Backing Up HMC Critical Console Data via NFS to an IBM i5/OS Partition

Resolving The Problem

The HMC uses standard NFS communications. The NFS by default uses UDP, not TCP/IP. To ensure communications through the network, ports 111 and 2049 must be open on all network equipment between the HMC and the IBM i5/OS partition for UDP. The i5/OS partition's NFS server must be started, and a directory should be created in the root file system and then exported.

Ensuring the NFS server is running on the i5/OS partition:

An easy way to check if the NFS server is running is check to see if port 111 is listening for UDP. This can be checked by typing the following command:

NETSTAT *CNN

The port name for port 111 is sunrpc:



Press F14 to display the port numbers:



Scroll down and ensure that port 2049 is also available for UDP.



If the NFS server is not running, it can be started by issuing the following command:

QSYS/STRNFSSVR SERVER(*ALL)

Creating and exporting a directory to be used for the back up in i5/OS:

Once the NFS server is up and running, a directory needs to be created and then exported to the NFS. To create the directory type the following command:

mkdir hmcdata

Confirm the directory was created by doing a wrklnk.



Ensure that *public has read, write, and execute authority to the directory:



One way to export the directory to the NFS is to use IBM iSeries Navigator. In iSeries Navigator open Network, then Servers, and click on TCP/IP. In the left pane, right-click on NFS (if running) and click on Exports:



If the directory you created is not exported, it can be added by clicking on New and completing the command.

Performing the Back Up:

Given that an exported directory is available and the target i5/OS partition has a running NFS server, the option to back up critical console data to a mounted file system can be used without much complication. The only information that should be required (in a default configuration) is the server name and directory.



Note: HMC Version 8 may require the "nolock" option be added.

Once the back up has started, the directory can be checked for the creation of the file. The back up creates the file and then adds to the compressed file as the back up continues.



Common Problems: