Search results for: “Glenn Robinson VIOS”
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Tech tip: populating the VIOS Virtual Media Repository
One of the most useful features of VIOS is the Virtual Media Repository (VMR). This allows us to create and import ISO images and then map these to virtual DVD drives on our client LPARs. Most customers will use the VMR to store their IBM i and/or AIX install media and PTFs. Many AIX sites…
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VIOS: How to create multiple virtual disks in a Shared Storage Pool
I recently installed a Power8 system with VIOS 2.2.3.4 and used this opportunity to configure a Shared Storage Pool (SSP) cluster. I needed to allocate around 34TB of storage space across 2 x IBM i LPARs which necessitated me creating 245 x 140GB virtual disks. While the simple option is to use the HMC GUI…
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Masterclass: how to monitor VIOS vSCSI disk performance
In my previous article I showed how you can use nmon in VIOS to display the performance statistics of hdisks that are mapped to client LPARs. This is achieved by creating a file which nmon reads and then displays the relevant performance data. Let’s look at a script I created to automatically generate the file…
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Ansible AIX Introduction
In previous articles I dabbled with IBM’s Ansible modules for IBM i. Whilst I will definitely be using those in the future I thought I’d take a look at the Ansible modules for AIX too. There are fewer AIX modules than IBM i at present and many of these are NIM related. Whilst most AIX…
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Opinion: An AIX guy finds his inner i
In my experience, most IBM Power shops are either AIX or IBM i, but rarely both. As a predominantly AIX type, I have admired the enthusiasm of the IBM i people I’ve run across, but I’ve really had very little crossover in terms of common projects. Until pretty recently, that is. What brought this hardened…
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Are you using the correct disk driver for your Storwize storage?
With so many customers now using Storwize and SVC storage in their Power environment with VIOS, it is important that we get the configuration of the system correct and supported. In the last few months, I have been involved with customers who already have their Power and Storwize systems up and running. Something I’ve found…
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UK conference expands agenda
i-UG is gearing up for its strongest-ever conference in terms of technical education with an expanded agenda of workshops. The UK IBM i user group hits Wyboston Lakes, Bedfordshire, for International i-Power 2015 on September 9 and 10. PowerWire Europe is media sponsor. The first day of the Common Europe-affiliated organisation’s event will feature six…
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IBM i tech refresh gets thumbs-up
It was technical refresh time for our favourite operating system last week when Big Blue released IBM i 7.2 TR 2 and IBM i 7.1 TR 10. Key announcements included the introduction of the Python programming language, the availability of Java 8 and the introduction of JSON Store to DB2 (you can read IBM’s full…
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i-UG announces International i-Power dates
UK Power i user group i-UG has announced the dates of its biggest conference of the year. International i-Power 2015 will take place at the Wyboston Lakes Executive Centre (pictured) in Wyboston, Bedfordshire, on September 9 and 10. PowerWire is media sponsor. Before that, on Tuesday May 19, i-UG will convene at major Power Systems…
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How to use the SVC/Storwize CLI
Over the last five years, I have worked with both SVC and the Storwize Vxxxx family of products with IBM i and AIX on Power Systems. SVC and Storwize share the same software stack and GUI. There are some functions which are only available in SVC but, predominantly, the configuration and management is the same.…
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Masterclass: advanced vSCSI disk monitoring (includes scripts)
In my previous article, I showed how you can use nmon in VIOS to display the performance statistics of hdisks that are mapped to client LPARs. This is achieved by creating a file which nmon reads and then displays the relevant performance data. The script I used required that the virtual target devices (VTDs) mapped…
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Creating an Etherchannel adapter for resiliency with VIO Server
An important aspect of VIO Server design is high availability and resiliency for your client LPARs. However reliable the equipment is, failures do occur and there is always human error. Etherchannel or LACP allows you to provide enhanced network availability and throughput for your LPARs by bundling a number of VIOS Ethernet NICs together to…