A NIM client can be rebooted from the associated NIM master using the “reboot” operation. This operation is not intended for a normal reboot, but rather for a subsequent reinstallation. The reboot is performed with “reboot -q” on the NIM client. This does not stop running processes like “shutdown -r“. However, this operation can be useful in case of problems, such as when logging in to the NIIM client is no longer possible. There are several optional attributes that can be specified:

aixnim # lsnim -q reboot aix05

the following attributes are optional:
        -a inst_warning=<value>
        -a show_progress=<value>
        -a open_console=<value>
        -a display=<value>

aixnim # 

We start the reboot operation without attributes:

aixnim # nim -o reboot aix05
aixnim # 

The reboot is triggered approximately 3 minutes after the command is started. The following commands are executed on the NIM client via NIMSH:

aix05 # grep exec /var/adm/ras/nimsh.log
…
Tue Jun 10 07:21:00 2025        command to exec  __  /usr/bin/echo >/dev/null
Tue Jun 10 07:21:15 2025        command to exec  __  /usr/bin/test -f /etc/nimstop && print 0 || print 1
Tue Jun 10 07:21:30 2025        command to exec  __  /usr/sbin/sync
Tue Jun 10 07:21:46 2025        command to exec  __  /usr/sbin/sync
Tue Jun 10 07:22:01 2025        command to exec  __  /usr/sbin/bootinfo -T 2>/dev/null
Tue Jun 10 07:22:16 2025        command to exec  __  /usr/bin/uname -m 2>/dev/null
Tue Jun 10 07:22:31 2025        command to exec  __  /usr/bin/echo "/usr/sbin/nimclient -S shutdown" > /tmp/__NIM_shutdown
Tue Jun 10 07:22:46 2025        command to exec  __  /usr/bin/echo "/usr/sbin/reboot -q &" >> /tmp/__NIM_shutdown
Tue Jun 10 07:23:02 2025        command to exec  __  /usr/bin/chmod 755 /tmp/__NIM_shutdown
Tue Jun 10 07:23:17 2025        command to exec  __  /usr/bin/at now + 1 minute < /tmp/__NIM_shutdown
aix05 # 

If you use the attribute show_progress with the value “yes”, then some (very few) hints about the progress of the operation are displayed:

aixnim # nim -o reboot -a show_progress=yes aix05
+-----------------------------------------------------------------------------+
                      Initiating "reboot" Operation
+-----------------------------------------------------------------------------+
Initiating the reboot operation on machine 1 of 1: aix05 ...

+-----------------------------------------------------------------------------+
                      "bos_inst" Operation Summary
+-----------------------------------------------------------------------------+
Target                  Result
------                  ------
aix05                   INITIATED

Note: Use the lsnim command to monitor progress of "INITIATED"
targets by viewing their NIM database definition.

aixnim # 

If DSM is installed and configured on the NIM master, a console for the NIM client can be opened during the reboot operation using the open_console=yes attribute. If the required DISPLAY variable is not set, the display can be specified using the display attribute:

aixnim # nim -o reboot -a open_console=yes -a display=:10.0 aix05
Starting console daemon

aixnim # 

Note: The NIM client must be assigned the corresponding management object, attribute mgmt_profile1.

If the specified DISPLAY is correct and accessible (xhost and/or xauth), a terminal window with the NIM client console will open: