Migrating AIX

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During a migration, the installation process determines which optional software products are installed on the existing version of the operating system. Components from previous releases are replaced by new software in AIX® Version 7.1 are installed at the AIX Version 7.1 level.

Migration is the default installation method to move from one version and release of AIX to another version and release of AIX, such as from AIX Version 6.1 and later to AIX Version 7.1.

When you migrate from AIX 5.3 or AIX Version 6.1 to AIX Version 7.1, you can avoid the risk of down-leveling fixes previously installed on your AIX 5.3 or AIX Version 6.1 system by migrating to the latest available Technology Level of AIX Version 7.1. If you are using a NIM lpp_source created with a prior level base media and later levels of updates to be added, create the lpp_source with the base media at the same release date or later than the level of AIX 5.3 or AIX Version 6.1 that you are migrating from. The last four digits of the output of the oslevel -s command represent the year and week of the service pack currently installed (YYWW). If your system is at a technology level, with no additional service packs installed the last four digits can be "0000". Then, look at the last field from the command "lslpp -Lc bos.sysmgt.sysbr" to get the same information.

Note: If you want to install the next recommended maintenance or technology level of the operating system, use the SMITupdate_all fast path or the install_all_updates command to update the filesets currently installed. For more information about updating to the next recommended maintenance or technology level of AIX, see Optional products and service updates.
Note: Before you apply a new Technology Level (TL), you must always create a backup and plan on restoring that backup if you need to rollback to your previous level of the installation. You can also use thealt_disk_install ormultibos options as a way to get back to your previous level. Since TL updates cannot be rejected, you must always commit the updates.
Migration attempts to preserve all user configuration, while it is moving the operating system to a new level of software. The following steps are taken to achieve this objective:
  • Save configuration files
  • Prepare and remove old files
  • Restore new files
  • Remove unsupported or unnecessary filesets
  • Migrate configuration data wherever possible
  • Prepare VPD for installation
  • Update more filesets

When you perform a software migration, the following occurs:

  • All files in the /usr/lib/drivers, /usr/lib/microcode, /usr/lib/methods and /dev directories are removed from the system, so software support for device drivers must be reinstalled. Non-device software products and applications remain on the system, and work correctly if they are among those files that are described in AIX binary compatibility.
  • All files in the /tmp directory are removed from the system.
  • The following software products are removed from the system:
    • AIXwindows Interface Composer
    • Remote Customer Services
    • AIXwindows Development Environment
    • Display PostScript functionality from AIXwindows Run-Time Environment Extensions
    • Performance Tools functionality from Extended Commands
    • OpenGL and graPHIGS
    • Xstation Manager

In most cases, user-configuration files from the previous version of a product are saved when the new version is installed during a migration installation.