To install a VIOS with NIM, you have to use the installation CD of the VIOS. A VIOS is defined into NIM as standard NIM client.

Minimum ressources needed to install a VIOS is :

- mksysb of VIOS
- SPOT based on this mksysb

• To generate an mksysb ressource of a VIOS, first copy the mksysb from the VIOS installation CDROM, the mksysb is composed of 2 file that must be merged:

# cat /cdrom/usr/sys/inst.images/mksysb_image /cdrom/usr/sys/inst.images/mksysb_image2 > /export/mksysb/vios.mksysb

• Define the mksysb NIM ressource type:

# nim -o define -t mksysb -a location=/export/mksysb/vios.mksysb -a server=master mksysb_vios21

• Define the SPOT NIM ressource type (generate always the SPOT from associate MKSYSB):

# nim -o define -t spot -a server=master -a location=/export/vios  -a source=mksysb_vios21 spot_vios21

Now you are ready to install the new VIOS,

smitty nim
- Perform NIM Software Installation and Maintenance Tasks
  - Install and Update Software
   - Install the Base Operating System on Standalone Clients
      Select the VIOS to install
      Choose:
        mksysb - Install from a mksysb
         Select the mksysb defined above
          And the associated SPOT

Using NIM to back up and install the VIOS is supported as follows.

• Always create the SPOT resource directly from the VIOS mksysb image. Do NOT update the SPOT from an LPP_SOURCE.
• Do NOT use NIM to apply VIOS updates. Only the updateios command should be used to update the VIOS.
• To use NIM (only for reinstall VIOS with an mksysb), ensure that the NIM Master is at the appropriate level (minimum level ) to support the VIOS image. Refer to the following table.

https://www14.software.ibm.com/webapp/set2/flrt/sas?page=viostable