AIX Hints & Tips

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) from the AIX User and System Administrator Courses. If you don't find it here, try the om!.uni".ai" FAQ or the om!.uni".questions FAQ. If you don't find it there !ost a question at the om!.uni".ai" ne#s$rou!, the %ek&%i!s AIX %e hni al forum, or the '((%)*.+,% Forum. Any other Forums- .et us kno#/ forums0root1$.net

AIX User Q&A

( 2 li k for more information, links #ith are outside of '((%)*.+,%)

Q: How to change the prompt? A: Add in 34(5,6.!rofile / e"!ort 7S829hostname9/'37:;< ' (don't for$et the ' =efore the 3). Q: How to activate history inline editing in the Korn shell (using vi)? A: Add in 34(5,6.!rofile/ set &o 1i (then you an use >es ?k @u!A, >es ?B @do#nA, >es ?l @ri$htA and >es ?h @leftA). Q: How to use alias in the Korn shell? A: Add in 34(5,6.kshr / alias l2'ls &l' Add in 34(5,6.!rofile/ e"!ort ,+)234(5,6.kshr Q: How to go to the previous directory (Korn shell)? A: < d & or < d C& (this is alled tilde&su=stitution, C& is re!la ed =y the 3(.;7:; 1aria=le). Q: How do I change my default print queue? A: %he .7;,S% en1ironment 1aria=le an =e set to your default !rint queue. Add in 34(5,6.!rofile/ e"!ort .7;,S%2>!rint queue name?

System Management Q&A

Q: Where do I find the latest browser version of Netscape? A: ;o#nload at AIX +ets a!e D.E has $raduated. Q: Who is in a filesystem and which proces ( I!) is using a file? A: < fuser &u >filesystem name? < fuser >filename? Q: How to get the runlevel? A: < #ho &r Q: What version of "I# is used? A: < uname &a < osle1el Q: How to view$change the bootlist? A: )ie#/ < =ootlist &om normal6ser1i e Chan$e/ 8) < =ootlist &m normal6ser1i e dE rmtE hdiskE F) < dia$ G) use the S5S menu (re=oot and F8)

Q: %o which fileset belongs a command? A: < #hi hHfileset to!as (the #hi hHfileset ommand is !art of the =os.rte.install fileset, also install =os. ontentHlist) to!as (AIX I.F.8J), t!rof, s1mon, filemon are in !erfa$ent.tools Q: Which performance commands are available ("I# &'()? A: Fileset Commands =os.a t iostat, 1mstat, sar, time" =os.rte !s, ls!s, lsattr, lsde1, ls!1, lsl1, ls1$, hde1, hl1, mk!s, h!s, mi$rate!1, reor$1$, ni e, reni e, #lmstat =os.sysm$t tra e, tr r!t, !stat =os.net. lient netstat, nfsstat, if onfi$, no, nfso =os.net.ser1er i!tra e, i!re!ort, t !dum! =os.!erf 7erforman e ;ia$noti %ool (7;%) =os.adt.!rof !rof, $rof =os.adt.sam!les 1mtune, emstat, s hedtune !erfa$ent.tools filemon, file!la e, net!mon, s1mon, t!rof, rmss, sys alls, lo kstat, fd!r, stem, =f, =fr!t, stri!nm, $enkld, $enld, $enke", to!as (monitor like for AIX I.G.GJ) =os.!erf.tools t!rof, s1mon, filemon, to!as (AIX K.8) Performance Toolbox for AIX (Licensed Program Product (LPP)) Fileset Commands !erfm$r.lo al "m!erf !erfm$r.net#ork "m!erf, hmon Tools from the eb nmon, !erf!mr, monitor, 7), "$!rof, X!rofiler Q: Where can I find nmon ? A: %he nmon (and nmon analyser) tool is hel!ful in !resentin$ all the im!ortant !erforman e tunin$ information on one s reen and dynami ally u!datin$ it. %he tool #orks on any dum= s reen, telnet session, or e1en dial&u! line. In addition, the tool is 1ery effi ient. It does not onsume many C7U y les, usually =elo# FL. (n ne#er ma hines, C7U usa$e is #ell =elo# 8L. It olle ts a lot more !erforman e information than to!as. %he nmon tool an also a!ture the same data to a te"t file for later analysis and $ra!hin$ for re!orts (s!readsheet format . s1). %he nmon tool #as de1elo!ed to su!!ort =en hmarks and !erforman e tunin$ for IM5 internal use =ut =y !o!ular demand is $i1en a#ay to deser1in$ friends. ;o#nload at htt!/66###&8EN.i=m. om6de1elo!er#orks6eser1er6arti les6analyOeHai"6. Q: Where can I find monitor for "I# ? A: 8) do#nload the monitor !ro$ram/ AIX I.G/ monitor.F.8.P.tar.Q. For other AIX 1ersions/ UC.A 7u=li ;omain Soft#are .i=rary F) un om!ress/ O at monitor.F.8.K.tar.Q R ( d 6S tar "1!f &) G) add 6usr6lo al6=in to your !ath (or 7A%4) %he ne#est 1ersion you find at htt!/66###.mesa.nl/ monitor&F.8.T. Q: Where can I find perfpmr ? A: !erf!mr is a !a ka$e for olle tin$ the data needed to analyOe a AIX !erforman e !ro=lem (isn't !art of AIX M(S). (ne of the tools in the !a ka$e is ls . %his ommand $i1es info on 7ro essor ar hite ture, 7ro essor Im!lementation, 7ro essor 1ersion, C7U lo k s!eed in 54O (a!!ro"imation), 7ro essor #idth (=its), +um=er of C7Us, Amount of usa=le real memory, ty!es and siOe of a he. ;o#nload from ft!/66ft!.soft#are.i=m. om6ai"6tools6!erftools6!erf!mr

