT osimage definition along with the associated NIM resource definitions use the rmnimimage command.

To list a NIM resource definition use the AIX lsnim command ("lsnim -l <resource_name>").

To remove specific NIM resource definitons use the AIX nim command.

=head1 OPTIONS

=over 10

=item B<attr=val [attr=val ...]>

Specifies one or more "attribute equals value" pairs, separated by spaces. Attr=val pairs must be specified last on the command line. These are used to specify additional or different resource names to use when creating the the xCAT osimage definition. The usage is: "<nim_resource_type>=<resource_name>". (ex. "root=myrootres")

=item B<-b mksysbfile>

Used to specify the location of a mksysb image to use when defining a NIM mksysb resource.

=item B<-f|--force>

Use the force option to re-create xCAT osimage definition. This option removes the old definition before creating the new one. It does not remove any of the NIM resource definitions named in the osimage definition.  Use the rmnimimage command to remove the NIM resources associated with an xCAT osimage definition.

=item B<-h |--help>

Display usage message.

=item B<osimage_name>

The name of the xCAT osimage definition to create.  This will be used as the name of the xCAT osimage definition as well as the name of the NIM SPOT resource.

=item B<-i current_image>

The name of an existing xCAT osimage that should be copied to make a new xCAT osimage definition. The new definition will contain the same resources as the current_image except for the SPOT, which will be copied and given the new name. Only valid when defining a "diskless" or "dataless" type image.

=item B<-l location>

The directory location to use when creating new NIM resources. The default location is /install/nim.

=item B<-m nimmethod>

Used to specify the NIM installation method to use. The possible values are "rte" and "mksysb". The default is "rte".

=item B<-n mksysbnode>

The NIM client machine to use to create a mksysb image.

=item B<-s image_source>

The source of software to use when creating the new NIM lpp_source resource. This could be a source directory, (ex. /dev/cd0), or a previously defined lpp_source resource name. 

=item B<-t nimtype>

Used to specify the NIM machine type. The possible values are "standalone", "diskless" or "dataless".  The default is "standalone".

=item B<-V |--verbose>

Verbose mode.

=back

=head1 RETURN VALUE

=over 3

=item 0 

The command completed successfully.

=item 1 

An error has occurred.

=back

=head1 EXAMPLES

1) Create an osimage definition and the basic NIM resources needed to do a NIM "standalone" "rte" installation of node "node01".

B<mknimimage -s /dev/cd0 61image>

2) Create an osimage definition that includes some additional NIM resources.

B<mknimimage -s /dev/cd0 61image installp_bundle=mybndlres>

This command will create lpp_source, spot, bosinst_data, and resolve_conf resources using the source specified by the "-s" option.  The installp_bundle information will also be included in the osimage definition.  The mybndlres resource must be created before using this osimage definition to install a node.

3) Create an osimage definition that includes a mksysb image and related resources.

B<mknimimage -m mksysb -n node27 newsysb spot=myspot bosinst_data=mybdata>

This command will use node27 to create a mksysb backup image and use that to define a NIM mksysb resource. The osimage definition will contain the name of the mksysb resource as well as the spot and bosinst_data resource.

4) Create an osimage definition using a mksysb image provided on the command line.

B<mknimimage -m mksysb -b /tmp/backups/mysysbimage spot=myspot bosinst_data=mybdata>

This command defines a NIM mksysb resource using mysysbimage.   

5) Create a diskless image called 61spot using the AIX product media.

B<mknimimage -t diskless -s /dev/cd0 61spot>

6) Create a new diskless image by copying an existing image.

B<mknimimage -t diskless -i 61cosi 61cosi_updt1>

3) Create a diskless image using an existing lpp_source resource named 61cosi_lpp_source and include the /tmp & /home resources.  This assumes that the mytmp and myhome NIM resources have already been created by using NIM commands.

B<mknimimage -t diskless -s 61cosi_lpp_source 611cosi tmp=mytmp home=myhome>


=head1 FILES

/opt/xcat/bin/mknimimage

=head1 NOTES

This command is part of the xCAT software product.

=head1 SEE ALSO 

rmnimimage(1)