How to use snap command on AIX

For any software or hardware issues with AIX, logging a case with IBM – the support team will always ask for snap files. Snap files will collect all system configuration that will help and guide the IBM support team to track whatever issue there is on the system.

From the man pages of snap(1M):

The snap command gathers system configuration information and compresses
the information into a pax file. The file may then be written to a device
such as tape or DVD, or transmitted to a remote system. The information
gathered with the snap command might be required to identify and resolve
system problems. Note: Root user authority is required to execute the
snap command. Use the snap -o /dev/cd0 command to copy the compressed
image to DVD. Use the snap -o /dev/rmt0 command to copy the image to tape.

To generate the snap file:

snap -r -> removes the previous snap files.
snap -gc -> create the snap file

The default directory for snap command output:

/tmp/ibmsupt

Sample output of the snap command:

root@aix:/ > snap -gc
Checking space requirement for general information.....................
.......................................................................
.......................................................................
........................................ done.
.********Checking and initializing directory structure
Directory /tmp/ibmsupt/svCollect already exists... skipping
Directory /tmp/ibmsupt/client_collect already exists... skipping
Directory /tmp/ibmsupt/general already exists... skipping
Directory /tmp/ibmsupt/general/diagnostics already exists... skipping
Directory /tmp/ibmsupt/pcixscsi already exists... skipping
Directory /tmp/ibmsupt/sissas already exists... skipping
Directory /tmp/ibmsupt/testcase already exists... skipping
Directory /tmp/ibmsupt/other already exists... skipping
********Finished setting up directory /tmp/ibmsupt

Checking Space requirement for svCollect
Checking Space requirement for client_collect
Checking for enough free space in filesystem... done.

Gathering general system information...................................
.......................................................................
.......................................................................
.......................... done.
Gathering platform/scanout information.done.
Gathering svCollect data
Gathering client_collect data
Gathering pcixscsi system information..................................
........ done.
Gathering sissas system information...... done.

Creating compressed pax file...
Starting pax/compress process... Please wait... done.

-rw-------    1 0        0           1370809 Jun  6 02:59 snap.pax.Z