Three weeks ago I asked the mailing list whether other administrators
are supporting IBM AIX machines via AFS using a "package" like
distribution tool, and if so, how they do it. The response was that
because of the complexitity and lack of flexibility of IBM's distribution
tools the only practicial way to load AIX into AFS is to build
a distribution of the OS on a very big disk and then
copy it into AFS. Even though the above method works
the ODM (Object Database Manager) database files on the client
workstation will no longer be accurate (this doesn't seem to effect
the operation of the workstation) and the only way you can apply OS
patches is by patching the orginal machine and them moving
the patches to AFS. (AIX administrators in the know call the
process of appling OS patches in AIX "PTF Hell" something which
I have yet to experience... ) One respondent stated that because of the
above stated problems and the fact that disk drives have become
so cheap supporting AIX via of AFS is not cost effective and
it is better to put a 1 Gig disk on every machine and leave
the software local.
Thanks to all that responded.
-tony
Tony Knaus
ECE Facilities
Carnegie Mellon University
[EMAIL PROTECTED]
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From: Katherine Libertucci <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
Tony,
We have mostly PowerPc's and power stations here. We use a tool
called "parcel" written by someone here at RPI. We did use package for
awhile.
The way we do it here is to take a "target" system with aLOT of
disk and load all the OS.
Then we use parcel to put that into afs space and make the "piece"
files that are used to configure the machine.
The downside to this is
a) Your ODM is out of whack ( but I have not seen this cause a problem
yet ;-)
b) applying patches to the OS is a real pain, you have to go back and
apply them to the target machine and remake the whole tree in afs.
I myself am looking for a better way of doing this so if you get more
info on this I would be interested in seeing it also.
If you would like more gory detail let me know.
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From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] (Gerhard Rentschler)
Hello Tony,
we have a number of packages including AIXwindows in AFS and use them
via symbolic links from AFS to the local file system. The main problem
was to install the software into AFS. We solved the problem by
installing it locally and copying it into AFS. Then we had to provide
scripts to make the links from AFS to local. The benefit of this
procedure is disk space savings and to some degree savings in work
required. At Share Europe I submitted a requirement to IBM to provide
a installp option for installing software on file servers.
I originally considered to do the same with the operating system
itself. But for problems with odm and because the new Network
Installation Manager looks well I have postponed this effort.
Please tell me if you need more information.
Best regards
Gerhard
PS: we still run AIX 3.2.5
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From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] (Rick Cochran)
Tony,
After years of running RS6000 workstations with 99% of /usr/lpp in AFS
so as to minimize the amount of local disk necessary, I have decided
that it is _far_ more efficient to have 1GB of local disk on each
workstation.
Much of the reason for this decision involves a concept called "PTF Hell"
with which you may not be familiar yet. If that is not enough, the
dreaded eye of the all-powerful ODM should suffice.
Also, the price of disk has fallen through the floor (certainly relative
to our exalted salaries).
Trust me. It ain't worth it any more.
-Rick
