Creating a system backup to CD-R, DVD-R, or DVD-RAM

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Creating a backup on CD-R, DVD-R, or DVD-RAM media is similar to making a backup tape for your personal use, but with some noticeable differences.

For DVD media, the following formats for creating backups are available:

ISO9660 CD format, which is available for DVD-R/DVD-RAM media.
Universal Disk Format (UDF), which is available for DVD-RAM media. For information about creating a backup to DVD-RAM using UDF, see Creating system backups using DVD-RAM media and Universal Disk Format.

Note: For information about CD-R, DVD-R, or DVD-RAM drives and CD-R, DVD-R, or DVD-RAM creation software, refer to the following readme file:

/usr/lpp/bos.sysmgt/mkcd.README.txt

SMIT uses the mkcd command, which calls the mksysb or savevg command, if needed.

For system backups, the CDs or DVDs can be created as:

Non-bootable CDs or DVDs
Bootable CDs or DVDs

A bootable system backup contains a boot image and all the device and kernel packages necessary to install a system. A backup CD or DVD can be used to install (clone) a large number of machines, which is convenient when each machine in the system environment needs to have the same image installed.

Note: It is possible that a backup CD or DVD would not boot all machines of the same type because not every machine has the same hardware configuration. Depending on what packages were made available during the creation of the backup, the backup might not have all the necessary packages to boot an individual system. Most required packages for systems are present on the BOS AIX® media.

SMIT interfaces are available for the mkcd command. Online help can guide you through the required steps.