Using expect to automate mundane tasks

I have a Power5 system I use for testing, no HMC and I cannot always depend on being at a location where I can use the web-based ASMI interface. Plus, I have to wait for the web-interface to load. I prefer to use the serial line connection from tty1 to the serial port of the Power5. But typing in the commands got boring too. Enter expect, a program that can be told what to expect and then send an automated reply.

Old School

I learned my "check what is missing" trcik(s) years ago - so call me old school that until very recently (read this morning) I was still using the commands:

# instfix -i | grep AIX
# instfix -ciqk 6100-07_AIX_ML | grep :-:

to locate missing filesets. But now I am ...

No Looking Back:

Role Based Access Controls

Updating NIM

Note: this is an article that I will continue to update. RL teaches me that I prepare "parts" and do not publish, as I wait/look for time to finish the missing "parts" Roughly speaking there are two NIM update paths - especially for lpp_sources and spots:

• New resources
• Update existing resources

This article assumes you have looked at my HOWTO: Install a NIM Server article already.