With a mksysb image, you can clone one system image onto multiple target systems. The target systems might not contain the same hardware devices or adapters, require the same kernel (uniprocessor or microprocessor), or be the same hardware platform as the source system.
Beginning in AIX 5.2, all devices and kernel support are installed by default during the base operating system (BOS) installation process. If the Enable System Backups to install any system selection in the Install Software menu is set to yes, you can create a mksysb image that boots and installs supported systems. Verify that your system is installed with all devices and kernel support, by do typing the following:
# grep ALL_DEVICES_KERNELS /var/adm/ras/bosinst.data
Output similar to the following displays:
ALL_DEVICES_KERNELS = yes
Use this scenario if your system was not installed with all devices and kernel support during BOS installation. Be sure to boot from the appropriate product media for your system and at the same maintenance level of BOS (base operating system) as the installed source system on which the mksysb was made. For example, use BOS AIX 5.2 media with a mksysb from a BOS AIX 5.2 system. Use this how-to when installing a system backup tape to a different system.
In this scenario, you will do the following:
The system reads the media and begins the installation.
You are then prompted for the BOS installation language, and the Welcome screen displays. Continue with the Prompted Installation, because cloning is not supported in nonprompted installations.
If you are cloning from the product CD to restore a backup tape, do not remove the CD from the CD-ROM drive.
After the mksysb installation completes, the installation program automatically installs additional devices and the kernel (uniprocessor or microprocessor) on your system, using the original product media you booted from. Information is saved in BOS installation log files. To view BOS installation log files, type cd /var/adm/ras and view the devinst.log file in this directory.
If the source system does not have the correct passwords and network information, you can make modifications on the target system now. Also, some products (such as graPHIGS) ship device-specific files. If your graphics adapter is different on the target system, verify that the device-specific filesets for graphics-related LPPs are installed.