Importing or exporting a volume group

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The following table explains how to use import and export to move a user-defined volume group from one system to another. (The rootvg volume group cannot be exported or imported.)

The export procedure removes the definition of a volume group from a system. The import procedure serves to introduce the volume group to its new system.

You can also use the import procedure to reintroduce a volume group to the system when it once was associated with the system but had been exported. You can also use import and export to add a physical volume that contains data to a volume group by putting the disk to be added in its own volume group.

Attention: The importvg command changes the name of an imported logical volume if a logical volume of that name already exists on the new system. If the importvg command must rename a logical volume, it prints an error message to standard error. When there are no conflicts, the importvg command also creates file mount points and entries in the /etc/filesystems file.
Import and Export Volume Group Tasks
Task SMIT Fast Path Command or File
Import a volume group smit importvg  
Export a volume group
  1. Unmount files systems on logical volumes in the volume group: smit umntdsk
  2. Vary off the volume group: smit varyoffvg
  3. Export the volume group: smit exportvg
  
Attention: A volume group that has a paging space volume on it cannot be exported while the paging space is active. Before exporting a volume group with an active paging space, ensure that the paging space is not activated automatically at system initialization by typing the following command: 
chps -a n paging_space name

Then, reboot the system so that the paging space is inactive.