Re: SAVSYS to IMGCLG then to DVD on PC

[Gqcy <gmufasa01@xxxxxxxxx>]

just askin...

Couldn't IBM put DVD burners on the power systems?
so a option on the LICPGM menu would be to perform a
SAVSYS directly to a DVD?

That would address the "multiple ways to mess it up",
and the benefit of a very easy boot could outweigh the
time needed to create the image...




On 8/8/2013 9:34 AM, Jim Oberholtzer wrote:
> Yes, you will get a fully bootable instance of LIC, followed by IBM i on
> the DVD. The reason IBM does not support SAVSYS to a DVD is it is just
> too slow (always will be) and there are multiple ways to mess it up
> making it unreliable for folks that do not test properly.
>
> Keep in mind Larry and I are mostly using option 40 from the LICPGM menu
> to create our distributions which we tend to use for upgrades etc. You
> can take an Image Catalog that has been setup for DVD sizes and burn
> those as well.
>
> Jim Oberholtzer
> Chief Technical Architect
> Agile Technology Architects
>
> On 8/8/13 8:14 AM, fbocch2595@xxxxxxx wrote:
> > Well folks, my feet are riddled with holes so I'm gonna take your
> > advice and use the IMGBURN and then try to find a machine to test on.
> > The reason I posted with you folks is that IBM says that SAVSYS to DVD
> > is not documented or supported but I told them it should be. They then
> > told me that they recommend saving to tape...and said that in order
> > for the system to be restored using a SAVSYS, the file "QFILEIML" file
> > must be found on the D-manual IPL. I'm not sure I'll see that when I
> > create the DVD and put it in the drive...do you folks see QFILEIML on
> > your DVD's?
> > Thank, Frank
> > .
> >
> >
> >
> > -----Original Message-----
> > From: Jim Oberholtzer<midrangel@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
> > To: Midrange Systems Technical Discussion<midrange-l@xxxxxxxxxxxx>
> > Sent: Mon, Aug 5, 2013 10:32 am
> > Subject: Re: SAVSYS to IMGCLG then to DVD on PC
> >
> >
> > I've never used the CenterField Product but because of the company and
> > t's reputation I would guess it can handle everything needed.
> > Doing a save to any optical media (DVD or RDX) is very doable, but leave
> > ourself plenty of time, it's sssslllllooooowwwwww. (slow).
> > Personally I use my IBM i instance on Power Systems, I do have an
> > Series in the data center but it's rarely turned on anymore. ( sorry
> > ould not resist )
> > Jim Oberholtzer
> > hief Technical Architect
> > gile Technology Architects
> >
> > n 8/5/2013 8:36 AM, Jack Kingsley wrote:
> > Couple of things on this.
> >
> > What about this product:
> >
> > http://www.centerfieldtechnology.com/CDROM-Studio/
> >
> > What about doing your saves to a dvd drive on the ISERIES.
> >
> >
> > On Mon, Aug 5, 2013 at 9:28 AM, Jim
> > Oberholtzer<midrangel@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
> > > > > > wrote:
> > > > > > One additional point for those of us that create our own
> > > > distribution
> > > > > > media ( Which by the way saves many hours at upgrade time since you
> > > > > > don't have to apply PTFs after the upgrade ). If you need to use
> > > > option
> > > > > > 5, then "Work with licensed programs for target release" from
> > > > the LICPGM
> > > > > > menu, the presence of the QIAM400 file will stop that option from
> > > > > > working, with a message that says something like, IBM did not
> > > > create
> > > > > > this install media, you can't use it. I get by that by putting
> > > > the most
> > > > > > recent LIC spin in the image catalog along with the custom DVD
> > > > images.
> > > > > > Then you can build the installation script. ( remove it before
> > > > you do
> > > > > > the actual upgrade or you loose the value of the newly created
> > > > > > distribution media ).
> > > > > >
> > > > > >
> > > > > > Jim Oberholtzer
> > > > > > Chief Technical Architect
> > > > > > Agile Technology Architects
> > > > > >
> > > > > >
> > > > > > On 8/5/2013 8:07 AM, DrFranken wrote:
> > > > > >> > > HA! Yeah I thought that at some point myself, special hidden
> > > > > files or
> > > > > >> > > some bootloader magic in a particular track in sector 0.
> > > > > >> > >
> > > > > >> > > The secret seems to be this block of files:
> > > > > >> > >
> > > > > >> > > QFILEBT
> > > > > >> > > QFILELDS
> > > > > >> > > QFILEMCD
> > > > > >> > > QFILESCR
> > > > > >> > > QIAMXXX
> > > > > >> > >
> > > > > >> > > Where QIAMXXX is QIAM400 if you create the disk with LICPGM
> > > > > option 40
> > r
> > > > > >> > > look at old version of the O/S.
> > > > > >> > >
> > > > > >> > > Clearly if you use a standard burner or Jim's or My favorite
> > > > > program
> > > > > >> > > those files will all be on the disk, that's not the issue. I
> > > > > believe
> > he
> > > > > >> > > issue is that at the time the disk is written certain parts
> > > > > of the
> > > > > >> > > directory or other important things are not always done in a
> > > > > way that
> > > > > >> > > the Power System firmware recognizes that there is anything
> > > > > at all on
> > > > > >> > > the disk.
> > > > > >> > >
> > > > > >> > > What I can tell you is that when it's going to fail, it's
> > > > > going to
> > ail
> > > > > >> > > FAST. You get like one blink on the DVD drive and done. It's
> > > > > as if the
> > > > > >> > > disk is seen as completely empty or perhaps just blank. When
> > > > > it's
> > oing
> > > > > >> > > to work you see multiple blinking fits and after 30 or so
> > > > > seconds it
> > > > > >> > > goes on steady as these files are loaded to memory.
> > > > > >> > >
> > > > > >> > > Popping the disk into a machine that is up and running and
> > > > > you CAN see
> > > > > >> > > the files. I suspect there is less 'intelligence' in the
> > > > > firmware so
> > t
> > > > > >> > > spends less time interrogating the disk. With the O/S up and
> > > > > running
> > t
> > > > > >> > > either works harder or has code that recognizes a disk
> > > > > that's not
> > > > > >> > > 'perfectly' burned.
> > > > > >> > >
> > > > > >> > > - Larry "DrFranken" Bolhuis
> > -