Problem using smitty install_all on a *.32 file

Hi compdigit,
nice to meet you again.
OK, seems you did everything right up to this point.
Let me put it together -
You copy the file to /usr/sys/inst.images, cd to /usr/sys/inst.images, issue inutoc . , then start smitty install_all, point it to /usr/sys/inst.images, press <F4> and get the above error. Is it correct that you did it this way?
Renaming files is never necessary, it's the content which counts. You only need read permission.
So lets have a look at the content. Please issue 'file [filename]' with [filename] being the name of the file you try to install.
If it was an AIX installable image, you should see
[filename]: backup/restore format file
If this is the case, please re-issue inutoc . , retry smitty and post your results here.
If some other info shows up (as I assume), please post it here. We will then decide how to proceed with that type of data.
wmp
 

"dot 32" is not a familiar extension - what is the results of running "file *.32" in that directory?

Ok.. When I type in the name of the file i get the following error message:

ksh: files123.32:  0403-006 Excute permission denied

Do not type the filename alone, type
file files123.32
instead!
 

OK here is what I get as a message........

file123.32 : data or international language text

That's too bad,
I fear we will not be able to find out what sort of data might be contained in that file.
You could try to edit it with vi and see if you can find something, or issue 'strings [filename] | more'  to view the readable parts of the file, but I guess we won't have any luck.
Please contact your vendor and ask them what they had in mind when sending you that stuff.
If you'd like to try the 'vi' or 'strings' methods nevertheless, please tell me what you found.
Cheers
wmp
 
 

what does the message.............. data or international language text mean..

The vendor stated that I just need to mount the cd the run smiity install_all and that's it??

What is a *.32 file????
It sounds like this CD is not in a smitty format. When I take to the vendor what format do the file /cd have to been in order for smitty to work?

Is there anyway for me to many install these files........

This message means that the magic tool ('file') can't really decide what it is.
You can tell your vendor that they are completely wrong when saying this CD was installable via smit. NO WAY!
A .32 file can be anything or nothing. That's what the message says.
A file to be installable via smit has to be a 'backup format file'. The extension is usually .bff, but that's not mandatory at all.
If there was a way to install the files under AIX, only your vendor could tell you. I fear they simply made a mistake and sent you some Windows or even Mac data.
wmp
 

The vendor just said I should try the folloing...

download these files to you pc and then ftp them to your unix server in non binary format..

But I'm not sure how this will help

What do you think..

BTW... how can I setup global user account polciy in aix

password length, expireation. etc....

Although that's quite another question -
Edit the 'default' stanza in /etc/security/user for a global setup, or the appropriate [username] stanza for an individual setup.
A description of the relevant fields is contained in that file.
Some other parameters are in /etc/security/login.cfg, such as logintimes or maxlogins.
A description is also included there.
wmp