Q: Why is the ma)imum number of *s per + for a normal +, -.-/ ? A: 8E8N is the num=er of =its !er 7) in the stale !artition =itma! #hi h is ke!t in the )*SA on all disks in a 1olume $rou!. It is used to tra k the staleness of 77's. .et's assume that it is desira=le (for effi ien y reasons) to kee! this =itma! #ithin a !a$e (IUM). 8E8N =its J P =its used for somethin$ else (-) 2 8EFI =its !er 7) 2 8FP =ytes V GF 7)s 6 )* 2 IUM. Q: Is there a way to go beyond -.-/ *s$ + ? A: < h1$ &t >fa tor? >1$name? 8E8N 77's V fa tor V <7)'s is al#ays GFK8F ma" (#hi h is the ma"imum of 77's for a standard )*). < h1$ &t I root1$ $i1es you 8E8NVI2IENI 77's67) and GF6I2P 7)'s6)*. If you #ant more disks in the )* you an make it =i$/ < h1$ &M root1$ (undo umented &*@i$anti A fla$ does the same in AIX I.G.G.) +o# you ha1e IVGFK8F 77's6)* (8FP 7)'s #ith 8E8N 77's67)), =ut it is said you #ill ha1e a lo#er !erforman e (ma!!in$ siOeW). Xou an use the &t fla$ om=ined #ith &M. Q: "nonymous ftp 0 how to change the standard welcome message? A: you an use ds! at 6usr6li=6nls6ms$63.A+*6ft!d. at to unroll the ft!. at into a ASCII ms$ file, edit the file and, then use $en at to roll it =a k u!. Q: ftp 0 how to specify local user names (for e)ample root) that cannot be used by remote 1% clients? A: %he 6et 6ft!users file ontains a list of lo al user names that the ft!d ser1er does not allo# remote F%7 lients to use. %his file an =e edited #ith the ruser ommand or usin$ smit ruser. Q: How to 2eep user*s out of the system ? A: An easy o!tion is to reate 6et 6nolo$in #ith (or #ithout) a messa$e you #ant dis!layed to all non&root users #hen they attem!t to lo$in. %he file is remo1ed on a re=oot. It !re1ents non&root users from lo$$in$ in =ut does not affe t users already lo$$ed in. 6et 6nolo$in is remo1ed automati ally after a re=oot. Q: How to install the man pages ("I# &'('3$&'('() ? A: 5an !a$es are not installed =y default.%he follo#in$ filesets from the AIX Mase ;o umentation C; must =e installed/ =os.html.enHUS.to!na1.na1i$ate & %o! .e1el +a1i$ation =os.html.enHUS.na1 & (nline +a1i$ation =os.html.enHUS. mds. mds8 & AIX Commands 'eferen e 8 =os.html.enHUS. mds. mdsF & AIX Commands 'eferen e F =os.html.enHUS. mds. mdsG & AIX Commands 'eferen e G =os.html.enHUS. mds. mdsI & AIX Commands 'eferen e I =os.html.enHUS. mds. mdsK & AIX Commands 'eferen e K =os.html.enHUS. mds. mdsN & AIX Commands 'eferen e N %he follo#in$ filesets are for AIX system alls and C li=rary fun tions/ =os.html.enHUS.te href.=ase & AIX Mase %e h 'ef =os.html.enHUS.te href. ommo & AIX Commo %e h 'ef Q: What are the dis2 space requirements for "I#? A: %ake a look in the release notes AIX )I %ake a look in the release notes AIX )K Q: How much is one %erabyte ("I#45 6173 ma)imum filesi8e)? A: 8 Uilo=yte (UM) is 8EFI =ytes (F to the 8Eth !o#er) 8 5e$a=yte (5M) is 8EFI UM is 8 EIP KDN =ytes (F to the FEth !o#er) 8 *i$a=yte (*M) is 8EFI 5M (F to the GEth !o#er)

