/etc/path_to_inst

ailnilanjan · #1 (**permalink**) 02-25-2007

Hello Friends

I was using V490 server with StoreEdge 3500 on Solaris 5.8 platform.

It got crashed when the optical link between 3500 and V490 got failed.

After a long effort it is now getting messege like below,

Rebooting with command: boot
Boot device: /pci@9,600000/SUNW,qlc@2/fp@0.0/disk@w500000e011d37831,0:a File and args:
SunOS Release 5.8 Version Generic_117350-20 64-bit
Cannot open '/etc/path_to_inst'
Program terminated
{3}ok

Now the optical link is up.

It fails all boot commands and returns back with these kind of messege.

Nebody having any idea bout the /etc/path_to_inst file please reply.

With Heartiest Greetings

Nil.

reborg · #2 (**permalink**) 02-25-2007

try booting with:

Code:

{} ok boot -ar

Perderabo · #3 (**permalink**) 02-25-2007

boot -ar might work, but I believe that the user will be prompted for some stuff. I'm not sure if taking the defaults will work with path_to_inst missing.

ailnilanjan · #4 (**permalink**) 02-26-2007

Quote:

boot -ar might work, but I believe that the user will be prompted for some stuff. I'm not sure if taking the defaults will work with path_to_inst missing.

i am getting the same messege as before.

i am suspecting that path_to_inst is missing.

what can i do now?

is there any way to restore it?

rhfrommn · #5 (**permalink**) 02-26-2007

/etc/path_to_inst stores vital information about the devices on your system. If it is damaged or missing the machine will not be able to boot.

To recover you will need to boot off of a CD-Rom or the network, then mount your root partition by hand to copy /etc/path_to_inst back on there. Hopefully you will have a copy on a backup somewhere. I don't think just grabbing /etc/path_to_inst from another server or the CD will work. If you end up having to try that make sure at least you use another V490, hopefully one with exactly the same hardware inside it.

If that doesn't work you may have no choice but to re-install Solaris.

Good luck,
Ralph

ailnilanjan · #6 (**permalink**) 02-26-2007

Quote:

To recover you will need to boot off of a CD-Rom or the network, then mount your root partition by hand to copy /etc/path_to_inst back on there

Quote:

If you end up having to try that make sure at least you use another V490, hopefully one with exactly the same hardware inside it.

Thanks Ralph

It works as i have the V490 with the same hardware, you may say it a xerox copy. It worked when i was setting up the root device.

The system is now fine.

I can give the entire procedure by recalling the entire activites what i performed during recovery.

Code:

1- # boot cdrom -s (inserting the Solaris OS CD in the cdrom).
2- #fsck –y /dev/rdsk/c0t0d0s0 
3- #mkdir /a
4- #mount /dev/dsk/c0t0d0s0 /a
5- #grep rootdev /a/etc/system

The result will be something like this :
*       rootdev:        Set the root device.  This should be a fully
*               rootdev:/sbus@1,f8000000/esp@0,800000/sd@3,0:a
rootdev:/pseudo/md@0:0,0,blk       (for example)
The line that needs to be noted is the line beginning with rootdev. In the above example, the line "rootdev:/pseudo/md@0:0,0,blk" should 
be the line noted.

6- #mv /a/etc/path_to_inst /a/etc/orig.path_to_inst
7- #init 0
8- ok>boot –ar
Resetting... 
Software Power ON
Clock board TOD does not match TOD on any IO board.
Clock board TOD does not match TOD on any IO board.

slot Sun Enterprise 4000/5000, No Keyboard
OpenBoot 3.2.27, 320 MB memory installed, Serial #7923805.
Copyright 2000 Sun Microsystems, Inc.  All rights reserved
Ethernet address 8:0:20:78:e8:5d, Host ID: 8078e85d.

Rebooting with command: boot -ar
Boot device: /sbus@3,0/QLGC,isp@0,10000/sd@8,0:a  File and args: -ar
|
NOTICE: 64-bit OS installed, but the 32-bit OS is the default
 for the processor(s) on this system.
 See boot(1M) for more information.

Booting the 32-bit OS ...

9- Enter filename [kernel/unix]: (press enter)
Enter default directory for modules [/platform/SUNW,Ultra-Enterprise/kernel /platform/sun4u/kernel /kernel /usr/kernel]: 

10- Name of system file [etc/system]: (press enter)  
SunOS Release 5.8 Version Generic_117350-02 32-bit
Copyright 1983-2003 Sun Microsystems, Inc.  All rights reserved.
/
11- The /etc/path_to_inst on your system does not exist or is empty.
 Do you want to rebuild this file [n]? y
root filesystem type [ufs]: 

12- Enter physical name of root device
[/sbus@3,0/QLGC,isp@0,10000/sd@8,0:a]: <ENTER ROOTDEV noted  ABOVE in BOLD HERE >

13- After the system boots check for the presence of the file
cd /etc/
ls –l

Love
Nil

rhfrommn · #7 (**permalink**) 02-27-2007

Glad it worked. And thanks much for putting in the entire procedure. That will come in handy if somebody searches on /etc/path_to_inst and finds this thread in the future.

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