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System Administration Guide: Basic Administration     Oracle Solaris 10 8/11 Information Library
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Document Information

About This Book

1.  Oracle Solaris Management Tools (Road Map)

2.  Working With the Solaris Management Console (Tasks)

3.  Working With the Oracle Java Web Console (Tasks)

4.  Managing User Accounts and Groups (Overview)

5.  Managing User Accounts and Groups (Tasks)

6.  Managing Client-Server Support (Overview)

7.  Managing Diskless Clients (Tasks)

8.  Introduction to Shutting Down and Booting a System

9.  Shutting Down and Booting a System (Overview)

10.  Shutting Down a System (Tasks)

11.  Modifying Oracle Solaris Boot Behavior (Tasks)

12.  Booting an Oracle Solaris System (Tasks)

Booting a SPARC Based System (Task Map)

Booting a SPARC Based System

SPARC: How to Boot a System to Run Level 3 (Multiuser Level)

SPARC: How to Boot a System to Run Level S (Single-User Level)

SPARC: How to Boot a System Interactively

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

Booting From a Specified ZFS Root File System on a SPARC Based System

SPARC: How to List Available Bootable Datasets Within a ZFS Root Pool

SPARC: How to Boot From a Specified ZFS Root File System

Booting a SPARC Based System in Failsafe Mode

How to Boot a SPARC Based System in Failsafe Mode

Booting a SPARC Based System From the Network

SPARC: How to Boot a System From the Network

Booting an x86 Based System by Using GRUB (Task Map)

x86: How to Boot a System to Run Level 3 (Multiuser)

x86: How to Boot a System to Run Level S (Single-User Level)

x86: How to Boot a System Interactively

x86: Booting From a Specified ZFS Root File System on an x86 Based System

x86: How to Display a List of the Available ZFS Boot Environments

x86: How to Boot From a Specified ZFS Root File System

Booting an x86 Based System in Failsafe Mode

How to Boot an x86 Based System in Failsafe Mode

x86: How to Boot in Failsafe Mode to Forcibly Update a Corrupt Boot Archive

Booting an x86 Based System From the Network

x86: About DHCP Macros

x86: How to Perform a GRUB Based Boot From the Network

Accelerating the Reboot Process on the SPARC Platform (Task Map)

Initiating a Fast Reboot of a SPARC Based System

How to Initiate a Fast Reboot of a SPARC Based System

Performing a Standard Reboot of a SPARC Based System

Managing the Boot Configuration Service

13.  Managing the Oracle Solaris Boot Archives (Tasks)

14.  Troubleshooting Booting an Oracle Solaris System (Tasks)

15.  x86: GRUB Based Booting (Reference)

16.  x86: Booting a System That Does Not Implement GRUB (Tasks)

17.  Working With the Oracle Solaris Auto Registration regadm Command (Tasks)

18.  Managing Services (Overview)

19.  Managing Services (Tasks)

20.  Managing Software (Overview)

21.  Managing Software With Oracle Solaris System Administration Tools (Tasks)

22.  Managing Software by Using Oracle Solaris Package Commands (Tasks)

23.  Managing Patches

A.  SMF Services

Index

Booting an x86 Based System by Using GRUB (Task Map)

Task
Description
For Instructions
Boot an x86 based system to run level 3, multiuser level.
Use this boot method to bring the system back to multiuser level after shutting down the system or performing a system hardware maintenance task.
Boot an x86 based system in single-user mode.
Use this boot method to perform a system maintenance task, such as backing up a file system.
Boot an x86 based system interactively.
Use this boot method after making temporary changes to a system file or the kernel for testing purposes.
Display a list of bootable ZFS datasets on an x86 based system.

Use one of the following methods to display the available BEs on an x86 based system that has a ZFS root file system:

  • lustatus
  • bootadm list-menu

Boot an x86 based system from a ZFS root file system.
If you install or upgrade your system to an Oracle Solaris release that supports a ZFS boot loader, the GRUB menu entry for the default ZFS BE contains the -B $ZFS-BOOTFS boot argument by default. The system boots automatically from ZFS.

Note - This option is supported only for boot devices that contain a ZFS pool.


Boot an x86 based system in failsafe mode.
Use this procedure to boot the failsafe archive on an x86 based system. Then, run the bootadm command to update the boot archive.
Boot an x86 based system in failsafe mode to forcibly update a corrupt boot archive.
Use this procedure in cases where the boot archive is corrupt, and the system refuses to boot normally, or you are not prompted to update an inconsistent boot archive.
Boot an x86 based system from the network by using GRUB.
Use this method to boot a PXE or non-PXE device from the network with the default network configuration strategy. This method is also used for booting a diskless client.

x86: How to Boot a System to Run Level 3 (Multiuser)

Use this procedure to boot a system that is currently at run level 0 to run level 3.