! Terab"te (T#) is !$%& '# and ... 8 7eta=yte is 8EFI %M 8 ,"a=yte ... et 8 Qetta=yte ... 8 Xotta=yte ... Mut #e #ill ne1er need that mu h s!a e, #ill #eQ: How to determine 9 : speed in "I#? A: %here's no dire t ommand to determine C7U s!eed in AIX )I. Follo# this !ro edure In AIX )K.8 you an use the !m y les ommand (!erfa$ent.tools fileset). Xou an also use the ls ommand (isn't in the do umentation .i=rary). ls is !art of the !erf!mr !a ka$e. In AIX )K.F you an also use the !rt onf ommand. Q: What is the function of Inventory 7cout? A: In1entory S out sear hes the user's system for mi ro ode le1els and om!ares those le1els #ith an IM5 data=ase of latest le1els. :hen used #ith :e=&=ased 5i ro ode ;is o1ery Ser1i e, an html re!ort is $enerated for the user and in ludes links to the latest le1els of mi ro ode for the system (#ith the e" e!tion of S7 systems). In1entory S out $athers )ital 7rodu t Information ()7;) from the user's ma hine and, #hen used #ith :e=&=ased )7; Ca!ture Ser1i e, u!loads it to the IM5 5'7; data=ase. %his )7; is useful in determinin$ the orre t om!onents to shi! #hen a 5is ellaneous ,qui!ment S!e ifi ation (5,S) u!$rade is ordered. In1entory S out User's *uide and in1s out ommand (AIX )K). Q: How to determine if hardware is /&0bit enabled? A: Hardware bit mode: AIX )K.F/ $et onf 4A';:A',HMI%5(;, or !rt onf AIX )K.8 and AIX )I.G/ =ootinfo &y (&y fla$ is not do umented) Xou an also take a look at 5a hine %y!e 5odels if you kno# the model num=er. Kernel bit mode: AIX )K.F/ $et onf U,'+,.HMI%5(;, AIX )K.8/ =ootinfo &U AIX )I.G/ no NI&=it kernel a1aila=le ... User process bit mode: 3 file !ro$ returns/ e"e uta=le ('ISC System6NEEE) or o=Be t module not stri!!ed, or NI&=it XC(FF e"e uta=le or o=Be t module not stri!!ed Hardware, kernel, and user process relationships If the hard#are =it mode is GF&=it/ 8) NI&=it user !ro esses annot run on the GF&=it kernel F) the NI&=it kernel annot run on the GF&=it hard#are If the hard#are =it mode is NI&=it/ 8) =oth GF& and NI&=it user !ro esses an run re$ardless of the kernel ty!e F) NI&=it user !ro esses !erforman e an =e sli$htly de$raded on the GF&=it kernel G) NI&=it a!!li ation !ro$rams de1elo!ed on AIX )I.G are sour e& om!ati=le #ith AIX )K =ut not =inary& om!ati=le/ they must =e re om!iled on AIX )K. See also/ GF 1s. NI&=it kernel Q: How to configure the Info rint 3. networ2 printer? A: 8) install the info!rint FE fileset/ !rinters.i=mIGFE.rte F) install the IM5 net#ork !rinter atta hment/ !rinters.i=m+et7rinter.atta h G) sele t YAdd a 7rint QueueY in smit I) sele t the i=m+et7rinter and then 7rinter %y!e i=mIGFE (IM5 Info7rint FE)

