I am curious about your experience now that it is complete.

Which option did you use? Any surprises? Or was it rather straightforward?

Depending on your resources... my suggestion:

In your new Power5 system.
1) Create a nim server based on the version of AIX you are planning for the new systems.
2) register, as client the POWER4 systems (at AIX 5.2, etc.)
3) make a mksysb resource on nim server (mksysb of POWER4 production system)
4) try various paths to restore system.
var 1: add AIX 5.X (same as POWER 4 system) lpp_source and spot; install system AS IS on Power 5 letting lpp_source update devices as needed; perform migration installation on new POWER5 partition using AIX 5.3 lpp_source and spot.
var 2: after making AIX 5.X mksysb resource use AIX 5.3 lpp_source and spot, but AIX 5.2 mksysb image. I haven't tried this myself but this should work similar to a cloned disk installation.

regarding the cloned disk installation: if you can add the extra disk to a production (that can be swapped to the POWER5 location) you could do all the 'installation' steps on the POWER4 system, but do the test booting in the POWER5 hardware.

p.s. also dependent on system resources (in particular slots) you could 'alternate disk' update/installation, and then test in the POWER4 in a new partition.

I am doing some additional work on the vgWiki (http://felt-1.rootvg.net/dokuwiki/doku.php?id=guide:installation) that you may want to look at. There is section I mention (Clone Disk) that I have to start on. What I added now are the three basic installation options (Overwrite, Preservation, and Migration).

I have to look up some terms before I can write the "Clone Disk" installation section. Roughly this involves copying (cloning) the currrent rootvg onto new disk(s) and then performing either a migration or preservation install on the cloned disks. The next step is to reboot the system using the "cloned" disks. If there are problems you can reboot to the original (i.e. unmodified) rootvg (called old_rootvg on new system) - thus keeping downtime to a minimum.

Be forewarned: do NOT varyonvg the old_rootvg as AIX will rename the logical volumes in old_rootvg and you will not be able to reboot from that disk without a rremendous amount of work (much easier and probably faster to to a mysysb restore).

As always: make a mksysb before starting with any of these procedures. And, time permitting, verify that the tape backup can be read.

One of the standard options to install AIX (I believe it is selected by default) is to install all devices.
Select option 2 (to change settings), select new and complete (or something like that), the disk you want to install, and then check the 'more options' area (option #3 I think). All devices, 64-bit kernel, etc. are there.

And I advise selecting TCB (trusted computing base) even if you are not planning on using it right away. You can only activate it at install, so it becomes very difficult to use it later.

Cloning is that you can install multiple systems from the same image. The idea is that you provide new hostname, IP addresses, etc..

If you just want to move it to a new system, that is not 'cloning' in the classic sense that you are going to install it multiple times on different systems.

All you need do is still install all devices, and then do a traditional install of a mksysb image.

If you have any questions about that I'll try to make some screen shots showing the steps involved. That may take some time (as in Monday or Tuesday) as I dont have a system setup with a tape in it, and nim mysysb installs look a bit different from a tape/cd mksysb system restore.

No.

use: smitty easy_install
select the bundle AllDevicesKernels

And install.

Use preview first if you like. And I recommend making a mksysb backup beforehand.

After installing the Bundle, update to a recent TL (technology level). Check with your VAR, or Application provider to know which TL is supported.

For updates, TL levls, use the vgBookmarks, Downloads->Maintainence to find the quick links to fixes, etc..

Basically, the only thing needed to clone a system is to install all devices.