Creates an installable image of the root volume group either in a file or onto a bootable tape.
mksysb [ -b Number ] [ -e ] [ -p ] [ -v ] [ -V ] [ -X ] [ -i | -m ] Device | File
The mksysb command creates a backup of the operating system (that is, the root volume group). You can use this backup to reinstall a system to its original state after it has been corrupted. If you create the backup on tape, the tape is bootable and includes the installation programs needed to install from the backup.
The file-system image is in backup-file format. The tape format includes a boot image, a bosinstall image, and an empty table of contents followed by the system backup (root volume group) image. The root volume group image is in backup-file format, starting with the data files and then any optional map files.
One of the data files mksysb uses is the /bosinst.data file. If a /bosinst.data file doesn't exist, /var/adm/ras/bosinst.data is copied to / (root). In AIX 4.3.3 and later versions, mksysb always updates the target_disk_data stanzas in bosinst.data to match the disks currently in the root volume group of the system where the mksysb command is running.
If you are using a customized /bosinst.data file and do not want the target_disk_data stanzas updated, you must create the file /save_bosinst.data_file. The mksysb command does not update /bosinst.data if the /save_bosinst.data_file exists.
To create a backup of the operating system to CD, please refer to the mkcd command.
Device | File | Specifies the name of the device or file. |
mksysb -i /dev/rmt0
mksysb -m /dev/rmt1
mksysb -i -e /dev/rmt1
This command will backup the /home/user1/tmp directory but not the files it contains.
mksysb -i /userimage/node1
mksysb /dev/rmt0 -V
/usr/bin/mksysb | Contains the mksysb command. |
The backup command, bosboot command, mkcd command, mkszfile command.
The /image.data file.
A procedure to verify the mksysb backup can be found in the article "Verifying a System Backup" in the AIX 5L Version 5.2 Installation Guide and Reference.