Planning for CSM for AIX Install Servers

Install servers are CSM nodes that provide basic operating system installation services and NFS file services during CSM node installs. An AIX install server is a NIM master that is used to install AIX on CSM nodes. Your AIX management server can also be your AIX install server. However, you may need to set up a separate AIX install server if you want to install AIX nodes at a higher operating system level than exists on the CSM for AIX management server. NIM requires that the NIM master be at the same or higher level of AIX as the level to be installed on the NIM clients. You will also need an AIX install server if you have a Linux management server and you want to install operating systems on your AIX nodes in an heterogeneous cluster.

The requirements for a CSM for AIX install server, which are similar to those for a CSM for AIX management server, are the following:

• The install server must be capable of running AIX 5L Version 5.2 or higher, and CSM 1.4.1 or higher
• A sufficient number of network adapters are required to accommodate the network installation of all nodes to be served by this install server. See Network requirements.
• The nodes to be served must be network connected to this install server either directly through a local subnet or indirectly through a gateway.
• A minimum of 512 MB of memory and 250 MB of disk space is required for CSM. Additional disk space is required to support the installation of the AIX operating system and CSM on the nodes to be served by this install server. (For every version of AIX that you want to install you will need at least 2.0 GB of storage.)