mksysb_iso Command

Purpose

Creates a system backup image (mksysb) from the root volume group (rootvg) a bootable ISO 9660 format media from a previously created system backup image (mksysb).

Syntax

mksysb_iso -O <iso_image>
    [-m <mksysb_image> | -M <mksysb_target>]
    [-C <iso_fs_dir>] [-V <fs_volume_group>]
    [-p <pkg_source_dir>]
    [-i <image.data_file>] [-u <bosinst.data_file>]
    [-e] [-P] [-l <package_list>] [-b <bundle_file>]
    [-x filename] [-T]
    [-z <custom_file>] [-D] [-n] [-c] [-a] [-A] [-Z] [-G]

Description

The mksysb_iso command creates a system backup image (mksysb) from the root volume group (rootvg) or from a previously created mksysb image to a bootable ISO 9660 image.

If you do not specify any file systems or directories as command parameters, the mksysb_iso command creates the necessary file systems. Except for the file system that is created for the ISO image, the mksysb_iso command removes other file systems that are created while the command is executed. The mksysb_iso command also checks the specified file systems for adequate space and write access.

If you specify a previously created mksysb image with the -m flag, the version of the mksysb image must match the version of the system where this command is executed. For instance, if you are running this command on an AIX® 7.3 system, the version of the specified mksysb image must also be AIX 7.3.

Note: The mksysb_iso command is supported for AIX 7.2, Technology Level 5 or later.

