AIX VM with qemu

Introduction

What can it be used for?

AIX Training and Practice
Testing/Developing Environment for AIX
Cybersecurity Lab for AIX
Running AIX on your laptop for whatever you want to accomplish

Prerequisities:

QEMU Install
aix_7200-04-00-1937_1of2_112019.iso
Fedora 40 Linux Install (Recommended)

Updated by 2025/2/17: AIX 7200-04-00 成功更新到 7200-05-06-2320，使用官方更新程序，時間花費 5 小時 10 分。

QEMU commands

PowerPC System Board-specific

qemu-system-ppc64 --machine help

cobra@fedora-vm:~$ qemu-system-ppc64 --version

QEMU emulator version 8.2.6 (qemu-8.2.6-3.fc40)
Copyright (c) 2003-2023 Fabrice Bellard and the QEMU Project developers

這版的 QEMU 已經修復了 ps, crontab, cron, java 指令問題。

Install AIX from CD-ROM

Create a VM disk

mkdir aix72VM
cd aix72VM
qemu-img create -f  qcow2  hdisk0.qcow2  20G

注意: AIX 版本必須 7200-03-00 以後版本才有支援。

aix_7200-04-00-1937_1of2_112019.iso

cd aix72VM
mv aix_7200-04-00-1937_1of2_112019.iso AIX72.iso

Boot from cd-rom

cd aix72VM

qemu-system-ppc64 -cpu POWER8 \
-machine pseries -m 4096 -serial stdio \
-drive file=hdisk0.qcow2,if=none,id=drive-virtio-disk0 \
-device virtio-scsi-pci,id=scsi \
-device scsi-hd,drive=drive-virtio-disk0 \
-cdrom $PWD/AIX72.iso \
-prom-env "boot-command=boot cdrom:" \
-prom-env "input-device=/vdevice/vty@71000000" \
-prom-env "output-device=/vdevice/vty@71000000"

Type 1 and press Enter

Press Enter

Type 2

Type 4

Type 5

Type 0

Press Enter to install AIX

看到這畫面時，表示 AIX 作業系統已經完成安裝。

輸入 Ctrl + C 離開

Fix boot issue

Boot from cd-rom

cd aix72VM

qemu-system-ppc64 -cpu POWER8 \
-machine pseries -m 4096 -serial stdio \
-drive file=hdisk0.qcow2,if=none,id=drive-virtio-disk0 \
-device virtio-scsi-pci,id=scsi \
-device scsi-hd,drive=drive-virtio-disk0 \
-cdrom $PWD/AIX72.iso \
-prom-env "boot-command=boot cdrom:" \
-prom-env "input-device=/vdevice/vty@71000000" \
-prom-env "output-device=/vdevice/vty@71000000"

Type 1 and press Enter

Press Enter

Type 3

Type 0

Type 1

輸入修復開機指令

Fix boot issue

cd /sbin/helpers/jfs2
mv fsck64 fsck64.old
ln -s fsck fsck64

mv logredo64 logredo64.old
ln -s logredo logredo64

sync;sync;
halt

First boot from hdisk

cd aix72VM

qemu-system-ppc64 -cpu POWER8 \
-machine pseries -m 4096 -serial stdio \
-drive file=hdisk0.qcow2,if=none,id=drive-virtio-disk0 \
-device virtio-scsi-pci,id=scsi \
-device scsi-hd,drive=drive-virtio-disk0 \
-cdrom $PWD/AIX72.iso \
-prom-env "boot-command=boot hdisk:" \
-prom-env "input-device=/vdevice/vty@71000000" \
-prom-env "output-device=/vdevice/vty@71000000"

