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how to replace a System Disk!

 
leyearn
Regular Advisor

how to replace a System Disk!

My System is Alpha Server 4100
os is Digital Unix 4.0D
in the kern.log there are some ERRoR information about the System disk RZ8

Feb 18 01:01:15 bcptt1 vmunix: AdvFS I/O error:
Feb 18 01:01:16 bcptt1 vmunix: Volume: /dev/rz8a
Feb 18 01:01:16 bcptt1 vmunix: Tag: 0xfffffffa.0000
Feb 18 01:01:16 bcptt1 vmunix: Page: 157
Feb 18 01:01:17 bcptt1 vmunix: Block: 12672
Feb 18 01:01:17 bcptt1 vmunix: Block count: 128
Feb 18 01:01:18 bcptt1 vmunix: Type of operation: Read
Feb 18 01:01:18 bcptt1 vmunix: Error: 5
what's wrong with the System Disk?
How to replace it?
4 REPLIES 4
Florian Heigl (new acc)
Honored Contributor

Re: how to replace a System Disk!

The disk has blocks that can no longer be accessed for reading, which is bad, because this means You are starting to face loss of data.

You should use the btcreate command to take a system backup to tape and maybe an additional dd of the whole disks' raw device for recovery purposes, then order a new hard drive from hp and get a downtime.
then replace the current harddrive with the new one and boot from the tape.
keep the old drive in reach in case there are problems, but I think You shouldn't wait too long with this.
yesterday I stood at the edge. Today I'm one step ahead.
Han Pilmeyer
Esteemed Contributor

Re: how to replace a System Disk!

The situation could be transient. So far the system will continue as this is an error on a read. If the same thing happens on a write, then the domain will panic. Since you're on V4.0D, it's likely that the system will panic as a result of that.

You should have a look at the errorlog (probably with the "uerf" tool on V4.0D), to see what causes the errors. It's likely that there is a hardware cause for this error.

It's always good to make sure that you have a valid backup. Using "dd" is NOT the recommended way to make backups. I would suggest looking at "vdump" or some 3rd party backup application.
Johan Brusche
Honored Contributor

Re: how to replace a System Disk!


To replace the disk on this V4.0D:

If you have room for an identical replcement disk in the 4100 disk-bay...(say rz12)

cd /dev
./MAKEDEV rz12
disklabel rz8 > /tmp/rz8.label
disklabel -rw -t advfs rz12
disklabel -R -t advfs rz12 /tmp/rz8.label
disklabel -sF rz12a unused
disklabel -sF rz12g unused

mkfdmn rz12a new_root
mkfdmn rz12g new_usr
mkfset new_root root
mkfset new_usr usr

shutdown now
mount new_root#root /mnt
vdump -0uf - / | vrestore -xf - -D /mnt
umount /mnt
mount new_usr#usr /mnt
vdump -0uf - /usr | vrestore -xf - -D /mnt
umount /mnt

halt
power-off + insert rz12 in location of rz8
boot.

___ Johan.




_JB_
Mohamed  K Ahmed
Trusted Contributor

Re: how to replace a System Disk!

Do you have a recent backup of the system disk?, If yes, then take the system down, boot from a CD, perform the steps required to build a system disk for ADvFS (mentioned above), then restore the data fro the backup tape.

Mohamed