  1. Reboot the system.
    # reboot

    If the system displays the Press any key to reboot prompt, press any key to reboot the system.

    You can also use the Reset button at this prompt. If the system is shut down, turn the system on with the power switch.

    When the boot sequence begins, the GRUB menu is displayed.

  2. When the GRUB menu is displayed, press Enter to boot the default OS instance.

    If you do not choose an entry within 10 seconds, the system automatically boots to run level 3.

    The login prompt is displayed when the boot process has finished successfully.

  3. Log in to the system.
    hostname console login:
  4. Verify that the system booted to run level 3.
    # who -r
    system% who -r
       .       run-level 3  Mar  2 09:44     3      0  S

Example 12-9 x86: Booting a System To Run Level 3 (Multiuser Level)

# reboot

Jul 24 11:29:52 bearskin reboot: rebooted by root
syncing file systems... done
rebooting...

Adaptec AIC-7899 SCSI BIOS v2.57S4
(c) 2000 Adaptec, Inc. All Rights Reserved.

 Press <Ctrl><A> for SCSISelect(TM) Utility! 

Ch B,  SCSI ID: 0 SEAGATE  ST336607LSUN36G   160

GNU GRUB  version 0.95  (637K lower / 2096064K upper memory)
==============================================================
Solaris 10 10/08 s10x_u6wos_03 X86
Solaris failsafe

==============================================================
        Use the  and  keys to select which entry is highlighted.
        Press enter to boot the selected OS, 'e' to edit the
        commands before booting, or 'c' for a command-line.


SunOS Release 5.10 Version Generic_144500-10 64-bit
Copyright (c) 1983, 2011, Oracle and/or its affiliates. All rights reserved.
Use is subject to license terms.
Hostname: pups
NIS domain name is ....sfbay.sun.com
Reading ZFS config: done.
Mounting ZFS filesystems: (5/5)

pups console login:

# who -r
   .       run-level 3  Jul 24 11:31     3      0  S

x86: How to Boot a System to Run Level S (Single-User Level)

Use this procedure to boot a system that is at run level 0 to run level S. The single-user level is used for performing system maintenance.


Note - This procedure can be used for all GRUB implementations. However, the boot entries in the GRUB main menu vary, depending on which Oracle Solaris release you are running.


For a description of all of the kernel options that you can specify at boot time, see x86: Modifying Boot Behavior by Editing the GRUB Menu at Boot Time.

  1. Reboot the system.
    # reboot

    If the system displays the Press any key to reboot prompt, press any key to reboot the system.

    You can also use the Reset button at this prompt. If the system is shut down, turn the system on with the power switch.

    When the boot sequence begins, the GRUB menu is displayed.

  2. When the GRUB main menu is displayed, type e to edit the GRUB menu.
  3. Depending on the release you are running, use the arrow keys to choose the kernel or kernel$ line.

    If you cannot use the arrow keys, use the caret key (^) key to scroll up and the letter v key to scroll down.

  4. Type e again to edit the boot entry.

    From here, you can add options and arguments to the kernel or kernel$ line.

  5. To boot the system in single-user mode, type -s at the end of the boot entry line, then press Return to go back to the previous screen.
    • To specify other boot behaviors, replace the -s option with the appropriate boot option.

      The following alternate boot behaviors can be specified in this manner:

      • Perform a reconfiguration boot

      • Boot a 64-bit capable system in 32-bit mode

      • Boot the system with the kernel debugger

      • Redirect the console

      For more information, see the boot(1M) man page.

  6. To boot the system in single-user mode, type b.
  7. When prompted, type the root password.
  8. Verify that the system is at run level S.
    # who -r
    .       run-level S  Jun 13 11:07     S      0  0
  9. Perform the system maintenance task that required the run level change to S.
  10. After you complete the system maintenance task, reboot the system.

Example 12-10 x86: Booting a System in Single-User Mode

# reboot
Jul  2 14:30:01 pups reboot: initiated by root on /dev/console
syncing files...

Press <Ctrl><A> forPSCSISelect(TM) Utility!


GNU GRUB  version 0.95  (637K lower / 2096064K upper memory)

===================================================
Solaris 10 10/08 s10x_u6wos_03 X86 
Solaris failsafe

=====================================================
        Use the  and  keys to select which entry is highlighted.
        Press enter to boot the selected OS, 'e' to edit the
        commands before booting, or 'c' for a command-line.
=====================================================

GNU GRUB  version 0.95  (637K lower / 2096064K upper memory)

=====================================================
findroot (pool_rpool,0,a)
kernel$ /platform/i86pc/multiboot -B $ZFS-BOOTFS 
module /platform/i86pc/boot_archive
================================================
        Use the  and  keys to select which entry is highlighted.
        Press 'b' to boot, 'e' to edit the selected command in the
        boot sequence, 'c' for a command-line, 'o' to open a new line
        after ('O' for before) the selected line, 'd' to remove the
        selected line, or escape to go back to the main menu.

