Step 2. Preparing your system for installation

Edit online

Prepare for a new and complete overwrite or preservation installation.

Do the following:

Note: Preservation install is only supported when moving to a newer level of the AIX® Base Operating system. To re-install a prior level of AIX, you must either do a new and complete overwrite install, or re-install from a prior level system backup.
  1. Insert the AIX Volume 1 media into the media device.
  2. Shut down your system. If your machine is currently running, power it off by following these steps:
    1. Log in as the root user.
    2. Type the following command: 
      shutdown -F
    3. If your system does not automatically power off, place the power switch in the Off (0) position.
      Attention: You must not turn on the system unit until instructed to do so in Step 4. Booting from your installation media.
  3. Turn on all attached external devices. These include the following:
    • Terminals
    • DVD-ROM drives
    • Monitors
    • External disk drives

    Turning on the external devices first is necessary so the system unit can identify each peripheral device during the startup (boot) process.