How to quickly clone Linux servers in iSeries partitions

 

The use of virtual devices (disk and network) reduces the number of hardware devices that you need to attach directly to a Linux partition in order to clone a Linux partition on one iSeries™ server and restore it to the same or another iSeries server without reconfiguring the hardware in Linux. To copy a virtual disk, follow these steps:

  1. Sign on to Dedicated Service Tools.

  2. Run the Create a Network Server Description (CRTNWSD) command.

  3. Run the Work with Network Server Storage Space (WRKNWSSTG) command.

  4. Enter 3=Copy in the Option field next to the network server storage space that you want to copy. The Create NWS Storage Space display appears. The input fields for the Size parameter and the From storage space parameter already contain values.

  5. Specify a name and description for the new virtual disk and press the Enter key. At this point, the server creates the new virtual disk as a copy of the existing virtual disk.

  6. Repeat steps 1-5 for each additional virtual disk you want to clone.

  7. Link each network server storage space to the appropriate network storage description by using the Add Network Server Storage Link (ADDNWSSTGL) command.

  8. Vary on the new logical partition by using the VRYCFG command.
To save additional disk storage, split a virtual disk into two disks: a larger one for read-only access and a smaller one for read/write access. You can now copy the read/write disk and share the read-only disk.

 

Parent topic:

Back up and recover a logical partition