topic single user mode in Operating System - HP-UX

single user mode

aruns_s — Tue, 07 Nov 2006 06:33:21 GMT

i had a boot disk crash...
Whilst i try to boot thru alternate disk, it is not booting. system is coming to maintenance mode with following errors.
INIT: WARNING: No passwd entry for root.
FIX root ENTRY IN /etc/passwd (OR TCB if trusted ) AND REBOOT !!!

INIT: SINGLE USER MODE

INIT: WARNING: No passwd entry for root.
FIX root ENTRY IN /etc/passwd AND REBOOT !!!

please advice

Re: single user mode

Vasu Viswanadha — Tue, 07 Nov 2006 06:44:06 GMT

Hi Arun,

Boot in Single User mode and set root password. If U have backup of password file, you can restore the same.

If the system is trused, it is a bit complex process.

BR

Vasu

Re: single user mode

Calandrello — Tue, 07 Nov 2006 07:45:21 GMT

Friend
to go up with the option hp-ux - lm case is set free prompt for you executes the following command:
vgchange -a y
mount -a

Re: single user mode

Steven E. Protter — Tue, 07 Nov 2006 09:14:55 GMT

Shalom,

INIT: SINGLE USER MODE

INIT: WARNING: No passwd entry for root.
FIX root ENTRY IN /etc/passwd AND REBOOT !!!

I believe the messages above were customizations by the administrator who apparently used single user mode to fix password problems. Its good for more than that.

You will need to restore your system after fixing the disk from an Ignite backup. If you don't have that you will be reinstalling the OS.

SEP

Re: single user mode

Patrick Wallek — Tue, 07 Nov 2006 09:26:23 GMT

NO, those are NOT customizations.

This is a standard HP-UX message that comes up if there is not entry to root in /etc/passwd.

The real problem is that somehow your /etc/passwd file has gotten corrupted or completely deleted.

2 options to fix this come to mind:

1) If you have an OS installation CD/DVD boot from it and try to mount your good drive per the instructions. Then go to the etc directory on the mounted drive and see if your passwd file is there. If it is, check to make sure it is valid and verify that 'root' is the FIRST entry in the file. If the passwd file does not exist, you can create a new one by copying from /usr/newconfig/etc/passwd

2) Restore from an Ignite tape if you have one.