IBM AIX SMIT - End User Interface

End User Interface

SMIT is an interactive, menu-driven user interface that allows a user to more easily perform routine system management tasks and to manage and maintain the AIX operating system configuration. System management tasks are grouped by application and presented in a series of menu, selector, and dialog screens. For example, all common software installation tasks are grouped in the Software Installation and Management application. This task-oriented structure makes SMIT easy to use, allowing even novice users to perform routine system administration tasks.

While a selected task is running, the screen shows the message RUNNING. The result of the task is indicated by an OK or FAILED message. When running the graphical version of SMIT, an animated figure of a man running will show while the task is running. The man will jump up and down upon the command success, or fall down on failure.

SMIT screens display the actual system configuration. The displayed information varies from system to system, based on what is installed on a particular system. Adding customized system management tasks for user applications or changing the existing SMIT screen information is one example of what causes this variation. Another example can be seen in the Devices screens. The available system management tasks are based on what type of devices, such as network and storage adapters, disk drives, and other I/O devices, are installed on the system.