Creating a NIM client for an LPAR on a NIM server

Using the AIX NIM Create a Client for a Logical Partition (LPAR) on a NIM Master Server task, you can create a NIM client on a NIM server. The client that you create is associated to an operating system image on the NIM server and also with SSH bundle installation , a root user creation script resource as well . When a new client is created, the client copies the image and any required start information that is defined on the client. Later in a subsequent step, when you NetBoot the LPAR with PowerVM Netboot a Logical Partition (LPAR) task, the operating system image and OpenSSH is deployed to the LPAR at this stage. And an optional root user creation, if the user has selected to create it , the root user with the credentials provided will also be setup in the AIX® LPAR. To avoid the end user confusion, please maintain the same root user credentials for all LPARs at the pre-provisioning stage of AIX® LPAR.

Before you begin

You must activate the following analysis:
  • AIX® NIM Overview
To activate the analysis, navigate to the Domain Panel of the Server Automation domain and select Virtualization > AIX NIM > Setup and Maintenance and select AIX NIM Overview. In the Analysis: AIX NIM Overview pane, select Activate.

Procedure

  1. Open the Server Automation domain
  2. In the Domain Panel, click Virtualization > AIX NIM > NIM Operations and select the AIX NIM Create a NIM client for a Logical Partition (LPAR) on a NIM Master Server task.
  3. From the NIM Server list, select the NIM server on which you want to create a client.
  4. In the NIM Client Name field, enter a name by which you want the LPAR to be known on the NIM client server.
  5. In the LPAR Host/DNS Name field, enter a name for the new client. You can enter either a fully qualified DNS host name or a short host name.
  6. In the LPAR IP field, enter the IP address that corresponds to the DNS name, or the entry in the host file on the NIM master server.
  7. From the PowerVM OS Image Type list, select whether you want to use an LPP Source or a Mksysb image.
  8. If you selected LPP Source from the PowerVM OS Image Type list, select the LPP sources that you want to use from the LPP Source list.
  9. If you selected Mksysb, from the PowerVM OS Image Type list, select the Mksysb image that you want to use from the Mksysb list. Make sure that the image name does not exceed 34 characters. If the image name is longer than 34 characters, the Task will fail.
  10. The AIX root user section is optional. If the user wants to create a AIX® root user, they can set root user to true and provide the password as per the AIX® password policy. This sets the setting with a NIM client selected, later creates a root user during the AIX® installation with a task PowerVM Netboot LPAR. The root user creation is required, in case of fully automating the AIX® provisioning with automation plan.
  11. Click Take Action, and in the Take Action dialog box, select the NIM server on which you want to create a NIM client, and click OK.

Results

In the Action: AIX NIM Create a Client for an LPAR on a NIM server window, you can view the progress of the action. When the Status changes to Complete, the NIM client is created.