topic Re: ia64/ignite/bootptab config? in Operating System - HP-UX

ia64/ignite/bootptab config?

Doug O'Leary — Fri, 28 May 2010 19:44:06 GMT

Hey;

I have a couple of ia64 systems that have firmware sufficently old that the dbprofile command doesn't exist. I'm trying to set up a boot helper on the same network and was pleasantly surprised to find I'm all but there.

The two systems I'm trying to ignite are an rx7620 and an rx4640. The 7620 is on hold because, I believe with some evidence, that the network isn't plugged into the core lan card - the only one the boot management can see.

The boot helper is an rx2620 running 11.31. Based on the ignite admin guide, I updated the bootptab as follows:

next-server:\
bf=/opt/ignite/boot/nbp.efi:\
ht=ethernet:\
b48:\
gw=135.3.15.254:\
sm=255.255.254.0:\
ds=135.3.66.94

usnavdb8:\
tc=next-server:\
ha=00306E5DBCB9:\
ip=135.3.15.235
sa=135.3.66.94

After a few tries/errors, I found the network interface that's on the right segment and was able to talk to the ignite server for a little while.

After it asks what OS I want to load, but before I get to the ignite gui, shortly after the DHCP connection, I get a line saying:

add net default: gateway 135.3.67.254: network is unreachable

The default gateway should be 135.3.15.254. This tells me that I messed up the bootptab configuration somehow. After close to 20 years of UNIX admin, this will be the first time that I've ever had to mess with one of these things - and I'm hoping it'll be the last.

Can anyone see what I messed up in the bootptab configuration?

Any hints/tips/suggestions greatly appreciated.

Doug O'Leary

Re: ia64/ignite/bootptab config?

Doug O'Leary — Fri, 28 May 2010 19:50:53 GMT

Hey;

Just to be absolutely clear:

client IP: 135.3.15.235
ignite IP: 135.3.66.94
netmask: 255.255.254.0

the gw is 254 on each of the networks:
135.3.15.254 or 135.3.67.254...

Thanks in advance for any hints/tips/suggestions.

Doug

Re: ia64/ignite/bootptab config?

Tingli — Fri, 28 May 2010 20:04:48 GMT

They should be in the same subnet.

Re: ia64/ignite/bootptab config?

Doug O'Leary — Fri, 28 May 2010 20:43:30 GMT

Hey;

Not really; that's the whole point of a boot helper, isn't it? so the ignite client and the ignite server aren't in the same subnet?

the boothelper and the ignite client are in the same subnet, if that's what you were asking... that's already done.

Doug

Re: ia64/ignite/bootptab config?

Chandrahasa s — Sat, 29 May 2010 02:10:09 GMT

Hi,

Dbprofile is the best option,you can find new firmware for mentioned servers where you can get dbprofile option.

Chandra

Re: ia64/ignite/bootptab config?

Doug O'Leary — Sat, 29 May 2010 12:54:13 GMT

Hey;

Thanks for the reply; still not the direction I'm looking to go in. I know dbprofile is the best option and, as soon as I can get an OS on this thing, I'll be looking for the full patch suite. Problem is all's I have is a remote console.

The system talks to the boot helper; there has to be something wrong with the bootptab file. If someone could point that out, I'd be greatful.

Thanks.

Doug

Re: ia64/ignite/bootptab config?

VK2COT — Mon, 31 May 2010 04:02:51 GMT

Hello,

Ahh, I had written a nice response and ITRC
Web server became unresponsive and lost my edits.

Not nice. It happens very often these days.
Whenever the server load moves from, say,
forusm13 to forums11 or 12, I lose my
edits.

Anyway, here is what I understand about your setup:

Ignite client: 135.3.15.235
Next Server Boot Helper: 135.3.15.x ??
Ignite server: 135.3.66.94

a) Are subnet masks on all servers
consistent?

b) What is the routing table on
Next Server Boot Helper:

# netstat -rnv

c) Are there any firewalls on the servers?

d) Check network parameters on the
Next Server Boot Helper:

ip_forwarding
ip_forward_directed_broadcasts
and similar

e) Just as a test, can you add a static
host route on the Ignite client:

# route add host 135.3.66.94 netmask 255.255.254.0 135.3.15.x 1

# ping 135.3.66.94

or just try to open any valid port if
ICMP is blocked on the Ignite server.

Cheers,

VK2COT

Re: ia64/ignite/bootptab config?

Dennis Handly — Mon, 31 May 2010 04:38:19 GMT

>VK2COT: It happens very often these days. Whenever the server load moves from, say, forusm13 to forums11, I lose my edits.

What browser are you using? With firefox, you just use back and copy and open another tab and paste.

Re: ia64/ignite/bootptab config?

VK2COT — Mon, 31 May 2010 05:01:39 GMT

Hello Dennis,

I normally use three browsers (in this order
of preference: Firefox, Opera, Explorer).

Yes, this was Explorer session that made
me suffer.

Sadly, I am moving between browsers because
some other things do not work in Firefox
and Opera, so I get lost in browser wars
sometimes :)

Cheers,

VK2COT

Re: ia64/ignite/bootptab config?

Doug O'Leary — Mon, 31 May 2010 12:34:40 GMT

Hey;

Thanks for the replies. the next-server boot helper is on the same subnet as the ignite client. I don't remember the specific IP address; however, I chose it as the boot helper specifically because of that.

I know it's talking to the boot helper, at least, because I get the "choose the OS you want to install" menu. It may even be talking to the ignite server as the gateway it's defining is the ignite server's default route, not the default route for the systems on the 135.3.15 subnet.

Do I need a gw= option in the usnavdb8 section of the bootptab? Maybe I'll try that...

Thanks again for the replies.

Doug O'Leary

Re: ia64/ignite/bootptab config?

Doug O'Leary — Wed, 02 Jun 2010 14:55:17 GMT

Hey;

It seems the gw option in the host stanzas of the bootptab was the right answer. As soon as I did that, I was able to ignite the rx4640.

Now, if I could just find out why the 7620 keeps crashing every time it loads the kernel

Thanks again for the replies.

Doug