Re: SAVSYS to IMGCLG then to DVD on PC

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

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