Installing new and complete overwrite BOS from media

Using this scenario, you can install the AIX® operating system for the first time or overwrite an existing version of the operating system.

The information in this how-to scenario was tested using specific versions of AIX. The results you obtain might vary significantly depending on your version and level of AIX.

In this scenario, you will do the following:
  • Boot from the AIX product media
  • Set BOS Installation Settings
    • Perform a new and complete overwrite installation of AIX onto hdisk0
    • Use English as the primary language
    • Use the default options in the More Options menu
  • Start the BOS Installation and Configure the System

If you are overwriting an existing system, gather the TCP/IP information from the system before you begin this scenario.

Attention: This procedure requires shutting down and reinstalling the base operating system. Whenever you reinstall any operating system, schedule your downtime when it least impacts your workload to protect yourself from a possible loss of data or functionality. Before you perform a new and complete overwrite installation, ensure you have reliable backups of your data and any customized applications or volume groups. For instructions on how to create a system backup, refer to Creating system backups.

The following steps show you how to use the system's built-in media device to perform a new and complete overwrite base operating system installation.

At this point, the BOS Installation is complete, and the initial configuration of the system is complete.

Step 1. Prepare your system

  • There must be adequate disk space and memory available. AIX requires minimum of 512 MB of memory and 5 GB of physical disk space. For additional release information, see the AIX 7.1 Release Notes.
  • Make sure your hardware installation is complete, including all external devices. See the documentation provided with your system unit for installation instructions.
  • If your system needs to communicate with other systems and access their resources, make sure you have the information in the following worksheet before proceeding with installation:
    Table 1. Network Configuration Information Worksheet
    Network Attribute Value
    Network Interface (For example: en0, et0)
    Host Name  
    IP Address _______.________.________.________
    Network Mask _______.________.________.________
    Nameserver _______.________.________.________
    Domain Name  
    Gateway _______.________.________.________

Step 2. Boot from the AIX product media

Booting the system from the AIX Product media.
  1. Insert the AIX Volume 1 media into the media device.
  2. Make sure all external devices attached to the system (such as DVD drives, and terminals) are turned on. Only the media drive from which you will install AIX should contain the installation media.
  3. Power on the system.
  4. When the system beeps twice, press F5 on the keyboard (or 5 on an ASCII terminal). If you have a graphics display, you will see the keyboard icon on the screen when the beeps occur. If you have an ASCII terminal (also called a tty terminal), you will see the word keyboard when the beeps occur.
    Note: If your system does not boot using the F5 key (or the 5 key on an ASCII terminal), refer to your hardware documentation for information about how to boot your system from an AIX product media.
  5. Select the system console by pressing F1 (or 1 on an ASCII terminal) and press Enter.
  6. Select the English language for the base operating system (BOS) Installation menus by typing a 1 in the Choice field. Press Enter to open the Welcome to Base Operating System Installation and Maintenance screen.
  7. Type 2 to select 2 Change/Show Installation Settings and Install in the Choice field and press Enter.
                          Welcome to Base Operating System
                          Installation and Maintenance
    
    Type the number of your choice and press Enter.  Choice is indicated by >>>.
    
    >>> 1 Start Install Now with Default Settings 
    
        2 Change/Show Installation Settings and Install
    
        3 Start Maintenance Mode for System Recovery
    
        4 Make Additional Disks Available
    
    
        88  Help ?
        99  Previous Menu
    >>> Choice [1]: 2
    

Step 3. Set and verify BOS installation settings

  1. In the Installation and Settings screen, verify the installation settings are correct by checking the method of installation (new and complete overwrite), the disk or disks you want to install, the primary language environment settings, and the more options menu.

    If the default choices are correct, type 0 and press Enter to begin the BOS installation. The system automatically reboots after installation is complete. Go to step 4.

    Otherwise, go to sub-step 2.

  2. To change the System Settings, which includes the method of installation and disk where you want to install, type 1 in the Choice field and press Enter.
                              Installation and Settings
    
    Either type 0 and press Enter to install with current settings, or type the
     number of the setting you want to change and press Enter.
    
        1  System Settings:
             Method of Installation.............New and Complete Overwrite
             Disk Where You Want to Install.....hdisk0
    
    >>> Choice [0]: 1
  3. Type 1 for New and Complete Overwrite in the Choice field and press Enter. The Change Disk(s) Where You Want to Install screen now displays.
                     Change Disk(s) Where You Want to Install
    
    Type one or more numbers for the disk(s) to be used for installation and press
    Enter. To cancel a choice, type the corresponding number and Press Enter.
    At least one bootable disk must be selected. The current choice is indicated
    by >>>.
    
            Name      Location Code   Size(MB)  VG Status   Bootable
    
         1  hdisk0   04-B0-00-2,0      4296   none            Yes
         2  hdisk1   04-B0-00-5,0      4296   none            Yes
         3  hdisk2   04-B0-00-6,0     12288   none            Yes
    
    >>>  0   Continue with choices indicated above
    
        66  Disks not known to Base Operating System Installation
        77  Display More Disk Information
        88  Help ?
        99  Previous Menu
    
    >>> Choice [0]:
  4. In the Change Disk(s) Where You Want to Install screen:
    1. Select hdisk0 by typing a 1 in the Choice field and press Enter. The disk will now be selected as indicated by >>>. To unselect the destination disk, type the number again and press Enter.
    2. To finish selecting disks, type a 0 in the Choice field and press Enter. The Installation and Settings screen displays with the selected disks listed under System Settings.
  5. Change the Primary Language Environment Settings to English (United States). Use the following steps to change the Cultural Convention, Language, and Keyboard to English.
    1. Type 2 in the Choice field on the Installation and Settings screen to select the Primary Language Environment Settings option.
    2. Type the number corresponding to English (United States) as the Cultural Convention in the Choice field and press Enter.
    3. Select the appropriate keyboard and language options.

    You do not need to select the More Options selection, because you are using the default options in this scenario. For more information about the installation options available in AIX, see BOS installation options.

  6. Verify that the selections are correct in the Overwrite Installation Summary screen, as follows:
         Overwrite Installation Summary
    
    Disks:  hdisk0
    Cultural Convention:  en_US
    Language:  en_US
    Keyboard:  en_US
    JFS2 File Systems Created:  Yes
    Graphics Software:	Yes
    Desktop:  CDE
    System Management Client Software:  Yes
    Enable System Backups to install any system:  Yes
    
    Optional Software being installed:
    
    >>> 1   Continue with Install
        88  Help ?
        99  Previous Menu
    
    >>> Choice [1]:

    The default options change based on machine, security, and console type.

  7. Press Enter to begin the BOS installation. The system automatically reboots after installation is complete.

Step 4. Configure the system after installation

  1. On systems with a graphics display, after a new and complete overwrite installation, the Configuration Assistant opens. On systems with an ASCII display, after a new and complete overwrite installation, the Installation Assistant opens.
  2. Select the Accept Licenses option to accept the electronic licenses for the operating system.
  3. Set the date and time, set the password for the administrator (root user), and configure network communications (TCP/IP).

    Use any other options at this time. You can return to the Configuration Assistant or the Installation Assistant by typing configassist or smitty assist at the command line.

  4. Select Exit the Configuration Assistant and select Next. Or, press F10 (or ESC+0) to exit the Installation Assistant.
  5. If you are in the Configuration Assistant, select Finish now, and do not start Configuration Assistant when restarting AIX and select Finish.