unix_mp file has 0 bytes - how do I fix???

[rtdonnelly]

Hello,

I've run into an issue on one of my systems running AIX v4.3. When I ran the ipcs command, I received message "0515-001 No valid name list found inn /unix."

When I run bosboot -a, I receive message "0654-202 ERror while reading object file header 0301-153 bosboot: /unix not found.

IBM's website said to check to see if the link is present - it is so that is not the problem. The also said to see if the file for /usr/lib/boot/unix_mp was 0 bytes and it is - that is the problem.


Below is what IBM says to do:

The unix file is Zero bytes.
To determine:
#cd /
#ls -l /unix
/unix -> /usr/lib/boot/unix_up
#ls -l /usr/lib/boot/unix_up
-r-xr-xr-x 1 root system 0 Mar 17 1998
/usr/lib/boot/unix_up
The number before the date indicates the file size.

To repair:
First determine what level the kernel is at presently. #lslpp -l bos.mp (or bos.up in the case of a single processor).

Next, install or restore the same level of bos.mp. If you have a CD with an AIX APAR or Maintaince level on that has a matching level, then just enter the following SMIT fast path. Choose the cd drive and use the following options to overwrite:

smit install_latest
Install and Update from LATEST Available Software screen, select or type in entry fields. Press Enter AFTER making all desired changes.


INPUT device / directory for software
/dev/cd0
SOFTWARE to install
[ F4 choose bos.mp ]
PREVIEW only? (install operation will NOT occur)
no
COMMIT software updates?
yes
SAVE replaced files?
no
AUTOMATICALLY install requisite software?
no
EXTEND file systems if space needed?
yes
OVERWRITE same or newer versions?
yes
VERIFY install and check file sizes?
no
Include corresponding LANGUAGE filesets?
yes


When attempting to do this, I receive the following messages in smitty:


FAILURES
--------
Filesets listed in this section failed pre-installation verification
and will not be installed.

Force Apply Failures
--------------------
The following is a list of fileset updates. Updates cannot be specified
from the command line when the force flag (-F) is used in combination
with the apply flag (-a).

bos.mp 4.3.3.76 # Base Operating System Multip...


I also tried to update to the next level bos.mp which is bos.mp 4.3.3.77 but this failed when the install process via smitty tried to perform a bosboot as part of the install. It stated "an error occurred during bosboot verification processing."

Anyone know the command line option to perform a FORCE INSTALL of this fileset?? Is there something else I can do to try to correct this issue?? I don't have a backup file to use to restore because the file has apparently bad for such a long time that is not longer in our backups. Thanks!

 

[rtdonnelly]

Just found the answer on another forum. I tried it and it fixed the problem:

*******
If you can't force overwrite or update_all to a later level and you
just want to stay at the same level (can't force overwrite updates..
only base levels)
then you can use this procedure

lslpp -l bos.mp --> what level fileset are you on?

download that level from fixdist into /tmp

cd /
restore -xvqf /tmp/bos.mp.4.3.3.#.bff ./usr/lib/boot/unix_mp
cd /usr/lib/boot
ln -s -f /usr/lib/boot/unix_mp unix
ln -s -f /usr/lib/boot/unix_mp /unix
bosboot -ad /dev/ipldevice

********