bffcreate Command: Create AIX Installation Images in Backup Format
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bffcreate Command: Installation Image Creation
Purpose
Creates installation image files in Backup File Format (BFF).
Syntax
bffcreate [ -q ] [ -S ] [ -U ] [ -v ] [ -X ] [ -d Device ] [ -t SaveDir ] [ -w Directory ] [ -M Platform ] { [ -l | -L ] | -c [ -s LogFile ] | Package [Level ] ... | -f ListFile | all }
Description
The bffcreate command is used to generate installation image files in Backup File Format (BFF), essential for software installation operations on AIX systems.
This utility creates installation image files from specified installation media. It can also automatically generate images from hypertext sources, such as those found on operating system documentation CD-ROMs. The resulting BFF file is saved to the directory specified by the SaveDir parameter.
Crucially, the .toc file within the SaveDir is automatically updated to include an entry for the newly created image file. This prepares the image for subsequent software installation using the installp command.
BFF Naming Conventions
The bffcreate command determines the Backup File Format (BFF) name based on the following information:
| Neutral Packages | package.v.r.m.f.platform.installtype |
| POWER-based Platform Packages | package.v.r.m.f.installtype |
| Image Type | Target BFF Name |
|---|---|
| Installation image for the POWER-based platform | package.v.r.m.f.I |
| Installation image for Neutral | package.v.r.m.f.N.I |
| 3.1 update for the POWER-based platform | package.v.r.m.f.service# |
| 3.2 update for the POWER-based platform | package.v.r.m.f.ptf |
| 4.X** or later updates for the POWER-based platform | package.part.v.r.m.f.U |
| Update image for Neutral | package.v.r.m.f.N.U |
** Note: 4.X or later updates contain only one package. Additionally, AIX Version 4 and later updates do not contain ptf IDs. |
Key Naming Components
- package: The name of the software package, as described by the PackageName parameter.
- v.r.m.f: Represents the version, release, modification, and fix level associated with the software package. Note that the PackageName is usually not the same as the fileset name.
- ptf: Stands for Program Temporary Fix ID, also known as FixID.
The installation image file name follows the format Package.Level.I. Here, Package refers to the name of the software package (as described for the Package Name parameter), and Level adheres to the v.r.m.f format, where