If neither the “-p” nor “-P” (predefined) options are used with the lsnim command, information about customized NIM objects is displayed. Here, too, there are several different options, depending on the information required.

Without any options, all customized NIM objects are displayed:

aixnim # lsnim
master                         machines        master
boot                           resources       boot
nim_script                     resources       nim_script
net_10_192_168_0               networks        ent
aix01                          machines        standalone
aix02                          machines        standalone
aix720509lpp                   resources       lpp_source
…
aixnim #

In addition to the name of the NIM objects (first column), the class (second column) and the type (third column) are displayed. There are various options to display only specific NIM objects.

The names of the NIM objects of interest can simply be specified as arguments, e.g.:

aixnim # lsnim boot nim_script certificate
boot            resources       boot
nim_script      resources       nim_script
certificate     resources       certificate
aixnim # 

Alternatively, the class (option “-c”), the subclass (option “-s”) or the type (option “-t”) can be specified:

Example 1: Display all NIM objects of the machines class.

aixnim # lsnim -c machines
master              machines       master
aix01               machines       standalone
aix02               machines       standalone
…
aixnim # 

Example 2: Display all NIM objects of the bos_res subclass.

aixnim # lsnim -s bos_res
aix01_72_mksysb_mig_73     resources       mksysb
aix03_72_mksysb            resources       mksysb
aix03_72_mksysb_mig_73     resources       mksysb
aix730300spot              resources       spot
aix730202spot              resources       spot
aix730101spot              resources       spot
aix01_72_mksysb            resources       mksysb
aixnim # 

Example 3: Display all NIM objects of type spot.

aixnim # lsnim -t spot
aix730300spot     resources       spot
aix730202spot     resources       spot
aix730101spot     resources       spot
aixnim # 

In all previous examples, only the name, class, and type were displayed. By additionally using the “-l” (long) or “-O” (operation) options, detailed information about the NIM objects or operations possible on them can be displayed.

Example 1: Display detailed information about selected NIM objects.

aixnim # lsnim -l boot nim_script certificate
boot:
   class       = resources
   type        = boot
   comments    = represents the network boot resource
   Rstate      = ready for use
   location    = /tftpboot
   alloc_count = 0
   server      = master
   reserved    = yes
nim_script:
   class       = resources
   type        = nim_script
   comments    = directory containing customization scripts created by NIM
   Rstate      = ready for use
   location    = /export/nim/scripts
   alloc_count = 0
   server      = master
   reserved    = yes
certificate:
   class       = resources
   type        = certificate
   comments    = specifies the ssl certificate associated with remote services
   Rstate      = ready for use
   location    = /ssl_nimsh/certs/
   alloc_count = 0
   server      = master
   reserved    = yes
aixnim # 

Example 2: Display detailed information of all NIM objects of type spot.

aixnim # lsnim -l -t spot                   
aix730300spot:
   class         = resources
   type          = spot
   plat_defined  = chrp
   arch          = power
   bos_license   = yes
   Rstate        = ready for use
   prev_state    = verification is being performed
   location      = /export/nim/spots/aix730300spot/usr
   version       = 7
   release       = 3
   mod           = 3
   oslevel_r     = 7300-03
   oslevel_s     = 7300-03-00-2446
   alloc_count   = 0
   server        = master
   if_supported  = chrp.64 ent
   Rstate_result = success
   date_updated  = Mon Mar 31 12:02:24 2025
aix730202spot:
   class         = resources
   type          = spot
   plat_defined  = chrp
   arch          = power
   bos_license   = yes
   Rstate        = ready for use
   prev_state    = verification is being performed
   location      = /export/nim/spots/aix730202spot/usr
   version       = 7
   release       = 3
   mod           = 2
   oslevel_r     = 7300-02
   oslevel_s     = 7300-02-02-2420
   alloc_count   = 0
   server        = master
   if_supported  = chrp.64 ent
   Rstate_result = success
   date_updated  = Mon Apr 14 15:08:59 2025
aix730101spot:
   class         = resources
   type          = spot
   plat_defined  = chrp
   arch          = power
   bos_license   = yes
   Rstate        = ready for use
   prev_state    = verification is being performed
   nfs_vers      = 4
   nfs_sec       = sys
   location      = /export/nim/spots/aix730101spot/usr
   version       = 7
   release       = 3
   mod           = 1
   oslevel_r     = 7300-01
   oslevel_s     = 7300-01-01-2246
   alloc_count   = 0
   server        = master
   if_supported  = chrp.64 ent
   Rstate_result = success
aixnim # 

Example 3: Display the operations that are possible on the NIM objects certificate and master.

aixnim # lsnim -O certificate master
certificate:
   showres = show contents of a resource
   check   = check the status of a NIM object
master:
   unconfig   = unconfigure the NIM master fileset
   change     = change an object's attributes
   allocate   = allocate a resource for use
   deallocate = deallocate a resource
   cust       = perform software customization
   maint      = perform software maintenance
   reset      = reset an object's NIM state
   lslpp      = list LPP information about an object
   fix_query  = perform queries on installed fixes
   check      = check the status of a NIM object
   showlog    = display a log in the NIM environment
   showres    = show contents of a resource
   lppchk     = verify installed filesets
   restvg     = perform a restvg operation
aixnim # 

Using the “-l” (long) option displays all attributes of the selected NIM objects. The output may be longer accordingly. An alternative is to display only specific attributes. To do this, use the “-a” (attribute) option instead of “-l“. The attribute of interest can be specified as an option argument with “-a“. The “-a” option can be used multiple times, allowing multiple attributes to be displayed. However, the “-c” (class), “-s” (subclass), and “-t” (type) options are not supported with “-a“. Here are some examples:

Example 1: List all NIM objects that have an attribute named nfs_vers or reserved.

aixnim # lsnim -a reserved -a nfs_vers
master:
   reserved = yes
boot:
   reserved = yes
nim_script:
   reserved = yes
aix730101lpp:
   nfs_vers = 4
certificate:
   reserved = yes
aix730101spot:
   nfs_vers = 4
aixnim # 

Example 2: For the specified NIM objects, list which of them have the nfs_vers attribute.

aixnim # lsnim -a nfs_vers aix730101lpp aix730202lpp aix730101spot
aix730101lpp:
   nfs_vers = 4
aix730101spot:
   nfs_vers = 4
aixnim # 

Note: Only two of the three specified NIM objects have the nfs_vers attribute.

If an operation is to be performed on a NIM object, certain attributes are required for the operation. For operations and object types that the administrator encounters less frequently, it is often not entirely clear which attributes must be specified and which attributes are optional for the operation. The “-q” (query) option can be used to display the attributes for any operation and any object. You can either specify the specific NIM object on which an operation is to be performed, or you can specify the type of NIM object with the “-t” (type) option.

Example 1: Display the attributes for the maint operation on the NIM client (NIM object) aix01.

aixnim # lsnim -q maint aix01

the following resources are optional:
        installp_bundle

the following attributes are required:
        -a installp_flags=<value>

the following attributes are optional:
        -a filesets=<value>
        -a show_progress=<value>
        -a installp_bundle=<value>
        -a group=<value>
        -a smit_bundle=<value>

aixnim # 

Note: Only the installp_flags attribute is required for the maint operation.

Example 2: Display the attributes for the allocate operation on NIM objects of type standalone.

aixnim # lsnim -q allocate -t standalone
aixnim # 

Note: There are no attributes that can be specified for this operation.

There are a number of other options specifically for NIM groups, which are described in a separate chapter.