How to make a bootable disk?


 
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Operating Systems Solaris How to make a bootable disk?
# 1  
Old 01-12-2007
Question How to make a bootable disk?

The second disk that I'm trying to make bootable is to hold another version of Solaris (9).

I've created the partitions with format and labeled the disk - created the filesystems with newfs - created and mounted the directories.

...but I think I've missed something out like using fdisk to create a bootable partition (8 I think?). I'm not sure how to do this; do I need to create partition 8 with format first? What fdisk command do I need for creating the boot slice?


Thanks in advance.
# 2  
Old 01-12-2007
What architecture?
# 3  
Old 01-12-2007
# isainfo -kv
64-bit sparcv9 kernel modules

# uname -a
SunOS icarus 5.8 Generic_117350-27 sun4u sparc SUNW,Sun-Fire-V240

Not sure what type of disks they are but here's the partition table:

Quote:
Current partition table (original):
Total disk cylinders available: 14087 + 2 (reserved cylinders)

Part Tag Flag Cylinders Size Blocks
0 root wm 0 - 1279 6.21GB (1280/0/0) 13025280
1 swap wm 1281 - 1921 3.11GB (641/0/0) 6522816
2 backup wu 0 - 14086 68.35GB (14087/0/0) 143349312
3 unassigned wm 1922 - 8961 34.16GB (7040/0/0) 71639040
4 usr wm 8962 - 10241 6.21GB (1280/0/0) 13025280
5 unassigned wm 10242 - 12801 12.42GB (2560/0/0) 26050560
6 var wm 12802 - 14081 6.21GB (1280/0/0) 13025280
7 unassigned wm 0 0 (0/0/0) 0
Will doing an fdisk to toggle the bootability mess up my partitions?

I get this when I try the fdisk:

# fdisk /dev/dsk/c0t2d0s0
fdisk: Cannot stat device /dev/dsk/c0t2d0s0.

Any ideas will be gratefully appreciated Smilie
# 4  
Old 01-12-2007
with solaris on sparc you don't need fdisk to set a boot flag on a partition...

use "installboot" to install a bootblock on a slice:

# installboot /usr/platform/`uname -i`/lib/fs/ufs/bootblk /dev/rdsk/c0t2d0s0

for more information see "man installboot"

regards pressy
# 5  
Old 01-12-2007
Hey pressy,

Thanks for the reply. I've just tried the installboot command again (I've previously wiped the drive - this is about my third attempt Smilie ) but I got the following error:

# installboot /usr/platform/`uname -i`/lib/fs/ufs/bootblk /dev/rdsk/c0t2d0s0
/dev/rdsk/c0t2d0s0: Not a character device

Have I screwed something up?

Cheers, p.
# 6  
Old 01-12-2007
Hold the phones, I've just spotted one of my mistakes: my disk is on controller 1 (c1t2d0s0)....

The installboot command has now worked correctly.

I'm now left with an empty disk that's been partitioned ... I've now got to restore Solaris 9 from tape, will this write over the installboot area?

My previous restore was interactive and I just added all the directories and then extracted them, is this correct?

Many thanks, p.
# 7  
Old 01-12-2007
it should not overwrite anything, but for safety reason, you can use the command again, after everything is restored...

about the restore, that depends on which backup method or software you used... you just need to know on which partition the backup-data has to go.

gP
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