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