IBM AIX Operating System Quick Cheat sheet

AIX Cheat sheet

sysinfo

AIX
Server Release info
oslevel -r
Server type
prtconf | grep -i ‘System Model’
Hardware Info
lscfg -v

lscfg -l ent0

lscfg -vl fcs0 (find the WWN of HBA adapter)

lsdev

lsdev -Cc disk

lsdev -Cc disk -p scsi0

lsslot -c [pci|phb|port]

lsslot -c pci -l ent0

lspath -l hdisk0

diag
Operating System
oslevel [-r|-s]
Memory
prtconf -m

prtconf |grep -i memory

lsattr -El sys0 -a realmem

bootinfo -r
CPU (type, number, etc)
prtconf |grep -i processor
Disk Drives
lsdev -Cc disk

lsdev -Cc disk -p scsi0 (specific controller)

lsdev -Cc disk -S [a|d|s] (available, defined, stopped)

lscfg -v -l hdisk0
Kernel File and associated directories
/unix

/usr/lib/boot

/usr/lib/drivers

Note: /unix – symbolic link to kernel file i.e /usr/lib/boot/unix_64
Kernel 32 or 64
prtconf -k

bootinfo -K
Display Firmware
prtconf |grep -i firmware

lscfg -pv

invscout
Display IRQ, IO ports and DMA
prtconf
GUI admin tool
smit
smitty

Memory and Swap
Memory
prtconf -m

prtconf |grep -i memory

lsattr -El sys0 -a realmem

bootinfo -r
page size (memory)
pagesize

pagesize -a (display all supported pagesizes)
display swap
lsps -a (detailed)

lsps -s
adding swap
mkps -a -s 4 -n

# change the attributes

chps -a n paging00 (don’t use after restart)

# change the logical volume attributes (name in this case)

chlv -n (chang page space name)

Note:

-a reconfigure paging space after restart

-s size of the page space (logical partitions)

-n activiates the paging space (use swapoff to deactivate)

also see /etc/swapspaces file
removing swap
swapoff /dev/paging00

rmps paging00

Note: paging space must be deactiviated before removing
Disks, Filesystems and Devices
Disk Drives
lsdev -Cc disk

lsdev -Cc disk -p scsi0 (specific controller)

lsdev -Cc disk -S [a|d|s] (available, defined,stopped)

lscfg -v -l hdisk0
Disk serial Number, type, etc
lscfg -vl hdisk0

lscfg -vl hdisk*
Disk disk partitions
lsvg -l rootvg

lchangelv

cat /etc/filesystems
List Raw Partitions
Just create a new LVOL without a filesystem

# create a raw volume

mklv -y rawVolume vg01 10
Bad Blocks
chlv -b [y|n]

Note: enables bad block relocation
Filesystem commands
df -k

lsfs []

lsfs -q (detailed)
Filesystem (create|remove)
crfs -v jfs2 -d data02lv -m /data02 -A yes

-v filesystem type

-d device or logical volume

-m mountpoint

-A mount after restart [yes|no]

rmfs -ri /data02

-r remove the mountpoint

-i display warning before removing

chfs -a size=+1G /var (grow by additional 1GB)

chfs -a size=1G /var (grow to 1GB in size)
Tune Filesystems
chfs

Note: you can perform the following

resize

freeze

change mountpoint

permissions

lots more…………………………
backup filesystem
backup|restore

tar

dd

cpio
Display the boot device
bootinfo -b (display last boot device)

bootlist -m [normal|service] -o (display bootable devices)
Setting the boot device
bootlist -m normal hdisk0 hdisk1
Creating boot device (MBR)
bosboot -a (uses default device)

bosboot -ad hdisk1
mount/unmount floppy
mount /dev/rfd0 /floppy
mount/unmount CDROM
mount -v cdrfs -r /dev/cd0 /cdrom

umount /cdrom
create boot disk or recovery tape
mksysb
boot into maintenace mode
1. Restart the machine.

2. Wait the the AIX splash screen to come up. Devices begin to initialize here.

3. When you see the [keyboard] word on screen hit the F5 button or the 5 key depending on your console.

4. Choose “select boot options ” when the maintenance screen comes up, then option 1, then option 1 for scsi, then option 3 service mode boot
Device paths
floppy:

/dev/fd0

/dev/rfd0

disk:

/dev/hdisk0

cdrom:

/dev/cd0
update /dev directory
cfgmgr

cfgmgr -l scsi0

mkdev
remove or change a device
rmdev

rmdev -l cd0

chdev

chdev -l rmt0 -a ret=no
list device drivers
lsdev

lsdev -Cc disk

lsdev -Cc disk -p scsi0

lsslot -c pci -l ent0

lscfg

lscfg -l ent0

lscfg -vl fcs0 (find the WWN of HBA adapter)

lspath -l hdisk0

getconf DISK_SIZE hdisk1 (detailed)
Networking
Basic network information
stores information in the ODM (Object Database Manager)
(hostname, ip address)
displaying network interfaces
ifconfig -a

entstat -d

lsdev -Cc if

lsdev -Cc tcpip

odmget -q “name=en0” CuAt

lsattr -EHl en0
Configure network interface
mktcpip (completely setup a network interface)

rmtcpip (remove all network interfaces)

# configure an interface

mktcpip -h aix1 -a 192.168.1.200 -m 255.255.255.0 -i en1 -g 192.168.0.10

-h – hostname assigned to interface

-a – ip address

-m – netmask

-i – interface name

-g – gateway ip address

# remove an interface

ifconfig en1 detach

ifconfig (configures IP address)

chdev (add aliases to network interface)
Starting and stopping a network interface
ifconfig en0 up

ifconfig en0 down

ifconfig en0 detach (remove)
Setting NIC speed
chdev -l ent0 -a media_speed=1000_Full_Duplex -P

chdev -l ent0 -a media_speed=Auto_Negotiation -P

Note:

entX – physical device

enX – frame type run on entX
Change NIC parameters
netstat -v

entstat -d

no -a

no -o “ipforwarding=1”
Display NIC statistics
netstat -i [-f inet]

netstat -s

entstat -d
display MAC address
netstat -ia
Displaying network packets
tcpdump -i

iptrace -i

ipreport (used with iptrace to view reports)

Note: you must stop the iptrace by using “kill -15”
default router
route add 0

Note: there is no file that holds the default router
display routing table
netstat -rn

netstat -r -f inet

lsattr -EHl inet0 -a route
Test IPMP, Bonding
smitty etherchannel (creates, deletes and tests)

entstat -d ent0
change the hostname
hostname

chdev -l inet0 -a hostname=
setup DNS
/etc/resolv.conf
Name service switch file (DNS client)
/etc/netsvc.conf

/etc/resolv.conf

/etc/irs.conf (may not be there)

chnamsv (change name service)

rmnamsv (remove a name service)

lsnamsv -C (list name services)
Flush DNS cache
netcdctrl -t dns -e hosts -f
Domain Name
domainname
Obtain IP Address routing
route -n get
Find Services on the network
Boot (jumpstart) servers:

rpcinfo -b bootparam 1

NFS servers:

rpcinfo -b mountd 1

NIS servers/slaves:

rpcinfo -b ypserv 1
Crash Dump
Crash Dump
sysdumpdev -l (list dump destination)

sysdumpdev -e (estimates dumpsize)

sysdumpdev -L (info)

sysdumpstart -p (start dump primary)

sysdumpstart -s (start dump secondary)

# set the dump device permanently

sysdumpdev -p -P

# analyse dump file

echo “stat\n status\n t -m” | crash /var/adm/ras/vmcore.0

Performance Monitoring and Diagnostics
CPU
topas -P

topas -L (logical partitions)

mpstat

sar -c

w (load average)

uptime (load average)

lparstat

ps

iostat -tT 1

tprof

curt
Memory
topas

vmstat

sar -b

svmon

ps

ipcs -a

lockstat (version 4)

rmss
Network
[ent|tok|fddi|atm]stat

netstat

netpmon (trcstop to stop trace)
Disk
topas -D (disk)

topas -F (filesystem)

iostat

sar -D

fcstat (fibre)

lvmstat

filemon (trcstop to stop)

fileplace

# disk stat history

chdev -l sys0 -a iostat=true

lsattr -HEl sys0 -a iostat
Application
topas

truss

sar

probevue

tprof

svmon -P
NFS
nfsstat

Kernel Modules and Parameters
display loaded modules
genkex
set kernel parameters (tuning)
chdev -l sys0 -a =

no -a (network)

vmo -a (virtual memory)

nfso -a (NFS)

ioo -a (Input/Ouput)

raso -a (reliability, availability, serviceability)

schedo -a (processor scheduler)

vi /etc/security/limits

cd /etc/tunables

tunchange, tundefault, tunsave, tunrestore, tuncheck

Note: most parameters are dynamically changed in AIX , for example memory segments are dynamically adjusted
display kernel parameters
lsattr -EHl sys0

Note: only a few kernel parameters can be changed
build kernel
chdev -l sys0 -a =

