IA: How to Boot a System for Recovery Purposes

Follow these steps to boot the system to repair a critical system resource. The example shows you how to boot from a Solaris Installation CD or the network, mount the root (/) file system on the disk, and repair the /etc/passwd file.

Substitute the device name of the file system to be repaired for the devicename variable in the procedures below. If you need help identifying a system's device names, refer to Chapter 26, Accessing Devices (Overview).

Follow the instructions below to boot from the Solaris installation CD or the network.

1. Boot from the Solaris installation CD (or the network) to single-user mode.

   1. Insert the Configuration Assistant Boot Diskette or the Installation CD you wish to boot from.

   2. Press any key to reboot the system if the system displays the Type any key to reboot prompt. You can also use the reset button at this prompt. If the system is shut down, turn the system on with the power (on/off) switch.

   3. Press the F2 key (F2_Continue) at the Solaris Device Configuration Assistant screen.

      Device identification is performed and a screen that displays the identified devices appears.

   4. Press the F2 key (F2_Continue) at the Identified Devices screen.

      Bootable drivers are loaded.

   5. Press the F2 key (F2_Continue) at the Solaris Device Configuration Assistant screen.

      Device identification is performed and a screen that displays the identified devices appears.

   6. Press the F2 key (F2_Continue) at the Identified Devices screen.

      Bootable drivers are loaded.

   7. Select the CD-ROM drive or network device from the Boot Solaris menu. Then press the F2 key (F2_Continue).

      The Current Boot Parameters menu is displayed.

   8. Type b -s at the prompt. Press Enter.

      After a few minutes, the single-user mode # prompt is displayed.

2. Mount the root (/) file system that has the invalid passwd file.

   # mount /dev/dsk/devicename /a

3. Change to the newly mounted etc directory.

   # cd /a/etc

4. Make the necessary change to the passwd file using an editor.

   # vi passwd

5. Change to the root (/) directory.

   # cd /

6. Unmount the /a directory.

   # umount /a

7. Reboot the system.

   # init 6

8. Verify the system boots to run level 3.

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

   hostname console login:

IA: Example--Booting a System for Recovery Purposes

Type any key to reboot

SunOS Secondary Boot version 3.00


Solaris Intel Platform Edition Booting System

Running Configuration Assistant...
Autobooting from Boot path: /pci@0,0/pci-ide@7,1/ide@0/cmdk@0,0:a

If the system hardware has changed, or to boot from a different
device, interrupt the autoboot process by pressing ESC.

Press ESCape to interrupt autoboot in 5 seconds.
      .
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Boot Solaris

Select one of the identified devices to boot the Solaris kernel and
choose Continue.

To perform optional features, such as modifying the autoboot and property
settings, choose Boot Tasks.

An asterisk (*) indicates the current default boot device.

> To make a selection use the arrow keys, and press Enter to mark it [X].

[ ]  NET : DEC 21142/21143 Fast Ethernet
on Board PCI at Dev 3                                                
[ ]  DISK: (*) Target 0, QUANTUM  FIREBALL1280A
on Bus Mastering IDE controller on Board PCI at Dev 7, Func 1
[ ]  DISK: Target 1:ST5660A
on Bus Mastering IDE controller on Board PCI at Dev 7, Func 1
[ ]  DISK: Target 0:Maxtor 9 0680D4
on Bus Mastering IDE controller on Board PCI at Dev 7, Func 1
[ ]  CD  : Target 1:TOSHIBA  CD-ROM XM-5602B  1546
on Bus Mastering IDE controller on Board PCI at Dev 7, Func 1

F2_Continue   F3_Back   F4_Boot Tasks   F6_Help
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               <<< Current Boot Parameters >>>
Boot path: /pci@0,0/pci-ide@7,1/ide@0/cmdk@0,0:a
Boot args: kernel/unix -r

Select the type of installation you want to perform:

1 Solaris Interactive
2 Custom JumpStart
3 Solaris Web Start
 
Enter the number of your choice followed by <ENTER> the key.
 
If you enter anything else, or if you wait for 30 seconds,
an interactive installation will be started.
 
Select type of installation:  b -s
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# mount /dev/dsk/c0t0d0s0 /a
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# cd /a/etc
# vi passwd
(Remove invalid entry)
# cd /
# umount /a
# init 6