Type vt100

Select: Accept License Agreements

Tips: 如果這裡的畫面出現沒有對齊的情況，且影響到後續的操作。按下 Ctrl + C 先中斷離開，將終端機的字形調更小，然後再重新執行步驟。

Select: Accept Software Maintenance Terms and Conditions

Select: Set root Password

Tip: 設定完密碼後，最後要選擇 Task Completed - Exit to Login。如果略過這，下次在開啟系統時，初始化的步驟仍會再出現。

用剛剛設定的 root 帳密登入

Post-tasks

- Disable some problematic services

rmitab diagd
rmitab rcnfs
rmitab aso
rmitab clcomd
rmitab pfcdaemon
stopsrc -s clcomd
stopsrc -s pfcdaemon

lsitab -a
lssrc -a

- Network setup

On Linux)

net_tap.sh:

BRIDGE=virbr0
NETWORK=192.168.99.0
NETMASK=255.255.255.0
GATEWAY=192.168.99.1
DHCPRANGE=192.168.99.2,192.168.99.50
TAP=tap0

sudo ip link add $BRIDGE type bridge
sudo ip link set dev $BRIDGE up
sudo ip addr add dev $BRIDGE $GATEWAY/$NETMASK

sudo ip tuntap add $TAP mode tap
sudo ip link set $TAP master $BRIDGE
sudo ip link set up dev $TAP

# Uncomment the following lines to enable the DHCP server
#dns_cmd=(
#    dnsmasq
#    --strict-order
#    --except-interface=lo
#    --interface=$BRIDGE
#    --listen-address=$GATEWAY
#    --bind-interfaces
#    --dhcp-range=$DHCPRANGE
#    --conf-file=""
#    --pid-file=/var/run/qemu-dnsmasq-$BRIDGE.pid
#    --dhcp-leasefile=/var/run/qemu-dnsmasq-$BRIDGE.leases
#    --dhcp-no-override
#)
#echo ${dns_cmd[@]} | sudo bash

Run net_tap.sh

bash net_tap.sh

Allow access to internet

sudo firewall-cmd --permanent --zone=public --add-interface=tap0
sudo firewall-cmd --permanent --add-masquerade
sudo firewall-cmd --reload

Boot with network interface tap0

qemu-system-ppc64 -cpu POWER8 \
  -machine pseries -m 4096 -serial mon:stdio \
  -drive file=hdisk0.qcow2,if=none,id=drive-virtio-disk0 \
  -device virtio-scsi-pci,id=scsi \
  -device scsi-hd,drive=drive-virtio-disk0 \
  -cdrom $PWD/AIX72.iso \
  -net nic -net tap,script=no,ifname=tap0 \
  -prom-env "boot-command=boot disk:" \
  -nographic

On AIX)

# Check the network interface
lsdev -Cc if
lsdev -Cc adapter

# Set the ip
chdev -l en0 -a netaddr=192.168.99.100 -a netmask=255.255.255.0 -a state=up
route add 0 192.168.99.1
# Alternatively, using the following command instead 
/usr/sbin/mktcpip -h'aixvm' -a'192.168.99.100' -m'255.255.255.0' -i'en0' -g'192.168.99.1' -A'no' -t'N/A'

echo "nameserver 1.1.1.1" > /etc/resolv.conf

- Increase the filesystem size

lsdev -Cc disk
lscfg -vl hdisk0
chfs -a size=+1024M /home
chfs -a size=+2048M /opt
chfs -a size=+512M /tmp
chfs -a size=+2048M /usr
chfs -a size=+1024M /var

- Install OpenSSH

mount  -v  cdrfs  -o  ro  /dev/cd0  /mnt
mkdir   /tmp/ssh_install
cd  /mnt/installp/ppc
cp  openssh*  /tmp/ssh_install
cd  /tmp/ssh_install
installp -acgXYd . openssh.base openssh.license openssh.man.en_US openssh.msg.en_US
lssrc  -s  sshd

- Fix the RPM issue

error: cannot open Packages index using db4 - Invalid argument (22)
error: cannot open Packages database in /opt/freeware/packages
error: db4 error(22) from dbenv->open: Invalid argument

