SPARC: How to Boot a Kernel Other Than the Default Kernel

1. Become superuser or assume an equivalent role.

   Roles contain authorizations and privileged commands. For more information about roles, see Configuring RBAC (Task Map) in System Administration Guide: Security Services.

2. Obtain a copy of an existing Oracle Solaris kernel and rename it.

3. Add the kernel that you copied and renamed in Step 2 to the /etc/boot/solaris/filelist.ramdisk file.

   # echo "kernel.name" >> /boot/solaris/filelist.ramdisk

4. Verify that the alternate kernel has been added to the /etc/boot/solaris/filelist.ramdisk file.

   # cat > /etc/boot/solaris/filelist.ramdisk

5. Update the boot archive by using the bootadm command.

   # bootadm update-archive

6. Change to run level 0.

   # init 0

   The ok PROM prompt is displayed.

7. Boot the alternate kernel.

   ok boot alternate-kernel

   For example:

   ok boot kernel.myname/sparcv9/unix

   • To boot the alternate kernel by default, follow these steps:

     1. Set the boot-file parameter to the new kernel.

        ok setenv boot-file kernel.name/sparc9/unix

     2. Verify that the boot-file property has been changed.

        ok printenv boot-file

     3. Reboot the system.

        ok boot

8. After the system has booted, verify that the alternate kernel that was booted.

   # prtconf -vp | grep whoami

Example 12–4 Booting an Alternate Kernel by Changing the Default Boot File

# cp -r /platform/sun4v/kernel /platform/sun4vu/kernel.caiobella
# echo "kernel.caiobela" >> /boot/solaris/filelist.ramdisk

# cat > /etc/boot/solaris/filelist.ramdisk
/platform/sun4v/kernel.caiobella
^D (control D)

ok setenv boot-file kernel.caiobells/sparcv9/unix
ok printenv boot-file
boot-file = kernel.caiobella/sparcv9/unix

ok boot

SC Alert: Host System has Reset

SC Alert: Host system has shut down.


Sun Fire T200, No KeyboardCopyright 2006 Sun Microsystems, Inc.  All rights reserved.
OpenBoot 4.25.0.build_01***PROTOTYPE BUILD***, 32760 MB memory available, Serial 
#69060038.
Ethernet address 0:x:4f:x:c5:c6, Host ID: 8xxc5c6.



Rebooting with command: boot
Boot device: /pci@7c0/pci@0/pci@1/pci@0,2/LSILogic,sas@2/disk@0,0:a  File and 
args: kernel.caiobella/sparcv9/unix
SunOS Release 5.10
Copyright 1983-2007 Sun Microsystems, Inc.  All rights reserved.
Use is subject to license terms.
DEBUG enabled
misc/forthdebug (176650 bytes) loaded
Hostname: seasonz
NIS domain name is lab.domain.sun.com
Reading ZFS config: done.

seasonz console login:
Password:
Last login: Mon Nov 12 18:02:00 on console
Sun Microsystems Inc.   SunOS 5.10
.
.
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You have new mail.
#
#
# prtconf -vp | grep whoami
        whoami:  '/platform/sun4v/kernel.caiobella/sparcv9/unix'