How to Restore Your AIX System

Keeping a regular backup of your AIX system is vital in case of a critical system failure. Many times the only way to actually recover any data or information from a failed system is by restoring a system backup. Fortunately, AIX allows you to back up and restore the system using the command-line interface and a terminal window.

• 1

  Open a terminal window from the desktop shortcut. Type the command "bootinfo -e" to ensure that you can boot your system from your backup drive.

• 2

  Type "bootlist -m service -o" and press "Enter" to make sure that the backup drive is in the bootlist. Edit the bootlist to add an entry for the backup drive (generally something like "rmt0" for a tape drive or "hdisk2" for a hard drive) if it is not listed.

• 3

  Restart the computer and allow it to recover the rootvg and start the Storage Management Services, or SMS, interface. Type a "?" and press "Enter" when the system has loaded the SMS menu and prompts you to define the System Console. Type a "1" to have the installer use English during the installation.

• 4

  Input a "3" and press "Enter" to begin maintenance mode. Type a "4" on the next screen to restore or install from a system backup.

• 5

  Enter the number that corresponds to your backup drive, and then press the "Enter" key. Type a "1" at the next prompt to begin the install with the default settings.

• 6

  Press "Y" when the message "WARNING: All data on the selected disks will be destroyed. Do you

  wish to continue? Y/N" appears on-screen; this will start the restore process.