Recover root password on an H50 4

[russz]

This is my first posting I'm not clear on the protocol.
I've read the FAQ and searched the postings and couldn't find a resolution.

I need to reset the root password on an IBM H50.

I have booted the H50 with the Standalone Diagnostics CD loaded, and pressed F5 after the graphics appeared to get to the Diags screen. I can't see how to get to a shell to edit /etc/passwd and reset the root password.

I edited the normal mode boot list as follows: 1. CD-ROM, 2. hdisk 1, 3. hisk2, and restarted the server with Disk 1 of AIX 4.3.3 in the CD-ROM drive. It still booted from hdisk1!

I feel like I'm on the right track, but I can't cross the finish line!


Russell Zimmermann
EYT - LAWSON Development

 

[MikeLacey]

Hi Russell,

If you boot your H50 to single user does it ask you for a password for the root shell? Mike
michael.j.lacey@ntlworld.com
Email welcome if you're in a hurry or something -- but post in tek-tips as well please, and I will post my reply here as well.

 

[aixqueen]

Several things... see getting into maintenance mode below and then you can
recover the root password from single user mode. If you boot from diags..there should be an option to go to single user mode? If so try it...Otherwise use the below steps:

Recovering the root password

1.If the system has a Service/Normal key, turn it to the Service position.

2.With bootable media as the same version and level as the system, boot the system. The bootable media can be any ONE of the following:

Bootable CD-ROM
NON_AUTOINSTALL mksysb
Bootable Install Tape

Follow the prompts to the Welcome to Base OS menu.

3.Choose Start Maintenance Mode for System Recovery (Option 3). The next screen
displays prompts for the Maintenance Menu. Choose option 1:

Access a Root Volume Group

The next screen prints a warning message and asks you to select 0 to continue. Select 0.

0 Continue

The next screen asks you to select the proper volume group. Select the proper volume group for your machine.

The console will display information about rootvg and a menu with two options. Choose option 1:

Access this volume group and start a shell

If you get errors from the preceding option, do not continue with the rest of this procedure. First, correct the problem. If you need assistance correcting the problem, contact one of the following:

local branch office
your point of sale
your AIX support center

4.Run the passwd command from the command prompt:

passwd
Changing password for "root"
root's New password:
Enter the new password again:

5.With the key in Normal position (if applicable), issue the reboot command:

sync;sync;sync;reboot

===============================
Booting PCI-based systems into Service mode

When booting an RS/6000 PowerPC system into Service mode, cd0 or rmt0 must be before the hdisk in the bootlist. If not, change the bootlist at boot time. On some models, you can set the machine to use a default bootlist that includes both cd0 and rmt0. If a bootable CD or tape is in the CD-ROM or tape drive, the
machine will boot from this device.

For most of the newer PCI-based models, selecting the default bootlist, with a bootable tape or CD loaded in the machine, causes the system to automatically boot from that device. Generally, the next menu on the screen asks the administrator to define the system console.

For all machines discussed here, if you are using a graphical terminal, you will use a function key such as F5. If you are using an ASCII terminal, use an equivalent number key such as 5. Use the numbers across the top of the keyboard, not the numbers on the numeric keypad. On ASCII terminals, the icons may not be displayed on
the screen; the number can be pressed between the second and third beeps, the second beep being a series of three clicks.


PCI machine-specific information

The following systems all use the F5 or 5 key to read from the default boot list, which is written into the system firmware:

MODEL 7017 7024 7025 7026 7043 7137
------- ------- ------- ------- ------- ------- -------
TYPE S70 E20 F30 H10 43P-140 F3L
S7A E30 F40 H50 43P-150
F50 H70 43P-240
43P-260

On these machines, use 5 (on the keyboard, not the keypad) if you are using an ASCII terminal. On a locally attached graphics console, use the F5 function key. The F5 or 5 key must be pressed just after the keyboard icon or message is displayed on the console.

-----------
Accessing rootvg and mounting file systems

For AIX Version 4, choose Start Maintenance Mode for System Recovery , option 3. The next screen will be called Maintenance; select option 1, Access a Root Volume Group. At the next screen, type 0 to continue, and select the appropriate volume group by typing the number next to it. A screen like the following will display.

Example:

Access a Root Volume Group

Type the number for a volume group to display the logical volume information and press Enter.

1) Volume Group 0073656f2608e46a contains these disks:
hdisk0 2063 04-C0-00-4,0

Once a volume group has been selected, information will be displayed about that volume group.

Example:

Volume Group Information
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Volume Group ID 0073656f2608e46a includes the following logical volumes:
hd6 hd5 hd8 hd4 hd2 hd9var
hd3 hd1
------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Type the number of your choice and press Enter.

