AIX commands

AIX Command

AIX supports a number of different networking technologies, including Ethernet, Token-ring, and Fiber Distributed Data Interface (FDDI). For purposes of this discussion we will assume Ethernet, since its use is so widespread. You must have the bosnet.tcpip.obj software installed in order to configure TCP/IP.

On most UNIX systems you configure TCP/IP with commands such as ifconfig and route, and then make your configuration permanent by editing startup files. You can do this with AIX, but since TCP/IP configuration is part of the ODM database, it is best to use SMIT to do all your configuration.

Basic TCP/IP Configuration

1. Start SMIT:

# smit mktcpip

2. On the Available Network Interfaces screen, select the appropriate interface. Upon bootup cfgmgr recognizes the network card and configures it into the ODM database.
3. On the Minimum Configuration & Startup menu, fill in, as a minimum, the HOSTNAME, Internet ADDRESS fields. Also specify whether or not you want to start TCP/IP now or at bootup in the START Now field.
4. Additional parameters that can be configured with this screen are network mask, name service, gateway, and cable types. If you leave the Network MASK field blank, AIX will provide you with a default value based upon the class of the system's IP address. For the CABLE Type field, bnc specifies thin cable and dix specifies thick; for other types, choose N/A.

Example

Minimum Configuration & Startup

To Delete existing configuration data, please use Further Configuration menus

Type or select values in entry fields.

Press Enter AFTER making all desired changes.

                                                             [Entry Fields]

* HOSTNAME                                           [a2410bjv]

* Internet ADDRESS (dotted decimal)                  [15.24.48.58]

  Network MASK (dotted decimal)                      [255.255.248.0]

* Network INTERFACE                                   en0

  NAMESERVER

           Internet ADDRESS (dotted decimal)         [15.41.144.101]

           DOMAIN Name                               [nsr.hp.com]

  Default GATEWAY Address                            [15.24.55.253]

  (dotted decimal or symbolic name)

  Your CABLE Type                                     N/A              +

  START Now                                           no               +

Setting the Hostname

To set or reset your host's name,

1. Start SMIT:

# smit hostname

2. Choose the Set the Hostname menu item.
3. Fill in the new hostname in the HOSTNAME field.

Adding a Route

1. Start SMIT:

# smit mkroute

2. Fill in the values for DESTINATION Address and Default GATEWAY Address. For Destination Type you have a choice between net and host. AIX provides a default value of 1 for the METRIC field.

---

Add Static Route

Type or select values in entry fields.

Press Enter AFTER making all desired changes.

                                                        [Entry Fields]

  Destination TYPE                                    net              +

* DESTINATION Address                                []

  (dotted decimal or symbolic name)

* Default GATEWAY Address                            []

  (dotted decimal or symbolic name)

* METRIC (number of hops to destination gateway)     [1]               #

Removing a Route

Removing a route in SMIT looks much as the same as adding a route. Just type in the following and fill in the appropriate values:

# smit rmroute

Flushing the Routing Table

To flush the routing table,

1. Start SMIT:

# smit fshrttbl

2. This produces the following:

---

Flush Routing Table

Type or select values in entry fields.

Press Enter AFTER making all desired changes.

                                                        [Entry Fields]

  Flush Routing Table in the Current Running System   yes              +

  Flush Routing Table in the Configuration Data Base  no               +

   (effective in the next system restart)

---

If you want to flush the routing table temporarily but keep the routing information in the database, accept the defaults. If you want to clear the ODM of routing information, select yes for Flush Routing Table in the Configuration Data Base.

Changing Network Card Configuration

To alter the configuration of a network card, do the following:

1. Start SMIT:

# smit chinet

2. Select the appropriate interface in the Available Network Interfaces menu.
3. Make the appropriate changes as needed. If you leave the BROADCAST ADDRESS field blank, AIX will provide a default based on the subnet mask.

Example

Change / Show a Standard Ethernet Interface

Type or select values in entry fields.

Press Enter AFTER making all desired changes.

                                                        [Entry Fields]

  Network Interface Name                              en0

  INTERNET ADDRESS (dotted decimal)                  [15.24.48.58]

  Network MASK (hexadecimal or dotted decimal)       [255.255.248.0]

  Current STATE                                       up               +

  Use Address Resolution Protocol (ARP)?              yes              +

  BROADCAST ADDRESS (dotted decimal)                 []

Removing Network Card Configuration

There is no SMIT fastpath option to removing an interface. Instead,

1. Start SMIT:

# smit inet

2. Select the Remove a Network Interface option.
3. Select the appropriate interface.

CAUTION: SMIT removes the interface without prompting!

Managing Name Servers

To edit /etc/resolv.conf:

1. Start SMIT:

# smit resolv.conf

2. This produces the following:

Domain Nameserver (/etc/resolv.conf)

Move cursor to desired item and press Enter.

  Start Using the Nameserver

  List All Nameservers

  Add a Nameserver

  Remove a Nameserver

  Stop Using a Nameserver

  -------------------------------

  Set / Show the Domain

  Remove the Domain

Use this as a means to edit the /etc/resolv.conf file or use a text editor to do so.

Adding Entries to /etc/hosts

1. Start SMIT:

# smit hostent

2. This produces the following:

Hosts Table (/etc/hosts)

Move cursor to desired item and press Enter.

  List All Hosts

  Add a Host

  Change / Show Characteristics of a Host

  Remove a Host

Use this as a means to edit the /etc/hosts file or use a text editor to do so.

Editing /etc/inetd.conf

To edit /etc/inetd.conf and ensure the ODM database is updated:

1. Start SMIT:

# smit inetdconf

2. This produces the following:

inetd Subservers

Move cursor to desired item and press Enter.

  List All inetd Subservers

  Add an inetd Subserver

  Change / Show Characteristics of an inetd Subserver

  Remove an inetd Subserver

Use the menu selections to add or remove entries to the /etc/inetd.conf and update the ODM. If, however, you edit /etc/inetd.conf with a text editor you must use the inetimp command to update the new information in the InetServ object class in the ODM.

Editing the /etc/services File

You can use SMIT to edit /etc/services and at the same time ensure that the ODM database is updated.

1. Start SMIT:

# smit inetserv

2. This produces the following:

Services (/etc/services)

Move cursor to desired item and press Enter.

  List All Services

  Add a Service

  Change / Show Characteristics of a Service

  Remove a Service

Follow the menus to make the changes you desire. As with the /etc/inetd.conf file, you must use inetimp to update the ODM after using a text editor to change the /etc/services file.

Editing /etc/hosts.equiv

To create entries to or modify /etc/hosts.equiv using SMIT:

1. Start SMIT:

# smit hostsequiv

2. This produces the following:

Host Access (/etc/host.equiv)

Move cursor to desired item and press Enter.

  List All Remote Hosts

  Add a Remote Host

  Remove a Remote Host

Follow the menus to make the changes you desire.

Editing /etc/ftpusers

To edit /etc/ftpusers:

1. Start SMIT:

# smit ftpusers

2. This produces the following:

Restrict File Transfer Program Users (/etc/ftpusers)

Move cursor to desired item and press Enter.

  Show All Restricted Users

  Add a Restricted User

  Remove a Restricted User

Managing Other Services

1. Start SMIT:

# smit otherserv

2. This produces the following:

Other Available Services

Move cursor to desired item and press Enter.

  Super Daemon (inetd)

  syslogd Subsystem

  routed Subsystem

  gated Subsystem

  named Subsystem

  rwhod Subsystem

  timed Subsystem

  portmap Subsystem (information only)