Port 1059

IBM AIX Network Installation Manager (NIM) is an infrastructure service primarily used to automate the network-based installation and management of AIX operating systems. It allows system administrators to perform unattended installations, streamline updates, and orchestrate system maintenance across multiple machines efficiently. NIM simplifies large-scale provisioning by leveraging network boot and configuration management mechanisms.

NIM architecture involves several components: a master server that defines resources and deployment policies, client systems (NIM clients) that receive installations, and resources such as mksysb images, scripts, or configuration files shared over the network. Resource assignment and deployment are handled by the master, which controls how and when clients install or update their OS images. This architecture ensures consistency across systems, speeding up disaster recovery and new deployments.

Communication between the NIM master and clients typically utilizes specific ports (like 1059 for nimreg registration and management), employing both TCP and UDP protocols to coordinate installation instructions, resource provisioning, and command execution. Protocols used are standardized and facilitate scalable, automated management of AIX environments, essential in enterprise scenarios with numerous servers and complex upgrade requirements.