AIX Boot Related Administration Notes
RAMFS:
RAMFS files are accessed using a prefix of /../, eg. rc.boot uses /../usr/sbin/fsck to find fsck.
Mount root out onto /mnt, or you will be unable to access the RAMFS files.
;To see the last boot device
#bootinfo -b
;To see all boot process related messages
#alog -t boot -o
Multi-user initialization completed
ot: executing "copycore"
Changed: tty
Changed: ipldevice
Changed: IPL_rootvg
mergedev replaced 3 files in the hardfile /dev directory
rc.boot: run time mount of /var
rc.boot: run time mount of /tmp
rc.boot: checking free space in /tmp
rc.boot: executing "strload"
rc.boot: allow 64-bit apps
rc.boot: executing "cfglivedump -c"
rc.boot: executing "cfgmgr"
cfgmgr is running in phase 2
----------------
Time: 0 LEDS: 0x538
Invoking top level program -- "/etc/methods/cfgprobe -c /etc/drivers/coreprobe.e
xt"
Time: 0 LEDS: 0x539
Return code = 0
*** no stdout ****
*** no stderr ****
----------------
stdin
;Each fs has two superblocks at 1 and 31.
;To copy the superblock from block 31 to block 1
# dd count=1 bs=4k skip=31 seek=1 if=/dev/hd4 of=/dev/hd4
;To unlock rootvg
#chvg -u rootvg
E1F1 is the led that indicates that a system is looking for a boot devices list in the NVRAM. Please follow the procedurebelow in order to start your system in maintenance mode and then recreate the boot list:
Booting in Service Mode
This document describes how to boot the system into Service mode (also known as Maintenance mode) to install the machine,restore an operating system backup, or perform maintenance on the rootvg volume group.
The information in this document applies to AIX Versions 3.x, 4.x and 5.x.
Booting PCI-based systems into Service mode
PCI machine-specific information
Accessing rootvg and mounting file systems
Related documentation
Booting PCI-based systems into Service mode
When booting a PowerPC 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 thenumbers on the numeric keypad. On ASCII terminals, the icons may not be displayed on the screen; the number can be pressedbetween 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
S80 F50 H70 43P-240
B80 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. If you have either a 7026-M80, 7026-H80 or a 7025-F80, then the 5 key will be the default whether you have an ascii or graphics console.
The following systems use the F1 key to enter System Management Services mode (SMS):
MODEL 6040 7042 7247 7249
------- ------- ------- ------- -------
TYPE 620 850 82x 860
You should be in an Easy-Setup menu. Select the Start Up menu. Clear the current bootlist settings and then select the CD-ROM for choice 1 and hdd (the hard disk) for choice 2. Select OK. Insert the CD-ROM and select the EXIT icon. The machine should now boot from the CD-ROM.
The following systems use the F2 key to enter SMS:
MODEL 6015 6050 6070 7020 7248
------- ------- ------- ------- ------- -------
TYPE 440 830 850 40P 43P
Select Select Boot Device from the initial menu on the screen, and then select Restore Default Settings from the list. Press the Esc key to exit all the menus, and then reboot the machine. The system should boot from your bootable media.
For information on accessing the rootvg volume group, see the next section in this document.
Accessing rootvg and mounting file systems For AIX Versions 4 and 5, 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=
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.
Related documentation
For more in-depth coverage of this subject, the following IBM publication is recommended:
AIX Version 4.3 System Management Guide: Operating System and Devices
AIX Version 5.1 System Management Guide: Operating System and Devices
IBM documentation can also be accessed online through the following URL:
http://www.rs6000.ibm.com/resource/aix_resource/Pubs/index.html
Similar documents can be accessed through the following URL:
http://techsupport.services.ibm.com/server/support?view=pSeries
Once you have a valid prompt, you can recreate the boot device list (it's supposed you already know the hdisk number from which AIX starts, let's supposed it's hdisk0
bootlist -m normal hdisk0
If ths action does not work, repeat the procedure and issue
bosboot -ad /dev/ipldevice
Just before the bootlist command
