xcatchroot.1

NAME

xcatchroot - Use this xCAT command to modify an xCAT AIX diskless operating system image.

SYNOPSIS

xcatchroot -h

xcatchroot [-V] -i osimage_name cmd_string

DESCRIPTION

For AIX diskless images this command will modify the AIX SPOT resource using the chroot command. You must include the name of an xCAT osimage definition and the command that you wish to have run in the spot.

WARNING:

Be very careful when using this command!!! Make sure you are very clear about exactly what you are changing so that you do not accidentally corrupt the image.

As a precaution it is advisable to make a copy of the original spot in case your changes wind up corrupting the image.

When you are done updating a NIM spot resource you should always run the NIM check operation on the spot.

nim -Fo check <spot_name>

The xcatchroot command will take care of any of the required setup so that the command you provide will be able to run in the spot chroot environment. It will also mount the lpp_source resource listed in the osimage definition so that you can access additional software that you may wish to install.

For example, assume that the location of the spot named in the xCAT osimage definition is /install/nim/spot/614spot/usr. The associated root directory in this spot would be /install/nim/spot/614spot/usr/lpp/bos/inst_root. The chroot is automatically done to this new root directory. The spot location is mounted on /…/inst_root/usr so that when your command is run in the chroot environment it is actually running commands from the spot usr location.

Also, the location of the lpp_source resource specified in the osimage definition will be mounted to a subdirectory of the spot /…/inst_root directory. For example, if the lpp_source location is /install/nim/lpp_source/614lpp_lpp_source then that would be mounted over /install/nim/spot/614spot/usr/lpp/bos/inst_root/lpp_source.

When you provide a command string to run make sure you give the full paths of all commands and files assuming the /…/inst_root directory is you root directory.

If you wish to install software from the lpp_source location you would provide a directory location of /lpp_source (or /lpp_source/installp/ppc or /lpp_source/RPMS/ppc etc.) See the example below.

Always run the NIM check operation after you are done updating your spot. (ex. “nim -o check <spot_name>”)

OPTIONS

cmd_string

The command you wish to have run in the chroot environment. (Use a quoted string.)

-h |--help

Display usage message.

-i osimage_name

The name of the xCAT osimage definition.

-V |--verbose

Verbose mode.

RETURN VALUE

0 The command completed successfully.

1 An error has occurred.

EXAMPLES

1) Set the root password to “cluster” in the spot so that when the diskless node boots it will have a root password set.

xcatchroot -i 614spot "/usr/bin/echo root:cluster | /usr/bin/chpasswd -c"

  1. Install the bash rpm package.

xcatchroot -i 614spot "/usr/bin/rpm -Uvh /lpp_source/RPMS/ppc bash-3.2-1.aix5.2.ppc.rpm"

  1. To enable system debug.

xcatchroot -i 614spot "bosdebug -D -M"

  1. To set the “ipforwarding” system tunable.

xcatchroot -i 614spot "/usr/sbin/no -r -o ipforwarding=1"

FILES

/opt/xcat/bin/xcatchroot

NOTES

This command is part of the xCAT software product.