Can anyone tell me what this message means?

[normap]

I have just started working with a unix system and it keeps coming up with the following message every morning after the modem has been used

Warning: wd0: error on fixed disk dev 1/40, block=40504,cmd=0x00000020 status=0x00005940, sector=146213, cylinder/head=154/10

I have done a fix and repair but didn't find anything. My first instinct would be that there is an error reading the hard drive but so far the data has been fine.

Any help would be very much appreciated.

Thanks
Norma

 

[PHV]

man badtrk

Hope This Helps, PH.
Want to get great answers to your Tek-Tips questions? Have a look at FAQ219-2884 or FAQ222-2244

 

[motoslide]

Do you get similar errors when you perform a Full Backup (which hopefully is quite current, because you've got problems).

"I have done a fix and repair but didn't find anything."
Can you elaborate on this?

 

[normap]

By doing a fix and repair...I had SCO unix do it in system , file system detect fix and repair for the boot sectors and files.

Full backups are current and I don't know for sure when the message actually appears. If I could look at the log file it might tell me what time it starts and then by elimination I can tell what is actually triggering it.

Can you tell me where to find the log file?? I have forgotten so much when I was away for the last year.

Thanks
Norma

 

[PHV]

/var/adm/messages

Hope This Helps, PH.
Want to get great answers to your Tek-Tips questions? Have a look at FAQ219-2884 or FAQ222-2244

 

[apeasecpc]

I have also seen this error when you copy a large DB file that is being written to, and then try to access the copy. It could just be a file with inodes out of range, or it could be a hard drive on its last legs. When you did your FS check and repair, did any messages indicate that it fixed anything?

 

[normap]

well I have found out it starts putting up the message ath the same time it starts the backup of the system. When I did the FS check and repair it only fixed stuff on the U2 and U3 partitions not anywhere else. It did not stop the message either

 

[PHV]

What version of sco ?
If OSR 5.0.x then 1/40 is the boot division
If OSR 4.2 then your root FileSystem is in danger.

Hope This Helps, PH.
Want to get great answers to your Tek-Tips questions? Have a look at FAQ219-2884 or FAQ222-2244

 

[apeasecpc]

What backup software are you using? If you are using commercial software you should be able to find indication of an error in the backup log, and what file is causing it. This could be related to a file in use issue, or a corrupt file copy like I stated before, or a bad hard drive, but you won't know for sure until you identify the file.

Once you have identified the file, go down to single user mode and try to make a copy of the file. If you get the same error message you should try deleting and restoring the file from a backup source (but keep in mind you probably don't have a recent backup due to the ongoing error) If copying the file in single user mode does not generate the error, it is probably related to file in use issues in live mode, and you can confirm this by returning to multiuser, letting everyone back on the system, then trying the copy again. Of course all of this is assuming that the problem is not actually the hard drive itself.

 

[piperent]

What is the modem used for? Since the problem seems to rear it's ugly head after the modem has been used, maybe it has something to do with whatever is involved there. Certainly worth checking in to.

 

[normap]

The backup is done through a script file and the cron. It is a cpio command. The modem is required for nightly pickup of data. We are a remote location and to have a dedicated line would cost thousands a month. We are using SCO 3.0.1. I am going to try and copy the file like suggested and see how that works. I won't be able to do that until Monday though.

Thanks for your support and I will let you know how I make out