IBM Power Systems AIX and VIOS Log Collection (snap and Common Commands)

For IBM Power servers running AIX, collect a snap archive of system and hardware information and save relevant diagnostic command output. Enable session logging in SecureCRT, PuTTY or another terminal client.

Collect snap package

1. Log in to the AIX system as the root user.

2. Clear old snap data:

   snap -r

3. Collect snap (includes hardware information, error logs, and system configuration). After completion, it is generated in the /tmp/ibmsupt directory as snap.pax.Z:

   snap -gc
   # For additional data requested by support:snap -gfLikc  or  snap -ac

4. Download /tmp/ibmsupt/snap.pax.Z for technical support. Check free space with df -g /tmp and make enough space available before collection.

Common diagnostic commands

Command	Description
uname -uM	Device model and serial number
oslevel -s	AIX version and patch level
prtconf	Hardware configuration summary
lscfg -vp	Detailed information for all hardware (including FRU numbers)
errpt / errpt -a	Error log summary / detailed information
lsvg -l rootvg	rootvg logical volume and mirror status
lsvg -p rootvg	Local disk status
lsdev -Cc disk / lspv	All disks
lspath	Storage link status
pcmpath query adapter	IBM storage (SDDPCM) links
powermt display	EMC storage (PowerPath) links
df -g	Filesystem utilization
netstat -in / netstat -rn	Network interface cards and routing
vmstat 1 5 / svmon -G / iostat 1 5 / lsps -s	CPU, memory, disk, and swap space utilization

If PowerHA (HACMP) dual-system is configured, supplement with:

lssrc -g cluster
/usr/es/sbin/cluster/clstat -a
/usr/es/sbin/cluster/utilities/clRGinfo
/usr/es/sbin/cluster/utilities/clshowsrv -v
/usr/es/sbin/cluster/utilities/cltopinfo

For systems with early 7133 SSA disk arrays attached, supplement SSA status:

ssa_fw_status -a ssa0
# Also save output from these menus:
#   diag → Task Selection → SSA Service Aids → Link Verification
#   smitty ssaraid → List All Defined SSA RAID Arrays / List Hot Spare

VIOS (VIO Server) log collection

1. Log in to VIO Server using the padmin user (default password must be changed upon first login; follow actual settings).

2. At the $ prompt, save virtualization mapping information:

   lsnports
   lsmap -all

3. Execute oem_setup_env to enter root's ksh (# prompt), then execute the commands under "Common diagnostic commands" above and save the output:

   oem_setup_env
   uname -uM; errpt; errpt -a; prtconf; lscfg -vp; oslevel -s
   lsvg -l rootvg; lsvg -p rootvg; lsdev -Cc disk; lspv; lspath
   pcmpath query adapter; powermt display; df -g; netstat -in
   vmstat; svmon -G; iostat; lsps -s

For a VIOS snap archive, IBM also documents running snap directly as padmin; the package is created in /home/padmin. Follow the flags and additional collection instructions requested by your support team.