DOH! RS/6000 AIX problem

[solid7]

My RS/6000 has a problem...

I was doing an install, and the dtterm locked up.

I could not open a new dtterm. I rebooted the machine, and now, I have the following on my LCD:

0517
MOUNT /USR

It's been stuck like this for a long time, with no end in sight.

Does anyone know what this is? Is it fixable without a complete reinstall? I've got the install disks handy, but I hope that it doesn't come to that.

Thank you.


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[p5wizard]

What version/RM level of AIX are you running - or not running ;-) ? If 5300-00, I've seen very slow mount operations on that version.

do oslevel -r to find out

If you are at 5300-00 go to 5300-01 ASAP. 5300-02 should be available by the end of this month (april 2005)

RM's are available for downloading from IBM's e-server support website:

5.3 -> 5300-01 is a lot better than 5300-00

http://www-912.ibm.com/eserver/support/fixes/maintpkg.jsp?system=2&release=5.3

5.2 -> 5200-05 is a lot better than 5200-04

http://www-912.ibm.com/eserver/support/fixes/maintpkg.jsp?system=2&&release=5.2

 

[solid7]

How would I possibly be able to do -r if I'm stuck trying to mount /usr at boot up?




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[solid7]

sorry... oslevel -r


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[p5wizard]

still stuck at 0517?

I saw another post from you and assumed (wrongly) that you got your server running again...


0517=trying to mount a filesystem (here FS=/usr)

The boot code does a fsck -fp /usr, then mount /usr

my guess is that the fsck is "hanging"

You have to boot from install media or mksysb cd/tape, then from the install menus, attempt to access rootvg without mounting, then you can manually fsck and see what is going on... not something you want to try without some tech background. (no offence intended).

Maybe a reinstall will work better for you. If there is no data on the system you want to recover...

greetz, p5wizard

 

[solid7]

===================
Quote by p5wizard:
22 Apr 05 3:07
What version/RM level of AIX are you running - or not running ? If 5300-00, I've seen very slow mount operations on that version.

5.2 -> 5200-05 is a lot better than 5200-04

http://www-912.ibm.com/eserver/support/fixes/maintpkg.jsp?system=2&&release=5.2

===================

I was running 5200-03. I took your advice, and downloaded the latest.

However, being as I'm an AIX amateur, I'm not quite sure how to install it.

Here are some quotes from IBM, and my questions relating to them:

1) "IBM recommends that you create a separate file system for /usr/sys/inst.images to prevent the expansion of the /usr file system."

---

OK - I tried to create a separate file system, but the failure message stated, "/usr/sys/inst.images already being used by /usr"

Obviously, I did that wrong.



2) "Always run the inutoc command to ensure the installation subsystem will recognize the new fix packages you download. This command creates a new .toc file for the fix package. Run the inutoc command in the same directory where you extracted the filesets from the *.tar.gz file."

---

Does the inutoc command always keep the installed files in the directory where you extract them, instead of placing them in a default installation folder, like /usr?


Thanks again.


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[p5wizard]

It doesn't have to be that specific directory, any one will do. The idea is that when you no longer need the update files, you can unmount/remove the filesystem as opposed to having all that free space in the /usr filesystem which you can no longer use for anything but OS usage...

Use the commands

crfs -v jfs -g rootvg -m/usr/ml_5200_05 -asize=2G -Ay -prw -tno
mount /usr/ml_5200_05

or use smit - just create a temp filesystem which will hold the 52-ML5 filesets while you're upgrading. Make sure you MOUNT the new FS.

Copy the downloaded tar file to this dir, untar all the files - I' don't know off hand if 2GB is enough, if not you will have to increase the size of the /usr/ml_5200_05 FS.

Stay in the directory /usr/ml_5200_05

and run the command

inutoc .

All this command does is create a hidden table of contents file (.toc) that the installp command needs to know which file is which (which software or -update is contained in which file).

Then stay in that directory and run smit update_all

and go through the screens, specify

.

(single dot) as "INPUT device / directory for software" and make sure you do a PREVIEW first: set option "PREVIEW only? ..." to yes and do a dry run - this will check if you have everything downloaded ok and no missing requisites.

if OK, set PREVIEW to no and do the update. Afterwards you'll have to reboot your server and you will be at 5200-05

AFterwards you may delete your temp ML05 filesystem but you may want to make a backup of it first in case you need it again later (for a different server).

HTH p5wizard

 

[solid7]

Something weird happened...

When I downloaded the file, it was called 520305.tar.gz.

However, when I copied it to the cd, it became 520_0001.tar.

What is that all about?

Additionally, where or how do I make a backup of filesystems? Sorry for the ignorance - so much to cover in such a short time...

Thank you.


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[p5wizard]

So you got your server running again?

your original file name doesn't fit in a CDROM directory slot so it is altered to an 8.3 format.

backup? see the man page for tar or whatever other backup command you fancy.

man tar

but you already have the file on a CD (yes?), so I shouldn't worry about it in this case

 

[solid7]

That's right - we are up and running. And, I've been learning so well, that my whole system is configured, running, and ready for backup. (well, OK, I haven't set up webserver yet, but no matter)

When I do a backup, my question should have been more specific - do I do a FULL backup of everything on the whole system, operating system included? (is this possible) I've always heard this type of backup/installation called an "image," and that's exactly what I want to do right now - I want to take a snapshot in time of my completely configured system, and reserve it for an emergency. Your comments, or recommendations, please.

Thank you.


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[needcoffee]

Check out info on mksysb. I use the following to create a system image on tape. Note: This will only image rootvg.

 /usr/bin/mksysb '-v' '-i' '-X' /dev/rmt0

You'll need to use another solution if you have other volume groups on you system. Use lsvg to check.

 

[solid7]

I don't have more than one volume group - of this I am absolutely sure.

I don't have a tape, though. Is there a way to do a backup of my system without it? I only have a CD-ROM, and in case you couldn't tell, this is a small system, not even networked, yet.

Thank you.


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[p5wizard]

without tape device or network you cannot backup, unless you use alt_disk_install (uses free disks to create an alternate rootvg - it is designed to prepare a fallback to your previous version if an upgrade goes miserably wrong or after an upgrade you cannot run your apps anymore)

I don't use it myself, but what I've read about it, I guess you can use it to clone your OS to an unused disk or set of disks in your system. You'll have to read up on it first though but you seem to be going thru a lot of reading matter in a few days anyway so...