If /etc/niminfo has been accidentally deleted on a NIM client, or its contents have been edited and are no longer functional, the file can easily be restored on the client using the niminit command. To do this, the NIM client’s configuration on the NIM master must be correct, and the NIM master must be accessible. The niminit command can then be called with the name of the NIM master and the name of the NIM client as the only attributes:

aix05 # niminit -a master=aixnim -a name=aix05
nimsh:2:wait:/usr/bin/startsrc -g nimclient >/dev/console 2>&1
0513-044 The nimsh Subsystem was requested to stop.
0513-059 The nimsh Subsystem has been started. Subsystem PID is 17826298.
aix05 # 

The file will be available again immediately with the correct content:

aix05 # cat /etc/niminfo
#------------------ Network Install Manager ---------------
# warning - this file contains NIM configuration information
#       and should only be updated by NIM
export NIM_NAME=aix05
export NIM_HOSTNAME=aix05
export NIM_CONFIGURATION=standalone
export NIM_MASTER_HOSTNAME=aixnim
export NIM_SSL_STATUS=disabled
export NIM_MASTER_PORT=1058
export NIM_REGISTRATION_PORT=1059
export NIM_SHELL="nimsh"
export NIM_MASTERID=00DC1B125C11
export NIM_FIPS_MODE=-1
export NIM_BOS_IMAGE=/SPOT/usr/sys/inst.images/installp/ppc/bos
export NIM_BOS_FORMAT=rte
export NIM_HOSTS=" 127.0.0.1:loopback:localhost  10.192.168.155:aix05  10.192.168.150:aixnim "
export NIM_MOUNTS=""
export ROUTES=" default:0:10.192.168.1 "
aix05 #

and NIM operations will also work again immediately:

aix05 # nimclient -l -l aix05
aix05:
   class          = machines
   type           = standalone
   connect        = nimsh
   platform       = chrp
   netboot_kernel = 64
   if1            = net_10_192_168_0 aix05 87F1A4DC8316 ent0
   cable_type1    = N/A
   Cstate         = ready for a NIM operation
   prev_state     = ready for a NIM operation
   Mstate         = currently running
   cpuid          = 00DC1AD25C11
aix05 #