Solution: fixrpm.sh

#!/usr/bin/ksh

cd /opt/freeware
rm -f *.rpm.packages.tar
tar -chvf `date +"%d%m%Y"`.rpm.packages.tar packages
rm -f /opt/freeware/packages/__*
/usr/bin/rpm --rebuilddb

exit 0

Edit /etc/initab, insert the line after the rctcpip

rctcpip:23456789:wait:/etc/rc.tcpip > /dev/console 2>&1 # Start TCP/IP daemons
fixrpm:23456789:once:/fixrpm.sh > /dev/null 2>&1 # Added by Alang

- Install AIX Toolbox

Download the files

dnf_aixtoolbox.sh : https://public.dhe.ibm.com/aix/freeSoftware/aixtoolbox/ezinstall/ppc/dnf_aixtoolbox.sh
openssl-1.1.2.2000.tar.Z : https://www.ibm.com/resources/mrs/assets?source=aixbp&S_PKG=openssl

cd /home/worktmp
uncompress openssl-1.1.2.2000.tar.Z
tar -xvf openssl-1.1.2.2000.tar
cd openssl-1.1.2.2000
installp -qaXFY -d . openssl.base openssl.license openssl.man.en_US
openssl version

cd /home/worktmp
rpm --rebuilddb
ksh dnf_aixtoolbox.sh -y
/opt/freeware/bin/dnf update
/opt/freeware/bin/dnf install bash

- Optional tasks

> Custom the prompt, create the profile /.profile

PS1="`whoami`@`hostname -s`:"'${PWD##*/}> '

> Timezone

smitty > System Environments > Change/Show Date and Time > Change Time Zone Using System

echo $TZ

> The ordering of certain name resolution services

修復 ping 本地主機名時會回應遲鈍問題。

Edit: /etc/netsvc.conf

hosts = local, bind4

> Set the environment variables

Edit: /etc/environment

# Fix for not properly displaying with smitty on the tmux 
TERM=xterm

其他管理工作

- 掛載 CD ISO 檔

修改qemu 啟動參數 -cdrom /path/to/your-cd.iso

qemu-system-ppc64 -cpu POWER8 \
  -machine pseries -m 4096 -serial mon:stdio \
  -drive file=hdisk0.qcow2,if=none,id=drive-virtio-disk0 \
  -device virtio-scsi-pci,id=scsi \
  -device scsi-hd,drive=drive-virtio-disk0 \
  -cdrom $PWD/AIX72.iso \
  -net nic -net tap,script=no,ifname=tap0 \
  -prom-env "boot-command=boot disk:" \
  -nographic

AIX 掛載指令

mount  -v  cdrfs  -o  ro  /dev/cd0  /mnt

- 增加第2顆虛擬硬碟

在 Linux 主機：新增 5G 虛擬磁碟 hdisk1.qcow2

cd aix72VM
qemu-img create -f qcow2 hdisk1.qcow2 5G

修改啟動指令，新增兩行參數

注意：之後如有變更參數的 disk id 名稱，啟動後 AIX 內的 hdisk 編號也會變動。

-drive file=hdisk1.qcow2,if=none,id=drive-virtio-disk1 \
-device scsi-hd,drive=drive-virtio-disk1 \

完整啟動參數

qemu-system-ppc64 -cpu POWER8 \
  -machine pseries -m 4096 -serial mon:stdio \
  -cdrom $PWD/AIX72.iso \
  -device virtio-scsi-pci,id=scsi \
  -drive file=hdisk0.qcow2,if=none,id=drive-virtio-disk0 \
  -device scsi-hd,drive=drive-virtio-disk0 \
  -drive file=hdisk1.qcow2,if=none,id=drive-virtio-disk1 \
  -device scsi-hd,drive=drive-virtio-disk1 \
  -net nic -net tap,script=no,ifname=tap0 \
  -prom-env "boot-command=boot disk:" \
  -nographic -smp 2

