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Status Delivered
Workspace AIX
Created by Guest
Created on Apr 7, 2020

Creating ISO files larger than 4 GB with (smitty) mkdvd

If you use the script /usr/sbin/mkcd or mkdvd (is the same script) to create an ISO file from a slightly larger mksysb, a second ISO file is automatically created after 4 GB.

/usr/sbin/mkcd -L -m MKSYSB_FILE -C /tmp -I /tmp -V rootvg -R -S

-rwxr--r-- 1 root system 3380969472 Apr 02 2020 7200-04-01_1of2.iso
-rwxr--r-- 1 root system 4168876032 Apr 02 2020 7200-04-01_2of2.iso

You will find a hard limit in the script file /usr/sbin/mkdvd
DVD_SIZE=4293918720 ## Less than 4.095 GB DVD-R limitation

No, it is unfortunately not sufficient to increase this limit.

But in times of USB sticks and the "Virtual Optical Library" in VIO servers, it should be possible to create ISO files larger than 4 GB.
Best example is the official flash ISO file from AIX 7.2 (AIX_v7.2_Install_7200-04-01-1939_flash_112019.iso), which is over 7 GB in size!

So I would like that the mkcd / mkdvd script, which in turn uses the "mkisofs" command, to be adapted so that the 4 GB limitation can be removed by a command option.
And also the smitty menu (smitty mkdvd) would have to be modified to include this option.

Many thanks for your support!

Idea priority Medium
  • Guest
    Reply
    |
    Oct 21, 2021

    Available in the December 2021 GA of AIX 7.3

  • Guest
    Reply
    |
    May 14, 2021

    IBM Agrees with the request and a solution appears to be desirable and feasible.IBM intends to provide a solution. However, IBM's plans may change and no commitment is made that a solution will be provided.

  • Guest
    Reply
    |
    Jul 31, 2020

    IBM has received this requirement and someone is evaluating it. IBM will provide a response after evaluation is complete.

  • Guest
    Reply
    |
    Jul 17, 2020

    This is something that the AIX community has wanted since the creation of VIOS and virtual repositories. I am very surprised it has not been implemented already. I suppose it is something everyone grumbles about but doesn't create an RFE for..

  • Guest
    Reply
    |
    Jul 17, 2020

    This is something that the AIX community has wanted since the creation of VIOS and virtual repositories. I am very surprised it has not been implemented already. I suppose it is something everyone grumbles about but doesn't create an RFE for..

  • Guest
    Reply
    |
    Jul 17, 2020

    This is something that the AIX community has wanted since the creation of VIOS and virtual repositories. I am very surprised it has not been implemented already. I suppose it is something everyone grumbles about but doesn't create an RFE for..

  • Guest
    Reply
    |
    Apr 18, 2020

    This should be allowable/possible for regular users.
    * AIX install media comes in cloud and flash formats that are over 4.3GB
    * mksysb to raw USBMS is UDFS

    Hopefully this is simple. I've been looking for this functionality too.