Configuring an initial partition as a NIM master to use NIM to install the remaining partitions

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You can set up an initial logical partition as a NIM master and server. The NIM environment allows you to manage installations for your other partitions.

Before you begin this procedure, you should perform the following tasks:

Use the HMC to create the Master_LPAR partition profile. Leave the partition in the Ready state.
Verify that the Master_LPAR partition has a network adapter, enough hard-disk space for the NIM resources, and an assigned CD device.
Set the boot mode for the Master_LPAR partition to be Normal mode.
Use the HMC to create logical partitions and partition profiles for each NIM client.
Verify that each NIM client partition has a network adapter assigned. Set the boot mode for each partition to be SMS mode. After you have successfully created the partitions and partition profiles, leave the partitions in the Ready
If AIX® is not currently installed on any of the disks in the system, you must install it. For more information, see Installing AIX using the media device to install a partition with an HMC.
Configure AIX for network communication on the Master_LPAR.
Activate the Master_LPAR partition profile on the HMC.
You should consider the following aspects of the installation when you configure an initial partition as a NIM Master and using NIM to install the remaining partitions has the following advantages:
- NIM environment offers the most flexibility and customization options for installation and management.
- NIM environment allows for multiple installations at the same time.
- The nim_master_setup and nim_clients_setup scripts provide a way to set up the NIM environment.
- Requires one LPAR with approximately 1.5 GB of disk space dedicated as the NIM master partition.
In this procedure, you will set up an initial logical partition as a NIM master and server. This procedure refers to this initial logical partition as the Master_LPAR.

Run the oslevel command on the Master_LPAR.
Output similar to the following displays:
```
5200
```
If the output from the oslevel command does not show the expected OS level, see Migrating AIX for information about migrating the AIX operating system to the correct OS level.
Verify your network connection by running the netstat command.
You can run this command with the -C flag to show routing table information. You can also use the -D flag to show the number of packets received, transmitted, and dropped in the communications subsystem.
Insert the AIX installation media.
Run the nim_master_setup command.
For additional information on options for running this command, see nim_master_setup.
Run the following command to open the/export/nim/client.defs file with the vi editor:
```
# vi /export/nim/client.defs
```
Edit the client.defs file according to your environment.
For more information on this file, see the instructions and examples in the client.defs file. When you are finished editing the client.defs file, save it and exit the vi editor.
Run the nim_clients_setup -c command.
For additional information on options for running this command, see nim_clients_setup.
Note: If you are adding new client machines that cannot be resolved on the name server, edit the /etc/hosts file to add the IP addresses and client host names.

After you have defined the client machines, you should activate and install the partitions. For more information on activating partitions, see Activating a partition profile.

After you activate and install the client partitions, you can perform any system management tasks.