Flags

-a: Does not back up extended attributes or Network File System version 4 (NFSv4) access control lists (ACLs). You cannot use this flag with the -m flag.
-A: Backs up data management application programming interface (DMAPI) file systems. You cannot use this flag with the -m flag.
-b bundle_file: Specifies the full path name of the file that contains a list of filesets that must be installed after the mksysb image is restored. This file is copied to the ./usr/sys/inst.data/user_bundles/bundle_file location in the ISO file system (CDRFS) and the file that contains a list of filesets is copied to random access memory (RAM) if the CD-ROM drive is unmounted. The file is listed as BUNDLES=/../usr/sys/inst.data/user_bundles/bundle_file in the bosinst.data file.
-c: Does not compress files when the files are backed up. You cannot use this flag with the -m flag.
-C iso_fs_dir: Specifies the file system that is used to create the ISO file system structure. The specified file system must have enough space to store the system backup image and other necessary operating system files.
If you do not specify the -C flag and the /mksysb_iso/iso_fs directory exists, the mksysb_iso command uses that directory. If you do not specify the -C flag and the /mksysb_iso/iso_fs directory does not exist, the mksysb_iso command creates the /mksysb_iso/iso_fs directory and removes the directory after the command execution completes. The command creates the file system in the volume group that is indicated with the -V flag or the command creates a root volume group if the -V flag is not used.
-D: Displays the debug information. By default, the debug information is not displayed.
-e: Excludes the files and directories from the backup image that is listed in the /etc/exclude.volume_group file. You cannot use this flag with the -m flag.
-i image.data_file: Specifies the image.data file. This data file takes precedence over the image.data file in the mksysb image. If you do not specify the -i flag, the mksysb_iso command restores the image.data file from the specified mksysb image, or generates a new image.data file while creating the of mksysb image.
-l package_list: Specifies the file that contains a list of additional packages that you want to copy to the ./usr/lpp/inst.images directory of the ISO file system. The images are copied from the location that is specified with the -p flag. If you use the -l flag, you must also use the -p flag.
-m mksysb_image: Specifies a previously created mksysb image. If you do not specify the -m flag, the mksysb_iso command calls the current mksysb image. For more information about where the mksysb image is located, see the -M mksysb_target flag.
-M mksysb_target: Specifies the directory or file system where the mksysb image is stored if a previously created backup image is not specified by using the -m flag. The directory must exist and must have enough space to store the temporary backup image that is created by the mksysb_iso command completes execution. The temporary backup image is removed after the mksyb_iso command. If the -M flag is not used and an mksysb image is not specified, the mksysb_iso command verifies that the /mksysb_iso/mksysb_image directory exists. If the directory does not exist, the mksysb_iso command creates a separate file system, /mksysb_iso/mksysb_image, where the mksysb image is temporarily stored. The command creates the file system in the volume group that is specified by using the -V flag or in the root volume group if the -V flag is not used.
-n: Backs up user volume group information and administration data files. This flag backs up files such as /tmp/vgdata/vgname/vgname.data and map files, if these files exist. This flag does not back up user data files. You can use this flag to back up user volume group without restoring user data files. You cannot use this flag on root volume groups. You cannot use this flag with the -m flag.
-O iso_image: Specifies the file name or the full path name of the ISO image that must be created. This flag is mandatory. If only a file name is specified, the default /mksysb_iso/iso_images directory is used to create the ISO image file. If the directory does not exist, the mksysb_iso command creates a separate file system and mounts the ISO image file onto that directory. The mksysb_iso command creates the file system in the volume group that is specified by using the -V flag or in the root volume group if the -V flag is not used.
-p pkg_source_dir: Specifies the name of the directory or device that contains the device and kernel package images. If a device is specified, the device must be a optical device (for example, /dev/cd0).
-P: Creates mapping information from logical partition to physical partition (PP) during the mksysb creation. You cannot use this flag with the -m flag.
-T: Backs up the root volume group by using snapshots. This flag applies only to enhanced journaled file system (JFS2).
When you specify the -T flag, external JFS2 snapshots are created. Snapshots are a point-in-time image of a JFS2 file system. Therefore, snapshots do not require a system to be put into a temporarily inactive state. The size of the snapshot is 2% - 15% of the size of the file system. The snapshot logical volumes are removed when the backup operation is complete. However, snapshots are not removed if a file system already has other snapshots. Additionally, if a file system has internal snapshots, external snapshots cannot be created and thus, snapshots are not used for backing up the file system. The use of the -T flag does not affect any JFS file systems that are present in the volume group. These file systems are backed up by using the previous methods of backup. You cannot use this flag with the -m flag.
-u bosinst.data_file: Specifies the bosinst.data file. This data file takes precedence over the bosinst.data file in the mksysb image. If you do not specify the -u flag, the mksysb_iso command restores the bosinst.data file from the specified mksysb image, or generates a new bosinst.data file when the mksysb image is created.
-V fs_volume_group: Specifies the volume group that must be used when the mksysb_iso command creates the file systems. If the -V flag is not specified and a file system does not exist (because a file system was not specified by using any other flags), the root volume group (rootvg) is used as the default volume group to create file systems. If the mksysb_iso command creates file systems in the backup volume group, the file systems are not included in the system backup image (mksysb). Except for the file system created for the ISO image (-O flag), other file systems that are created by the mksysb_iso command are removed after the mksysb_iso command completes execution.
-x file: Excludes the file systems that are listed in the specified file from the system backup image (mksysb). File system mount points must be listed one per line. You cannot use this flag with the -m flag.
-z custom_file: Specifies the full path name of the file that must be copied to the root directory of the ISO file system (CDRFS). The file can be a customization script that is specified in the bosinst.data file, such as CUSTOMIZATION_FILE=filename.
For example, if the my_script file is in the /tmp directory on the system in which the mksysb_iso command is running, enter mksysb_iso -z /tmp/my_script and specify CUSTOMIZATION_FILE=my_script in the bosinst.data file. For more information about the bosinst.data, see -u flag.
-Z: Indicates that the encrypted file system (EFS) information for all the files, directories, and file systems must not be backed up.

Examples

To generate a system backup ISO image, backup1.iso, in the /mksysb_iso/iso_images directory, enter the following command:
```
mksysb_iso -O backup1.iso
```
To generate a system backup image, backup2.iso, in the /backup_isos directory, enter the following command:
```
mksysb_iso -O /backup_isos/backup2.iso
```
To create an mksysb image in the /mnt/temp_mksysb directory, and create a bootable ISO image, /backup_isos/backup3.iso, enter the following command:
```
mksysb_iso -O /backup_isos/backup3.iso -M /mnt/temp_mksysb
```

Files

/usr/bin/mksysb_iso: Contains the mksysb_iso command.