This is a short procedure how to creat an AIX DVD from a base set of 8 AIX 5.3 CD's:

1. Copy all CD's using "cp -hRp" to a directory, start with the last CD and work towards the first one. You can do this on either an AIX or a Linux system.
2. Check that <directory>/installp/ppc contails all install images.
3. If not already, remove <directory>/usr/sys/inst.images. This directory also might contain all installation images.
4. Create a link <directory>/usr/sys/inst.images pointing to <directory>/installp/ppc.
5. Find all .toc files in the directory structure and, if necessary, change all vol%# entries to vol%1 (There should be at least 2 .toc files that need these updates). You have to change vol%2 to vol%1, vol%3 to vol%1, etcetera, up till vol%8.
6. Create an ISO image with RockRidge extentions:

   # mkisofs -R -o  
   

Now you've created an ISO image that you can burn to a DVD.

Some specific information on burning this ISO image on AIX to a DVD-RAM:

Burning a DVD-RAM is somewhat more difficult than burning a CD. First, it depends if you have a slim-line DVD-RAM drive in a Power5 system or a regular DVD-RAM drive in Power4 systems (not slimline).

Use DLPAR to move the required SCSI controller to a LPAR, in order to be able to use the DVD-RAM drive.

After the DLPAR action of the required SCSI controller is complete, execute: cfgmgr.

After the configuration manager has run, you will end up with either 1 or 2 DVD drives (depending on the actual drives in the hardware frame):

# lsdev -Cc cdrom
cd0 Available 3F-09-00-0,0 SCSI DVD-RAM Drive
cd1 Available 3F-09-00-5,0 16 Bit LVD SCSI DVD-ROM Drive

As you can see, the first is the DVD-RAM, the second is a DVD-ROM. Therefor, we will use the first one (in this sample).

Place a DVD-RAM single sided 4.7 GB Type II disc (partnumber 19P0862) in the drive. DO NOT USE ANY OTHER TYPE OF DVD-RAM DISCS. OTHER TYPE OF DISCS ARE NOT SUPPORTED BY IBM.

In case you have a POWER4 system:

Be sure to use a use the case of the DVD-RAM in order to burn the DVD. DVD-RAM drives in Power4 systems will NOT burn if you removed the DVD-RAM from its case.

Also, be sure to have the latest firmware level on the DVD-RAM drive (see website http://www14.software.ibm.com/webapp/set2/firmware for the correct level of the firmware for your drive). Without this firmware level these DVD-RAM drives are unable to burn Type II DVD-RAM discs. Using lscfg -vl cd0 you can check the firmware level:

# lscfg -vl cd0
cd0  U1.9-P2-I1/Z2-A0  SCSI DVD-RAM Drive (4700 MB)
        Manufacturer................IBM
        Machine Type and Model......DVRM00203
        ROS Level and ID............A132
        Device Specific.(Z0)........058002028F000010
        Part Number.................04N5272
        EC Level....................F74471
        FRU Number..................04N5967

The firmware level of this DVD-RAM drive is "A132". This level is too low in order to be able to burn Type II discs. Check the website for the latest level. The description on this webpage on how to install the DVD-RAM firmware was found to be inaccurate.

Install firmware as follows:

Download the firmware file and place it in /tmp on the server. You will get a filename with a "rpm" extension. Run:

# rpm -ihv --ignoreos <filename>

Example:

# rpm -ihv --ignoreos /tmp/ibm-scsi-dvdram.dvrm00203-A151.rpm
ibm-scsi-dvdram.dvrm00203  #############################

(Beware of the double dash before "ignoreos"!!). This command will place the microcode in /etc/microcode.

Run:

# diag -d cd0 -c -T "download -s /etc/microcode -f"

This will install the firmware. Use the correct DVD-RAM drive (in this case cd0) to install the firmware!!

# diag -d cd0 -c -T "download -s /etc/microcode -f"
Installation of the microcode has completed successfully.
The current microcode for cd0 is IBM-DVRM00203.A151.
Please run diagnostics on the device to ensure that it is
functioning properly.

Use the following command to burn the DVD-RAM:

# /usr/sbin/burn_cd -d /dev/cd0 /install/aix53ml4dvd.iso

Burning a DVD-RAM can take a long time. Variable burn times from 1 to 7 hours were seen!!! A DVD-RAM made in a slim-line DVD drive on a Power5 system can be read in a regular DVD drive on a Power4 system, if the latest firmware is installed on the DVD drive.

On a Linux system you can use a tool like K3B to write the ISO image to a regular DVD+R disc.



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