Booting an x86 Based System

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.

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.
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.
Log in to the system.
```
hostname console login:
```

Verify that the system booted to run level 3.

# who -r
system% who -r
   .       run-level 3  Mar  2 09:44     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.

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.
When the GRUB main menu is displayed, type e to edit the GRUB menu.
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.
Type e again to edit the boot entry.
From here, you can add options and arguments to the kernel or kernel$ line.
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.
To boot the system in single-user mode, type b.
When prompted, type the root password.
Note - You might need to also enter a user name before entering the root password. The account name can be root or any other privileged account, such as “jack” on the Live CD, or an account that you created during the installation.

Verify that the system is at run level S.

# who -r
.       run-level S  Jun 13 11:07     S      0  0

Perform the system maintenance task that required the run level change to S.
After you complete the system maintenance task, reboot the system.

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. Make backup copies of the /etc/system and the boot/solaris/filelist.ramdisk files. For example:

# cp /etc/system /etc/system.bak
# cp /boot/solaris/filelist.ramdisk /boot/solaris/filelist.ramdisk.orig

2. Add the /etc/system.bak file name to the /boot/solaris/filelist.ramdisk file.
```
# echo "etc/system.bak" >> /boot/solaris/filelist.ramdisk
```
3. Update the boot archive.
```
# bootadm update-archive -v
```

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.
To access the GRUB edit menu, type e.
Use the arrow keys to select the kernel or kernel$ line.
Type e to edit the boot entry line.
Type -a to boot the system interactively, then, press Enter to return to the previous menu.
To boot the system interactively, type b.

Type a default directory for modules, or press Enter to accept the default.

Enter default directory for modules [/platform/i86pc/kernel /kernel /usr/kernel]:

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.
Reboot the system to run level 3.

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	System Administration Guide: Basic Administration Oracle Solaris 11 Express 11/10