UNIX for Dummies Questions & Answers

I picked up a Sparcstation 2 at property disposition and strangely enough it boots and attempts to load SunOS 4.1.4 (Solaris 2.1 from what I understand). Before the OS can finish loading it gives an .unknown error in reboot fsck . Then it says WARNING - file systems have NOT been remounted read-write. Use fsck to fix any file system problems, rebooting the system if any problems are found with a mounted file system. After file systems have fsck'ed cleanly, you can remount file systems and finish single-user setup using "/etc/rc.single". After that it says -: stty: not found So, what exactly does this miean? I'd like to use the existing OS that is installed if I can get around it's problems, just to fool around with and learn more about Unix. The other idea I had was to load a more recent OS, suchas 2.5.1, or 2.6. Another idea would be to use some sort of version of linux, and recommendations? If I do decide to load a fresh OS, is it possible to have an INTERNET install, or would it need to be on my local network? I suppose there isn't any one single unix OS that could fit on a disk or two is there? Any help would be greatly appreciated.

Pseudosane,

I have no clue what that error means, but if your thinking of trying a new OS your stuck with Solaris. From what I understand Solaris is the only OS that will work with SPARC processors. Go to www.sun.com to download the latest version for free.

For part of your other question, yes there is a version of Linux smaller than 2 discs (CD's or floppies!), its called Coyote Linux, and its only about 1 MB, there is also another version that is about 20 or 30 MB.

Sorry I couldn't give you an answer to your error problem, Im new to Unix too.

Later,

Grayson

There are Linux versions that work on Sun hardware. Also, check out NetBSD (I think).

The error simply means that fsck (File System ChecKer) was not able to run automatically. You have to run it manually. The reason stty was not found (It's a command), is that most likely, your /usr and other important filesystems were not mounted.

See if /etc was mounted... It should have been, at least read-only. If so, look in (it may be different for SunOS) the fstab file for a list of your normally mounted filesystems, and run fsck manually on each of them. You can find the manual page for fstab on the web here:
http://www.math.psu.edu/bin/docsearc...archtype=exact

Hopefully, someone who better understands SunOS can help more...

LivinFree,
I tried accessing the /etc directory, but the system replies with Permission denied. I get the # sign when I try this, but when I enter a command it proceeds to the next line with the > symbol. Before the system gives the WARNING (initial message post) it tries to mount sd1g /usr/etc/fsck but it can't (there isn't a disk on that ID). Maybe there was a second disk in the machine and it was taken out before I received it? I think I'll move the disk to that ID and see what happens. After it attempts to mount the system replies with mount: giving up on: /usr Then says checking file systems /usr/etc/fsck: no such file or directory. I'm confused, maybe this is too much for a newblar like me ANY OTHER IDEAS?

WOo-HOo!!! That worked! I changed the SCSI ID on the hard disk and moved it to the other scsi channel and it worked! Boots all the way to login! Now I just need to crack the login and password.... It's an old Merit server....ANY IDEAS NOW!??!?

Pseudo

The jist of it requires booting into single-user mode, mounting at least the / filesystem, and either editing the password file and nulling out the password field for root, or by simply using:
passwd root
and changing it.

See if you can search the forum for more info...

THE MOMENT OF TRUTH!!! You know you're a computer geek when you get excited about learning something new about something as cheesy as gaining access to your own computer! I really appreciate your help on this one LivinFree. I searched the forum and read a post that a german fellow made (Treunfels?). Anyway, everything I needed to know was right there! I would like to thank all those people who replied to that german guy. Neo said it best with his last reply for that post, "GOOD TEAMWORK..." (or something like that) Thanks again LivinFree!

Pseudo