Determining the Level of a mksysb

Environment

OS Level: AIX Version 4.2.0
Type/Model: 370

Problem

The user has two mksysb backups, neither of which are labeled. One is an AIX level 4.1 backup; the other is an AIX level 4.2. How can the level of the mksysb backups be determined?

Solution

The level of a mksysb can be determined by extracting and examining the image.data file from the second image of the mksysb.

Enter the following series of commands:

   # chdev -l rmt0 -a block_size=512
   # cd /tmp
   # restore -s2 -xvqf /dev/rmt0.1 ./image.data

Examine the top stanza. Using the vi editor, enter:
```
   # vi .image.data
```
An AIX Version 4.1 stanza will resemble the following:
```
   image_data:
        IMAGE_TYPE= bff
        DATE_TIME= Sun Jun 8 18:58:31 CDT 1997
        UNAME_INFO= AIX yavin 1 4 000051374100
        PRODUCT_TAPE= no
        USERVG_LIST=
```
If the UNAME_INFO= field displays a 1 4, this indicates the mksysb is at AIX level 4.1.x. Similarly, the following information indicates the mksysb is at the exact AIX level 4.2.0.0.
```
   UNAME_INFO= 2 4
   OSLEVEL= 4.2.0.0
```

Determining the Level of a mksysb: ITEM: FAX
Dated: 2000/04/28~00:00 Category: anz
This HTML file was generated 2001/03/08~16:06:38
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