Restoring the operating system

Use this information to recover the operating system.

The procedure that is described here assumes that the Licensed Internal Code is already installed on your system. Normally, the Licensed Internal Code is installed. However, if the Licensed Internal Code is not on your system or is damaged, see Selecting the appropriate recovery strategy to determine the correct recovery procedure for your situation.

Why you restore the operating system: You might need to restore the operating system for several reasons, such as -

  • You are encountering problems with the operating system, such as damaged objects.
  • The software support center suggests it.
  • You replaced a disk unit in the system auxiliary storage pool (ASP).
  • You are updating your system to a new release.

Find these things before you begin -

  • Your most recent SAVSYS media. You can choose any one of the following actions to create a SAVSYS media volume:
    • Run the Save System (SAVSYS) command.
    • Use option 21 from the Save menu.
    • Use option 22 from the Save menu.
    • Use option 11 from the Run Backup menu.
    Attention: Do not use a media volume that you created through dedicated service tools (DST) by using option 5=Save Licensed Internal Code unless you are instructed to do so by a Software Services representative. This process creates a media volume that does not contain the Licensed Internal Code program temporary fix (PTF) inventory information or the IBM i operating system. If this media is used for the recovery, the Licensed Internal Code needs to be reinstalled from either SAVSYS media or distribution media before any PTFs can be loaded on the system.
  • If you do not have current SAVSYS media or they are damaged, you need the following media -
    • The distribution media that is supplied by IBM®
    • All the media for program temporary fixes (PTFs) that you applied.
      Attention: Use the distribution media only if you do not have SAVSYS media. If you use the distribution media to restore the operating system, the version you restore does not include any of the PTFs that you applied. In addition, the restore sets the following default values for the IBM i licensed program:
      • System information
      • Network attributes
      • Configuration lists
      • Edit descriptions
      • Reply list entries
      • IBM-supplied subsystem descriptions
      • Passwords for IBM-supplied profiles
  • The list of all the PTFs applied to your system at the time you saved the entire system. Attach this list to your backup log or keep it with your SAVSYS media.
  • The DST password for the QSECOFR service tools user ID.
  • The QSECOFR password that is associated with the SAVSYS media that you are using.

Do these things before you begin -

  • Clean the read and write heads of the tape unit if you are using a tape unit.
  • If your source system (the system that needs recovery) is operational, print a list of all the PTFs currently on the system, unless you printed the list before the Licensed Internal Code was restored. Type the following command and press the Enter key: 
    
DSPPTF LICPGM(*ALL) OUTPUT(*PRINT)