The AIX ghostdev parameter Gathering environment configuration data 22  Implementing IBM VM Recovery Manager for IBM Power Systems The machine type and serial number of the host is obtained by running the AIX  prtconf command. The network parameters (for example, IP address, and so on) can probably be  acquired from your network administrator. Example 1-1 shows an example of using  prtconf  from the AIX VM to gather system model  and serial number information. The first step in this process is to gather data that is pertinent for the configuration of the VM  at each site. For each site, you need: You use the  ghostdev  setting because you want to prevent the primary site IP addresses from  becoming active, even for a short period, at the DR site. However, the clearing of the VG  information and setting of devices to their default values means that you must use scripts to  return those values to their customize settings. Without the  ghostdev  parameter, a copied AIX VM comes up with the previous host name, IP  address, and device configuration. Because those devices no longer exist on the copied VM,  they are in  Defined  state. We call these devices  ghost  devices, hence the name of the  ghostdev  parameter. You use the AIX  ghostdev  parameter mainly for taking an image of an AIX operating system  by using something like the AIX mksysb facility, and then you use that mksysb image to build  more AIX VMs. AIX uses the  ghostdev  parameter to: GLYPH<SM590000> Determine whether it is operating on the same hardware as previously. GLYPH<SM590000> If it is a new AIX image, it clears the host name and IP address configuration. GLYPH<SM590000> It also clears the VG information and disk drive information, and sets devices to their  default settings. GLYPH<SM590000> The machine type and the serial number of the system (host) the VM moves from and to. GLYPH<SM590000> The host name of the VM when it is at each host. GLYPH<SM590000> The related network configuration of the VM when it is at each host: – IP address –N e t m a s k – Default gateway – DNS server Example 1-1 System model and serial number information root@rt11006: / # prtconf | grep -iE "system model|serial number" System Model: IBM,8286-42A Machine Serial Number: 2100E5W