在 AIX 主機：檢視硬碟 hdisk1

root@aixvm:> lspv
hdisk0          00000000375ffb46                    rootvg          active
hdisk1          none00000000fdb40f0f                    Nonerootvg          active

root@aixvm:> lsdev -Cc disk
hdisk0 Available 00-10 MPIO Other Virtio SCSI Disk Drive
hdisk1 Available 00-10 MPIO Other Virtio SCSI Disk Drive

root@aixvm:> lscfglsmpio -vplq
hdisk1Device           hdisk1Vendor qemu_virtio-scsi-pci:0000:00:02.0-LW_0Id  MPIOProduct OtherId       VirtioSize       SCSIVolume DiskName
Drive---------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Manufacturer................hdisk0           QEMU       Machine Type and Model......QEMU HARDDISK      Part20.00GiB  Number.................-
ROShdisk1           LevelQEMU       andQEMU ID............322E352BHARDDISK      Serial20.00GiB  Number...............-

ECroot@aixvm:> Level....................lspv FRU-u
Number..................hdisk0          Device00000000375ffb46                    Specific.(Z0)........00000512FA000012rootvg          Deviceactive              Specific.(Z1)........33130drive-virtio-disk00DQEMU DeviceHARDDISK04QEMUvrtscsi                  Specific.(Z2)........8eca6bf6-b924-0872-c039-8cb2a62de21a
Devicehdisk1          Specific.(Z3)........00000000fdb40f0f                    Devicerootvg          Specific.(Z4)........active              Device33130drive-virtio-disk10DQEMU Specific.(Z5)........HARDDISK04QEMUvrtscsi                  Device Specific.(Z6)........


  PLATFORM SPECIFIC

  Name:  disk
    Node:  disk
    Device Type:  blockc618c61a-8c74-19e4-6cfa-beae464aaf14

- 增加 vCPU

預設 QEMU 只有 1 vCPU，要改善 AIX 的效能，可以視硬體等級增加更多 vCPU。

qemu-system-ppc64 啟動參數加上

-nographic -smp 2,sockets=2,cores=1,threads=1

- 增加虛擬網卡裝置

qemu-system-ppc64 啟動參數設置兩個虛擬網卡

-net nic \
-net nic \
-net tap,script=no,ifname=tap0 \

如果要榜定 mac addr.

-net nic,macaddr=56:44:45:30:31:31 \
-net nic,macaddr=56:44:45:30:31:32 \
-net tap,script=no,ifname=tap0 \

系統效能

實測數據

AIX 更新: 從 7200-04-00-0000 至 7200-05-06-2320，更新檔約 7.9GB，總花費時間 5 小時 10 分。
DB2 Server: 安裝 v11.1 花費 51 分鐘，安裝 FP 7 花費 1.5 小時。

I/O 優化

AIX 分配 4GB RAM 時，外層 Fedora Linux 建議 12 GB以上 RAM，可避免 Fedora Linux 使用 SWAP memory，以致影響 AIX 的 I/O 效能。
如果 Fedora Linux 啟用多個 AIX VMs，Fedora Linux 記憶體配置需要適時地增加。
外部電腦要與 AIX 進行檔案交換時，可使用 scp 指令。盡可能不要使用 Fedora Linux 做中繼，因為 Fedora Linux 同時間要執行寫入與讀取，會影響檔案傳輸的效率。

磁區建議最小空間分配

/ : 1GB
/usr : 5GB
/var : 1.5GB
/tmp : 1GB
/opt : 7GB (For DB2 Server)

AIX VM with qemu

Introduction

QEMU commands

Install AIX from CD-ROM

Fix boot issue

First boot from hdisk

Post-tasks

- Disable some problematic services

- Network setup

- Increase the filesystem size

- Install OpenSSH

- Fix the RPM issue

- Install AIX Toolbox

- Optional tasks

其他管理工作

- 掛載 CD ISO 檔

- 增加第2顆虛擬硬碟

- 增加 vCPU

- 增加虛擬網卡裝置

系統效能

實測數據

I/O 優化

磁區建議最小空間分配

遷移現有的 AIX 系統

References