Edit: This redbook looks like it was last updated in 2013, so some of the entries have probably been changed by now. The advice about reading Redbooks and keeping informed still applies. It also speaks to the value of downloading material so that you have different versions available to you.
Originally posted September 5, 2008 on AIXchange
Do you read IBM Redbooks? Some people tell me they consult Redbooks when they’re seeking specific information, but that they’re too busy to read them from start to finish. (And since Redbooks are typically hundreds of pages in length, they aren’t generally quick reads.)
My response is that, if you look hard enough, you can find extra time for learning. For instance, do you commute on a train? That could be time spent reading. Do you watch a bunch of mindless sitcoms? Kill your television and study. Maybe there’s some other time-waster you can remove from your life? Replace that with something worthwhile. Don’t just punch the clock, or wait for a team lead or senior person to spoon-feed you what you should know.
To me, the Redbook, “PowerVM Virtualization on IBM System p: Managing and Monitoring,” published in June, contains tons of worthwhile information.
For starters:
- Setting up a firewall on your VIO server (pages 56-58)
- Setting up NTP on your VIO server (page 73)
- Setting up additional users besides padmin on your VIO server (page 77)
- Creating vio backups (page 82)
- Backing up IVM profile data using the VIO command line with
bkprofdata -o backup -f /home/padmin/profile.bak (page 84) - Different ways to use the backupios command: backupios -file /mnt/backup –mksysb (page 87
- Backing up other disk structures with savevgstruct (page 93)
- Sending error logs to another server (page 127)
- Using Linux on Power tools to dynamically move memory on a running machine (page 156)
- This statement (page 170): “There are no architected maximum distances between systems for PowerVM Live Partition Mobility. The maximum distance is dictated by the network and storage configuration used by the systems, and by the fact that both systems must be managed by the same HMC. Provided both systems are on the same network, are connected to the same shared storage, and are managed by the same HMC, PowerVM Live Partition Mobility will work. Standard long-range network and storage performance considerations apply.” That’s interesting, even if it might not yet be practical.
- The script that creates a simple report (vios_report.ksh) of all the disks on a given VIO server (page 187)
- The tip about connecting to https:/hostname:5336/ibm/console on your AIX 6 machines (page 208). You’ll get a systems director console for AIX. Take some time to try this out.
And this is just one Redbook. Take the time to read Redbooks, and any other documentation that’s applicable to your job. I can promise you’ll find information that you can use in your shop.