[ Minimal BASH-like line editing is supported.  For the first word, TAB
lists possible command completions.  Anywhere else TAB lists the possible
completions of a device/filename.  ESC at any time exits. ]

grub edit> kernel$ /platform/i86pc/multiboot -B $ZFS-BOOTFS -s

 GNU GRUB  version 0.95  (637K lower / 2096064K upper memory)

=======================================================
findroot (pool_rpool,0,a)
kernel$ /platform/i86pc/multiboot -B $ZFS-BOOTFS -s 
module /platform/i86pc/boot_archive
======================================
        Use the  and  keys to select which entry is highlighted.
        Press 'b' to boot, 'e' to edit the selected command in the
     boot sequence, 'c' for a command-line, 'o' to open a new line
        after ('O' for before) the selected line, 'd' to remove the
   selected line, or escape to go back to the main menu.
.
.
.
SunOS Release 5.10 Version Generic_144500-10 64-bit
Copyright (c) 1983, 2011, Oracle and/or its affiliates. All rights reserved.
Use is subject to license terms.
Booting to milestone "milestone/single-user:default".
Hostname: pups Requesting System Maintenance Mode SINGLE USER MODE
Root password for system maintenance (control-d to bypass):
single-user privilege assigned to /dev/console.
Entering System Maintenance Mode
Jul  2 14:41:48 su: 'su root' succeeded for root on /dev/console Sun Microsystems Inc.
# who -r
who -r    .       run-level S  Jul  2 14:39     S      0  0 # 

x86: How to Boot a System Interactively

Use this procedure to boot a system, if you need to specify an alternate kernel or an alternate /etc/system file.

Before You Begin

To specify an alternate /etc/system file when booting an x86 based system interactively by using the boot -a command, follow these steps:

  1. Reboot the system.
    # reboot

    If the system displays the Press any key to reboot prompt, press any key to reboot the system.

    You can also use the Reset button at this prompt. If the system is shut down, turn the system on with the power switch.

    When the boot sequence begins, the GRUB main menu is displayed.

  2. To access the GRUB edit menu, type e.
  3. Use the arrow keys to select the kernel or kernel$ line.
  4. Type e to edit the boot entry line.
  5. Type -a to boot the system interactively, then, press Enter to return to the previous menu.
  6. To boot the system interactively, type b.
  7. Type a default directory for modules, or press Enter to accept the default.
    Enter default directory for modules [/platform/i86pc/kernel /kernel /usr/kernel]:
  8. Type an alternate system file name, alternate-file.
    Name of system file [etc/system]: /etc/system.bak

    Pressing Enter without providing an alternate file accepts the default.

    Repair the damaged /etc/system file.

  9. Reboot the system to run level 3.

Example 12-11 x86: Booting a System Interactively

# reboot
syncing file systems... done
rebooting...

 
GNU GRUB  version 0.95  (637K lower / 2096064K upper memory)
===================================================
Solaris 10 10/08 s10x_u6wos_03 X86 
Solaris failsafe
=====================================================
        Use the  and  keys to select which entry is highlighted.
        Press enter to boot the selected OS, 'e' to edit the
        commands before booting, or 'c' for a command-line.
=====================================================


GNU GRUB  version 0.95  (637K lower / 2096064K upper memory)
=====================================================
findroot (pool_rpool,0,a)
kernel$ /platform/i86pc/multiboot -B $ZFS-BOOTFS 
module /platform/i86pc/boot_archive
======================================================
        Use the  and  keys to select which entry is highlighted.
        Press 'b' to boot, 'e' to edit the selected command in the
        boot sequence, 'c' for a command-line, 'o' to open a new line
        after ('O' for before) the selected line, 'd' to remove the
        selected line, or escape to go back to the main menu.

[ Minimal BASH-like line editing is supported.  For the first word, TAB
lists possible command completions.  Anywhere else TAB lists the possible
completions of a device/filename.  ESC at any time exits. ]

grub edit> kernel$ /platform/i86pc/multiboot -B $ZFS-BOOTFS -a
GNU GRUB  version 0.95  (637K lower / 2096064K upper memory)

===================================================
findroot (pool_rpool,0,a)
kernel$ /platform/i86pc/multiboot -B $ZFS-BOOTFS -a 
module /platform/i86pc/boot_archive
====================================================
.
.
.
Enter default directory for modules [/platform/i86pc/kernel /kernel /usr/kernel]:
Name of system file [/etc/system]:  /etc/system.bak
SunOS Release 5.10 Version Generic_144500-10 64-bit
Copyright (c) 1983, 2011, Oracle and/or its affiliates. All rights reserved.
Use is subject to license terms.
Hostname: pups
NIS domain name is ....sfbay.sun.com
Reading ZFS config: done.
Mounting ZFS filesystems: (5/5)
pups console login: