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Methods to disable rulescfgset message reminder after upgrading VIOS level

Question & Answer


Question

How to disable rulescfgset (motd) message reminder after updating a PowerVM Virtual I/O Server (VIOS).
This applies to PoweVM VIOS version 3.1.

Cause

Starting in VIOS version 2.2.4.10 and above, the following "message of the day" (motd) message is displayed upon login after the VIOS is updated to 2.2.4.10 or higher:

     The most recent software update has modified the current system rules.
     These modifications have not been deployed on the system. To view the
     modifications and deploy, run the 'rulescfgset' command.
 
The message will continue to displayed after each login until the administrator runs the rulescfgset command and either enters "y" to deploy the default rules or "N" to not deploy them.

Answer

This document describes methods to disable the rulescfgset message reminder seen when logging in to a VIOS after a VIOS update.

DETAILS:
The rulescfgset command is an interactive tool to guide a user through deploying current rules. This is a new command to assist in system configuration.  It identifies if current system settings match the factory default rules. If mismatches are found, current rules are merged and updated with the recommended default setting rules automatically.
When a user allows new rules to be applied, the updated current rules are deployed on the system.  However, the new rules do not take effect until after the VIOS is rebooted.  If a user does not want to deploy the new rules immediately, it returns normally.  The rulescfgset command updates current rules, as needed and makes the VIOS ready at any time to deploy new rules.

Development has determined the recommended defaults to be an appropriate starting point for a VIOS configuration. 
A few of the recommended default changes are listed below:

Device Type              Attribute        Value (original/new)
---------------------------------------------------------------------
disk.fcp.mpioosdisk:     reserve_policy   single_path | no_reserve
disk.fcp.aixmpiods8k:    reserve_policy   single_path | no_reserve
adapter.pci.df1023fd:    num_cmd_elems            200 | 2048
adapter.pci.df1023fd:    max_xfer_size       0x100000 | 0x400000
adapter.pciex.77103224:  num_cmd_elems            200 | 1024
adapter.pciex.77103224:  max_xfer_size       0x100000 | 0x400000
driver.iocb.efscsi:      dyntrk                    no | yes
driver.iocb.efscsi:      fc_err_recov    delayed_fail | fast_fail
 
There are three options to disable the rulescfgset message from being displayed upon log in.
Option 1

Log in to the VIOS as padmin.
Run rulescfgset command and answer the question presented. 
$ rulescfgset  [ENTER]
The most recent software update introduces the concept of Rules. Rules
can be created, modified, listed, deleted and deployed for specific
system settings.
See IBM Documentation for more details on rules.  The software update
includes the best practice settings from IBM as factory default rules.
Do you want to deploy default rules on top of the current system
settings now [y/N]?
 
Answer "y" or "N" depending on whether you want to deploy the default rules settings recommended by IBM. 
To list your current rules, the default rules, and the difference between them, use the rules command. 
Answer N if you do not wish to deploy the default rules.  You can manually configure specific rules settings using the rules command at a later time.

$ rules -o diff -d
        Displays the differences between the factory default rules and the current rules file.
$ rules -o list
        Lists rules that will be deployed.
$ rules -o list -d
        Lists the factory default rules.
Once you answer "y" or "N", the message should no longer be displayed in the login.
Option 2
 
Use chdev command to disable the message.
$ chdev -dev viosrules0 -attr motd=no     To disable motd message
$ lsdev -dev viosrules0 -attr motd     To list motd value


Option 3
 
If the VIOS motd message was customized before to the VIOS update, the rulescfgset message may appear after the pre-existing, custom motd message.  In such case, option 2 may not clear the rulescfgset message from appearing upon login.  Instead, you can use the motd command to clear the message by capturing the existing motd and editing the file.
To clear the message
1.  Get the original MOTD and copies output to file motd_orig
$ motd | tee motd_orig

2. copy the original MOTD to a new file called motd_2
$ cp motd_orig motd_2

3. Edit the new file to remove the text
$ vi motd_2

4. Replace the current MOTD with the contents of motd_2
$ motd -overwrite -file motd_2

5. Check MOTD
$ motd
Relevant Known Issues
motd may not update properly after running rulescfgset
3.1.2_IJ43569    
3.1.3_IJ43190
3.1.4_IJ41544

[{"Type":"MASTER","Line of Business":{"code":"LOB57","label":"Power"},"Business Unit":{"code":"BU058","label":"IBM Infrastructure w\/TPS"},"Product":{"code":"SSPHKW","label":"PowerVM Virtual I\/O Server"},"ARM Category":[{"code":"a8m50000000L0LQAA0","label":"RULES"}],"ARM Case Number":"TS017723346","Platform":[{"code":"PF025","label":"Platform Independent"}],"Version":"All Versions"}]

Document Information

Modified date:
21 March 2025

UID

isg3T1024651

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