Linux Security Basics SMIT (1)

This article describes the SMIT tool and how to use it. System Management Interface tool SystemManagementInterfaceTool, SMIT) is an interactive application that can be used to simplify AIX? All aspects of system management. After learning this article, you will use SMIT as the best tool for AIX system administrators.
What is SMIT?
System Management Interface tool (SMIT) is AIX? An interactive tool included in. Almost any system management task can be completed by using the SMIT screen. These screens are usually logically grouped in layers for easy navigation. You can use the shortcut paths associated with various functions to directly go to the relevant screen.
One of the most important features of SMIT is that you can accurately view which commands it executes before or after executing the relevant commands. SMIT does not use any special hooks for the operating system. All operations it performs are performed through standard AIX commands and the KornShell function. This feature is especially valuable when you need to automate repetitive tasks. You can use SMIT to create appropriate command line sequences and then use these commands in your own scripts.
Basic usage
SMIT is part of the basic operating system. The/usr/bin/smit command is located in the bos. sysmgt. smit file set. There are two versions of SMIT: full screen text mode version and graphic XWindows? Client. If the DISPLAY variable is set, AIX automatically runs the GUI version. To use the text version or even set the DISPLAY variable, you can run the smitty command or smit-.
If no shortcut path is specified when SMIT is started, the main menu is displayed. On all SMIT screens, you can use the arrow keys to move up or down the displayed options. The enter key is used to select the highlighted item. To return a level, press F3 or Esc + 3.
Four screen types
SMIT uses four types of screens for interaction and displays relevant information for the user: menu, dialog box, selector, and command status screen.
Menu
The task list is displayed on the menu screen. You can select only one of the tasks. If no shortcut path is specified when SMIT is started, the content about the text mode version in the main menu is displayed. See Listing 1 ).
Listing 1. Main System Management screen displayed in SMIT text mode
System Management
Move cursor to desired item and press Enter.
Software Installation and Maintenance
Software License Management
Devices
System Storage Management (Physical & Logical Storage)
Security & Users
Communications Applications and Services
Print Spooling
Problem Determination
Performance & Resource Scheduling
System Environments
Processes & Subsystems
Applications
Installation Assistant
Using SMIT (information only)
F1 = Help F2 = Refresh F3 = Cancel F8 = Image
F9 = Shell F10 = Exit Enter = Do
Figure 1 shows the main menu of the tool's GUI version SMIT.