Note: most parameters are dynamically changed in AIX , for example memory segments are dynamically adjusted
interprocess communication
ipcs -a
Services
display services
lssrc -a
start services
startsrc -s

startsrc -g
stop services
stopsrc -s

stopsrc -g
reload service
refresh -s
restart service
stopsrc -s

startsrc -s
service status
lssrc -a
service logging, etc
/var/adm/ras

/etc/syslog.conf

/etc/rc.tcpip
Patching / Software
display installed patches
instfix -ia
adding patch
instfix -k
removing patch
installp -r
display installed packages
lslpp -L all (all filesets)

lslpp -L (single fileset)

lslpp -w (file belongs)

lslpp -ha (history of filesets)

rpm -qa (all packages)

rpm -q (single package)

rpm -qf (file belongs)

rpm -qi (very detailed)

oslevel -g (install packkages above os level)

whereis

which_fileset
adding package
installp -a

installp -c (cleanup after failed install)

rpm -i

geninstall (generic installer: installp, RPM, etc)
removing packages
installp -u (commited packages)

installp -r (applied packages)

rpm -e

geninstall -u
verify package
lppchk -v

rpm -V
List files in package
lslpp -f

rpm -ql
Package directory
/usr/lpp

/var/lib/rpm
List libraries required for binary program
ldd
Accounts
display users
cat /etc/passwd

lsuser -f ALL (detailed)
create a user
mkuser

useradd
remove a user
rmuser

userdel
modify a user
chuser -a

usermod

passwd -f

passwd -s

chfn

chfn
change user password
passwd

pwdadm

pwdck -t ALL
create a group
mkgroup
remove a group
rmgroup
modify a goup
chgroup
password files
/etc/security/passwd
useful user commands
id

whoami

who

w

uptime (displays # of users logged in)

finger

# License information

lslicense

chlicense

# Maximum number of processes for a user

lsattr -D -l sys0 -a maxuproc

chdev -l sys0 -a maxuproc=
useful group commands
groups

setgroups

lsgroup ALL
NFS
NFS Daemons
server: rpc.mountd, nfsd

client: rpc.statd, rpc.lockd
NFS files
/etc/exports

/etc/xtab

List nfs clients that have a remote mount
/etc/xtab
display nfs shares
exportfs

showmount -e localhost
create nfs share
mknfsexp -d

mknfsmnt

shareall
uncreate nfs share
rmnfsexp -d (unshares and removes from file)

exportfs -u

unshareall
start/change nfs daemons
mknfs

chnfs

startsrc -s nfsd

startsrc -s rpc.mountd
stop nfs daemons
rmnfs

stopsrc -s nfsd

stopsrc -s rpc.mountd
nfs status
lssrc -a |grep -i nfs
nfs reload
exportfs -av
nfs performanace
nfsstat
nfs Options
nfso -a

nfso -o =

exportfs (display options)

NTP
Time daemons
xntpd
ntp setup
/etc/ntp.conf

startsrc -s xntpd

stopsrc -s xntpd

lslpp -L all|grep xntpd
ntp daemon options
startsrc -s xntpd -a “-x”

/etc/rc.tcpip
NTP Trace commands
ntpq -p

ntptrace

ntpdate
Log Files
messages
/var/adm/ras
syslog
/var/adm/ras
mail
/usr/spool/mqueue/syslog
cron
/var/adm/cron/log
boot
/var/adm/ras

alog -o -t boot

alog -o -t console

alog -L (list all the logs available)
Error logging
/usr/lib/errdemon -l (display attributes)

/usr/lib/errdemon (start error logging)

/usr/lib/errstop (stop error logging)

# use with above errorlog file

errpt (summary errorlog report)

errpt -a (detailed errorlog report)

errpt -j (single errorlog report)

errclear (clears errorlog)

errclear -d (clears class errors)

errlogger “message upto 230 chars”
Security
Checking the passwd file
pwdck -t ALL

usrck -t ALL
checking the group file
grpck
console login (allow/deny)
# No reboot required

/etc/security/user

chsec -f /etc/security/user -s root

Misc
startup
bootlist -m normal hdisk0 hdisk1
shutdown
shutdown -F (fast shutdown)

shutdown -Fr (fast shutdown and reboot)
init status

0
0 – reserved
1
1 – reserved
2
2 – multiuser mode with NFS
3
3 – user defined
4
4 – user defined
5
5 – user defined
6
6 – user defined

7-9 – user defined

# change default – change the initdefault line

vi /etc/inittab
startup scripts
/etc/rc.d

/etc/rc.d/init.d

/etc/rc.d/rc2.d – rc9.d

/etc/rc.* (config files for auto-starting)

also uses the System Resource Controller
Boot process
Phases:

Read Only Storage (ROS): check the system board, perform POST, locate and load boot image, begin system initialization and execute phase 1 of the /etc/rc.boot script

Base Device Configuration: start configuration manager to configue base devices

System Boot: start init process phase 2, switch to hard-disk root filesystem, start other processes defined by /etc/inittab and execute phase 3 of the /etc/rc.boot script
determine the run level
who -r
obtain default run level
/etc/inittab
list locale
locale -a
initialize system
install_assist
Timezone
/etc/environment

/etc/profile