1) Access this Volume Group and start a shell
2) Access this Volume Group and start a shell before mounting filesystems
99) Previous Menu

If the logical volumes listed do not include logical volumes like hd4, hd2, hd3, and so on, you may have selected the wrong volume group. Press 99 to back up one screen and select again.

Now you may select one of two options: Access this volume group and start a shell ,
option 1, or Access this volume group and start a shell before mounting file
systems , option 2. Option 2 allows you to perform file system maintenance on /, /usr, /tmp, and /var before mounting them.

NOTE: If you intend to use SMIT or vi, set your terminal type in preparation for editing the file. xxx stands for a terminal type such as lft, ibm3151, or vt100.

TERM=<xxx>
export TERM

Errors from these steps may indicate failed or corrupt disks in rootvg. These problems should be corrected. For additional assistance, contact your vendor, your local branch office, or your AIX support center.
#-)
Now if we are talking H80...it is a different way to boot into service mode.

 

[russz]

Thanks for your responses!

I'm not sure how to boot an H50 in single user mode.

I've rebooted with disk 1 of AIX 4.3.3 in the drive and after a long time the LCD is showing 0c45. Perhaps it's booting off of the cd now?

I've set cd0 as the first choice on both the Normal and Service mode boot lists. Do I need to hit F5, or some other key combination to ensure it uses cd0?



Russell Zimmermann
EYT - LAWSON Development

 

[russz]

Damaged media!!

Disk 1 of AIX 4.3.3 was damaged!
When I used a different CD-ROM, I was able to follow the instructions aixqueen had layed out.

Thank you Mike and aixqueen! Russell Zimmermann
EYT - LAWSON Development

 

[aixqueen]

0c45 is that it cannot configure the console....

Display Value c45

Explanation
Cannot configure the console.
System Action
The cfgcon command has failed.
User Action
Ensure that the media is readable, that the display type is supported,and that the media contains device support for the display type.



What kind of console do you have? Do you have an ascii console that you can put on s1 with the interposer...set to
9600 8 1 n.........?

If you re read my reply...I walked you through the steps of getting into service mode? which is single user mode...or from diags you should be able to select boot system...in single user mode.....YES F5...depending on which console you have....or number pad 5....

But if you are getting c45 it cannot find the console or identify it......
#-)

 

[russz]

We have a graphics terminal attached to this H50. There are no ascii consoles or interposers available (ascii terminals is all we had at my previous job).

I think my confusion about Service mode on the H50 stemmed from the following:
1. The Standalone Diagnostics CD (P/N 09P1755)didn't offer a way to access the rootvg.
2. Disk 1 of AIX 4.3.3 was damaged so despite cd0 being 1st on the boot list for both Normal and Service mode, the server still booted from hdisk0 and went to multi-user mode.

Since your (aixqueen's) instructions worked once I found another copy of disk 1 of AIX 4.3.3 (thank you for that ), I figured c45 was a false error based on a damaged CD-ROM.

The questions that remains is this:
Why doesn't my Standalone Diagnostics CD (P/N 09P1755 Ver. 4.3.3.3) offer a way to access the rootvg?
(Several other experienced AIX admins looked at the diag screens and couldn't find away to rootvg either.)

I hate to beat this to death, but I thought I could perform the password reset nothing but the Diagnostics CD.
Russell Zimmermann
EYT - LAWSON Development

 

[PSD]

russz,

The standalone diagnostics cd does exactly what is says on the cd - it is used to perform standalone diagnostics...the functionality of this is exectly the same as the diag command as called from the command line. Why do we need standalone diags? well we cannot always runs diags. in multi-user mode or even single-user mode for that matter as we cannot always access every devices i.e. hidks0 - rootvg. If we boot off this disk how can we run full diags against it when the device driver is is use? that is the reason for standalone diags. to allow all devices to be tested by booting from another media.

There is no way to access your rootvg from standalone diags. only through a mksysb or AIX installation media via the advanced maintenance functions option. I hope this clears things up....forget about you daignostic cd unless you want to run hardware diags....

Cheers

PSD
HACMP Specialist

 

[russz]

Thanks for the clarification!

I learned a lot more than just the root password recovery process from all of your answers.

I've let everyone here know how helpful tek-tips.com is.
I hope that I may reciprocate soon.

B-)
russz Russell Zimmermann
EYT - LAWSON Development

 

[MikeLacey]

aixqueen -- that should *definitely* be the faq entry, impressive... Mike
michael.j.lacey@ntlworld.com
Email welcome if you're in a hurry or something -- but post in tek-tips as well please, and I will post my reply here as well.