Older model rs6k-platform machines may require IPL ROM emulation to boot over the network. To determine whether or not a running rs6k machine requires emulation, enter the command bootinfo -q AdapterName where AdapterName is the network adapter over which the client will be installed. If the adapter is network-boot enabled, the bootinfo command will return 1, and no emulation is required. For example, enter:
or
bootinfo -q ent0
Note that in the examples, tok0 and ent0 are adapter names. Do not use network names, such as tr0, en0, or et0.
If an rs6k machine is not running, it is possible to determine whether IPL ROM emulation is required by booting the machine with the key turned to Secure. If the LEDs on the front of the machine eventually stop at 200, no emulation is needed.
Note: On model numbers 570, 580, 58H, 59H, 591, and 595, the system powers on in the Secure mode, the power-on light does not come on, and the LED remains blank. Refer to the documentation that came with your particular hardware model for more information.
To create IPL ROM emulation, see Creating IPL ROM Emulation Media . If you are using NIM on machines that must use IPL ROM emulation to boot from a network adapter, you should always initiate the boot once from the IPL menus from a system console on the client. This writes the necessary addresses to NVRAM, avoiding a problem with seeing alternating LEDs 227 and 229 during the network boot on older hardware. After initiating the network boot/install from the client via this method once, the problem is automatically corrected and subsequent network boot/installation may be intiatied from the NIM master.
The platform and kernel type of a client determines the procedure required to boot the machine over the network.
To determine the platform of a running machine, use the bootinfo -p command if the machine is running AIX Version 4.2 or later. If the machine is running AIX 4.1, use the bootinfo -T command.
To determine the kernel type of a running machine, use the bootinfo -z command.