Installing BOS on an iSCSI disk

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With AIX®, you can install the base operating system to an Internet Small Computer System Interface (iSCSI) disk.

To configure an iSCSI disk for base operating system use, you must supply several parameters before beginning the installation. Gather the following parameters:
Adapter Name
Name of network adapter used for iSCSI. For iSCSI TOE adapters, this field is formatted ics#, where # is a number. For the iSCSI SW Initiator, this field is the Ethernet interface name and is formatted en#, where # is a number.
IP Address of Adapter
IP address that is assigned to the adapter specified by Adapter Name.
IP Address of Gateway
IP address of the gateway that is used by the adapter specified by Adapter Name.
Subnet Mask
Subnet mask that is assigned to the adapter specified by Adapter Name.
iSCSI Target Name
Name that is configured for the iSCSI Target.
iSCSI Initiator Name
Initiator name that is configured for the iSCSI Target.
Port Number
Port Number that is configured for the iSCSI Target.
IP Address of Target
IP Address that is configured for the iSCSI Target.
Notes:
  1. Consult your iSCSI vendor's documentation for more information.
  2. IPv6 support for iSCSI disk installation is not supported.
  3. iSCSI boot is supported by using the iSCSI software initiator when you run POWER6® or later processors.
  4. iSCSI boot is supported by using the iSCSI TOE daughtercard in POWER® processor-based blade systems. iSCSI boot is not supported by using the iSCSI TOE PCI slot adapter.
  5. When you boot by using the iSCSI software initiator, ensure that the Ethernet network is configured so that the link is enabled without delay. After the Ethernet link is enabled, the AIX iSCSI software initiator attempts to contact the iSCSI target for approximately 30 seconds before declaring that the boot disk cannot be found and indicating the 554 Unknown Boot Disk error. Some Ethernet protocols, such as spanning tree protocols, might prevent the link from being enabled in 30 seconds and might cause boot failures. Such protocols must be disabled or overridden on the Ethernet switch if they prevent the Ethernet link from being enabled in less than 30 seconds.
  6. You cannot install the Base Operating System (BOS) on an iSCSI disk from a tape drive. You can install BOS on an iSCSI disk only through Network Installation Management (NIM) or DVD/CD by entering the iSCSI disk configuration parameters through iSCSI configuration menus.

For prompted installs of AIX, these parameters can be submitted using the iSCSI configuration menus. For non-prompted installs of AIX, these parameters can be supplied using thebosinst.data file stanza descriptions.

Only one path to one iSCSI target can be configured for the root volume group used to install the base operating system. The root volume group cannot be created by combining iSCSI disks with non-iSCSI disks. After installation is complete, additional iSCSI paths may be configured for the root volume group if MPIO access to the root volume group is required.
Note: Support for MPIO iSCSI boot is available only on Power9 systems running firmware level FW920, or later. Support for single path iSCSI boot is available on Power6 systems, or later.