====== AIX (Unix) Resources ======

==== Versions of AIX We Support ====

PARSEC provides [[https://www.parsec.com/support/os-support/aix.php|professional services]] and [[https://www.parsec.com/support/os-support/aix.php|operating system support services]] and [[https://www.parsec.com/training/aix/schedule.php|AIX training]]. We support all AIX versions from 4.3 forward. We also provide support for IBM's virtualization suite called VIOS.

==== PARSEC Tech Support ====

[[README.FIRST -- Hints on Cut-&-Pasting Text From This Wiki]]\\
[[How To Initiate a PARSEC Tech Support Call]]

===== Creating a Snap Archive =====

Most AIX systems come pre-installed with a helpful utility called [[https://www.ibm.com/support/knowledgecenter/en/ssw_aix_72/com.ibm.aix.cmds5/snap.htm|snap]] which is a command line tool to create a diagnostic bundle. This has most (not all) of the technical information one needs to troubleshoot an AIX system. In order to create a snap archive, use the command **snap -ac** which will deposit an archive in **/tmp/ibmsupt/snap.pax.Z**. We will need this archive for problem determination. Please send this via our [[ftp_server|FTP Server]]. 

===== Sending TOPAS Data =====

Most AIX systems record the last week's worth of performance history in **/etc/perf/daily**. The files in this directory are actually binary and it's easier to work with them if they are decoded to CSV format before sending them. The tool [[https://www.ibm.com/support/knowledgecenter/es/ssw_aix_72/com.ibm.aix.cmds5/topasout.htm?view=kc|topasout]] is available for this task. The syntax is **topasout -c datafile** where the 'datafile' is the file you find in **/etc/perf/daily**. You'll notice that you now have an output file in your current working directory. The file will have a similar name to the data file. This is a record of performance history for the 24 hour period recorded in the file. The sample frequency is every five minutes. This data can be graphed and interpreted for a [[clearer understanding]] of the systems performance.