K) sele t Y;o +(% make this system a M((%76%F%7 ser1erY N) define the 7C. K, ,mulation&queue name (as ii queue) D) define the 7ostS ri!t&queue name (!s queue) ,"am!le/ do use the 7ostS ri!t queue to !rint from +ets a!eW Q: How to setup and use the !is2 ;uota 7ystem? A: Install the fileset =os.sysm$t.quota and then read ;isk Quota Setu! Q: 9an you colori8e file listings (ls command)? A: Standard the ls ommand #on't olor do olor, =ut #ith the *+U 1ersion of ls it is !ossi=le W %he S:,"!ert ma$aOine sho#s you ho# Q: How to read$write dos formatted dis2ettes? A: Install the fileset =os.dosutil and then read ;os Files or use mtools, do#nload at Mull's .ar$e Free#are and Share#are Ar hi1e for AIX. Q: How do you use smit fast path? A: Xou an a ess S5I% tasks (in su=menu's) dire tly =y usin$ a fast !ath. ,"am!le/ smit mkuser takes you dire tly to the menu Add a User. At any menu in S5I%, you an sho# the fast !ath to that menu =y !ressin$ the FP key. .ist of all fast !aths Q: Howto create a 617 filesystem on a floppy dis2ette? A: Insert formatted flo!!y into dri1e < mkfs &) Bfs 6de16fdE < mount &o nointe$rity 6de16fdE 6mnt Q: 9reating a ram filesystem (<"= dis2) in "I# A: U! to P 'A5 disks an =e reated #ith u! to F *M memory (in K8F =yte =lo ks) allotted for ea h 'A5 disk (the siOe of a 'A5 disk annot =e han$ed after it is reated and they are !inned in memory). < mkramdisk 8NGPI (=lo ks of K8F M 2 P 5M) < ls &l 6de1 R $re! ram < mkfs &) Bfs 6de16ramdisk" < mkdir 6ramdisk" < mount &) Bfs &o nointe$rity 6de16ramdisk" 6ramdisk" #here " is the lo$i al 'A5 disk num=er. %o remo1e the 'A5 filesystem/ < unmount 6ramdisk" < rmramdisk 6de16ramdisk" Q: Is the "17 filesystem available for "I#? A: Xes, it is an (!en sour e !roBe t . Xou an find all information at (!en AFS Q: <esolving !N7 names on local host before attempting remote !N7 A: Add I7 address and host name entries in the 6et 6hosts file. Create 6et 6nets1 . onf and add in nets1 . onf/ hosts2lo al,=ind Q: "re the K!> and ,nome des2top environments available for "I# ? A: Xes, they are !art of the AIX %ool=o" for .inu" . Xou an read more on ho# to install it in the 'unnin$ .inu" A!!li ations on AIX 'ed=ook. Q: When does "I#$:ni) run out of date ? A: %he really im!ortant date for Uni" is/ 3 !erl &le '!rint s alar lo altime(E"ffffffff ?? 8)'

5on Zan 8P FE/8I/ED FEGP As you an see you #ill ha1e a FEGP !ro=lem ...%his is #hen the ,!o h (28 Zan 8TDE for Uni") timeHt 1alue (#hi h is a si$ned lon$ inte$er) o1erflo#s. Q: Is booting possible from a mirrored rootvg using 77" drives ? A: %he follo#in$ restri tions a!!ly if you #ant to =oot off of an SSA disk dri1e/ (ne of the follo#in$ ada!ters is required/ <NF8I SSA I&!ort Ada!ter (I&;) <NF8N SSA ,nhan ed I&!ort Ada!ter (I&*) <NFF8 SSA ,nhan ed I&!ort Ada!ter (I&*) <NF8D SSA 'AI; I&!ort Ada!ter (I&I) %he system annot =e =ooted off of a disk atta hed to an SSA 'AI; ada!ter, if the disk is !art of a 'AI; lo$i al unit (.U+). (nly ertain models of the 'S6NEEE family an =oot off SSA disks. 5odels of the 'S6NEEE S57 family #ith 5i ro Channel interfa e must =e at a firm#are 1ersion of AT.FG or hi$her. AIX )ersion I.8.I or hi$her is required. If mirrorin$ root1$ #ith SSA disks, ea h o!y of the =oot lo$i al 1olume must =e on a se!arate SSA loo!. An SSA loo! that has a disk #ith the =oot lo$i al 1olume on it an only =e attat hed throu$h a sin$le ada!ter on a sin$le ma hine.

