Importing and exporting configuration data

7.1 LPAR mode z/VM guest KVM guest

Import configuration data from, or export data to, a text file by using the --import and --export options of the chzdev command. You can also use an existing configuration as a template for a new configuration, for example, for a new Linux® instance.

About this task

The export function can be used, for example, to transfer a device configuration to another system, or to store it for later use as a backup or for a rollback.

where:

--export <filename>|-

writes configuration data to a text file called <filename>. If a single hyphen (-) is specified instead of a file name, data is written to the standard output stream. The output format of this option can be used with the --import option. To reduce the scope of exported configuration data, you can select specific devices, a device type, or define whether to export only data for the active or persistent configuration.

--import <filename>|-

reads configuration data from <filename> and applies it. If a single hyphen (-) is specified instead of a file name, data is read from the standard input stream. The input format must be the same as the format produced by the --export option.

By default, all configuration data that is read is also applied. To reduce the scope of imported configuration data, you can select specific devices, a device type, or define whether to import only data for the active or persistent configuration.

You can use this option to import auto-configuration data, see Displaying auto-configuration data.

--base <path> | <key=value>

changes file system paths that are used to access files. If <path> is specified without an equal sign (=), it is used as base path for accessing files in the active and persistent configuration. If the specified parameter is in <key=value> format, only those paths that begin with <key> are modified. For these paths, the initial <key> portion is replaced with <value>.

Example: lszdev --persistent --base /etc=/mnt/etc

-a or --active

applies changes to the active configuration only. The persistent configuration is not changed unless you also specify --persistent.

Note: Changes to the active configuration are effective immediately. They are lost on reboot, when a device driver is unloaded, or when a device becomes unavailable.

-p or --persistent

applies changes to the persistent configuration only. The persistent configuration takes effect when the system boots, when a device driver is loaded, or when a device becomes available.

-s<site_id> or --site <site_id>

applies changes to the persistent configuration for the scope of a particular site that is identified by <site_id>. The site identifier <site_id> is an integer in the range 0 to 9. For more information about site-specific configurations, see Site-specific Linux instantiation.

--auto-conf

applies changes to the auto-configuration. Changes to the auto-configuration take effect when a device becomes available, but do not persist across reboots. This option is primarily intended for use by the boot process. For details about auto-configuration data, see Device configuration for machines running in PR/SM mode.

Examples

Textual configuration data is either written to a file or, when you specify the special file name "-", to standard output:

# chzdev --by-interface enccw0.0.a000 --persistent --export -
Exporting configuration data to standard output
# Generated by chzdev on linux.example.com
[persistent qeth 0.0.a000:0.0.a001:0.0.a002]
layer2=0
online=1

To export this configuration data to a file called config.txt, issue:

# chzdev --by-interface enccw0.0.a000 --persistent --export config.txt

To apply data in this format to a system’s configuration, use the --import option:

# chzdev --import config.txt
Importing configuration data from config.txt
QETH device 0.0.a000:0.0.a001:0.0.a002 configured

To create a persistent configuration for an ECKD™ DASD 0.0.1000 and write it to a new Linux system that is mounted under /mnt/etc, issue:
```
# chzdev dasd-eckd 1000 -e -p --base /etc=/mnt/etc
```
To display a configuration that was written to /mnt/etc, issue:
```
# lszdev --persistent --base /etc=/mnt/etc
```

To copy the persistent configuration to /mnt/etc, issue:

# chzdev --all --persistent --export - | chzdev --import - --base /etc=/mnt/etc
Exporting configuration data to standard output
Importing configuration data from Standard input
ECKD DASD 0.0.1234 configured
FCP device 0.0.190d configured
FCP device 0.0.194d configured
CTC device 0.0.c000:0.0.c001 configured

To export the site 3-specific configuration data of an ECKD DASD 0.0.f008 to a file config_s3.txt, issue:
```
# chzdev dasd-eckd 0.0.f008 --site 3 --export config_s3.txt
```