You didn't lose your data dumping to the same disk since you didn't format (changing the sizes of the partitions). You are attempting to 'get around' the normal way of doing things (not wrong mind you...that is something we all try).
But, the problem is this. You aren't running Solaris 8 on a SUN system which would allow this. You are running X86. And according to SUN, it can't be done.
Quote:
[cpj@west 5/24/96]
The install program has always provided a feature to allow choosing which
slice will contain which partition. The root and swap partition can be located
anywhere. devconf appears to have a hardcoded ":a" in the constructed bootpath
which breaks this feature. Pehaps there's a swap limitation as well?
This feature can be used to allow multiple solaris versions to install on a
single
disk. By preserving the old filesystems, and installing into new slices, both
installations can be held on one disk (and switched between by setting
the appropriate root partition to type "root" with the format program).
In any event, the root partition should be determined as the other boot
stages do, by examing the vtoc for the first "root" partition.
The description field as copied from bug report 1261782 follows:
If a system is installed with the root filesystem on a slice other than slice 0,
the
installed system cannot be booted.
An attempt to boot from the hard drive will cause this screen to be displayed:
SunOs Secondary Boot version 3.00
<bootdev>:a: can't open - too many open devices
prom_panic: Could not mount filesystem.
use Ctl-Alt-Del to reboot
An attempt to boot using the boot floppy will cause these messages to appear:
Unable to mount a Solaris root filesystem from device:
......
/isa/ata@`,1f0/cmdk@0,0:a: can't open - slice not allocated
/isa/ata@`,1f0/cmdk@0,0:a: can't open - too many open devices
I tested this by installing an IDE system with the root on slice 7. I also
tried
a system with a buslogic ISA adapter with the root on slice 7. These systems
work fine if the root is on slice 0.
Work Around Top
The work around field as copied from bug report 1261782 follows:
Install with root on slice 0.
So you are back to square 1. You can either backup your data to tape, format the drive, and dump the tape back on, OR, reinstall from scratch. I don't believe there are any other choices.
One thing you might try...
IF your swap partition is set up right next to your root partition (on slice 1), you could cut a piece from slice 7 {insure you restored your data first that you put there onto the correct slice [0]} to move swap to. Then you could increase the size of your root partition....all this is dependent on what your partitions look like (please post how you had it set up originally and how it is set up now).
12-16-2002