.ast t#o !oints are key. If you are mirrorin$ root1$, #ith M(%4 dri1es =ein$ SSA dri1es, then you must !ut ea h dri1e in a se!arate loo! (there an =e other, non&=oot SSA dri1es in these loo!s, ho#e1er) #ith only one ada!ter atta hed. Q: Is it possible to ma2e a system bac2up with !+!0ram on ai) &'('(? A: %his do ument des ri=es #hi h !arameters ha1e to =e han$ed and #hi h soft#are is needed to make a system =a ku! on ;);&ram/ (:ord do ument). Contribution of Jurjen Jonkheer

Common Desktop Environment

(CDE) Q&A

Q: How do I get 9!> (the des2top ,:I) to read my 'profile? A: %he default !rofile file for the C;, is 34(5,6.dt!rofile (not 34(5,6.!rofile). It ontrols #hether your .!rofile is read or not. Un omment (remo1e the leadin$ '< ') the line that ontains Y;%S(U'C,7'(FI.,2trueY, then 34(5,6.!rofile #ill =e read. %he default editor for the deskto! is dt!ad, so you ha1e to add in 34(5,6.!rofile/ e"!ort ,;I%('26usr6=in61i to =e a=le to use history inline editin$. Q: How to change the greeting on the login screen of the 9!>? A: 8) ! 6usr6dt6 onfi$63.A+*6Xresour es 6et 6dt6 onfi$63.A+*6Xresour es (the ustomiOation file) F) 1i 6et 6dt6 onfi$63.A+*6Xresour es G) find the line/ WW ;tlo$inV$reetin$.la=elStrin$/ :el ome to L.o al4ostL I) remo1e omment (WW ), and u!date lo$in $reetin$ K) lo$out to test

Q: How to change the login logo of the 9!>? A: 8) do#nload the "1 !ro$ram ("1.G.8Ea.tar.Q) for your 1ersion of AIX/ UC.A 7u=li ;omain Soft#are .i=rary F) un om!ress/ O at "1.G.8Ea.tar.Q R ( d 6S tar "1!f &) G) add 6usr6lo al to your !ath (or 7A%4) I) d 6usr6dt6a!! onfi$6i ons63.A+* K) ! ;tlo$o.!m ;tlo$o.!m.or$ (to sa1e the ori$inal) N) use "1 to om!ose the ( om!any) lo$o (you an use a!ture ima$e in "1) D) sa1e ima$e in "!m format, name it ;tlo$o.!m P) lo$out to test Q: What 9!> boo2s and publications are recommended? A: See also/ C;, manuals on&line. Addison&:esley !ro1ides the follo#in$/ YUser's *uideY, 8TTK, GDE !a$es, ISM+ E&FE8&IPTK8&T YAd1an ed User's [ Sys Admin *uideY, 8TTK, GFE !a$es, ISM+ E&FE8&IPTKF&T Y7ro$rammer's (1er1ie#Y, 8TTK, 88F !a$es, ISM+ E&FE8&IPTKG&T Y7ro$rammer's *uideY, 8TTK, FEP !a$es, ISM+ E&FE8&IPTKI&T Y4el! System Author's and 7ro$rammer's *uideY, 8TTK, GFE !a$es, ISM+ E&FE8&IPTKK&T Y%ool%alk 5essa$in$ (1er1ie#Y, 8TTK, 8DN !a$es, ISM+ E&FE8&IPTKN&T Y;eskto! UornShell User's *uideY, 8TTK, 8FP !a$es, ISM+ E&FE8&IPTKD&T YA!!li ation Muilder User's *uideY, 8TTK, 8DN !a$es, ISM+ E&FE8&IPTKP&T Q: %he 9!> is not starting because the name server is not reachable A: :hen usin$ a name ser1er name resol1in$ is done =y the ;+S ser1er only (6et 6hosts is not used). Xou an resol1e ;+S names on your lo al host =efore attem!tin$ remote ;+S =y addin$ I7 address and host name entries in the 6et 6hosts file and =y reatin$ 6et 6nets1 . onf, and addin$ in nets1 . onf/ hosts2lo al,=ind