Boot Problem with C3600

[Christopher Finez]

Hi all,

I have an application server (C3600) that would not boot. Proposed solution is to restore vg00 using Ignite.

However, another problem is that the external dat tape which will be used for the recovery in ignite is not connected/detected.

Our task is to first install the dat drive, then recover using ignite.

Question:

Can we boot the server using a bootable CD such as Ignite CD s700 then go to SAM to connect the device?

What other approach can you suggest to recover the server with the dat drive not connected in the first place.

Thanks.

[T G Manikandan]

Do you have some CODES displayed on the LCD on the C3600

[John Carr_2]

Hi

plug the tape drive in to the server with the tape in the ignite tape in the drive.

when the server starts to boot press the space bar to interrupt.

now type "SEA" to see attached devices in the left column will be numbers P0 , P1 ...

assuming yuo can see the tape list type " BO P3" if P3 is the tape drive.

the system should now boot from the tape and receover as per the backup.

John.

[G. Vrijhoeven]

Hi,

If you have a tape drive connected and you see it with sea ipl in the boot menu it could be that the SCSI id's have changed since the tape was created.

It is possible to boot using an bootable cd but it is a lot more work.

Gideon

[Christopher Finez]

Hi guys, thanks for the quick infos.

Actually to describe the situation more, here are some added info.

I have 4 C3600 applications servers, all without dat drive connected. One of them failed, and was recommended by HP to recover vg00 using ignite.

Thus, we installed a DDS4 dat drive on one of the working application server using SAM:

To include stape in kernel, go to SAM > configurable kernel parameters > Drivers look for "stape" then INSTALL
(insf -e or ioscan didn't work)

From there, we were able to add the dat drive and make an ignite of the working application server.

Now the task is to restore it, but we have to overcome first the problem of how to install the dat drive on a C3600 server that would not boot.

I'll try to get info on your recommendations tomorrow, but I really appreciate if I can gather some suggestions for today.

Thanks again.

[G. Vrijhoeven]

Hi,

If you do not have a tape drive connected to the systemen, and are not able to connect a drive i would suggest a make_net recovery. But i do not understand why you can not use the tape straight away. If you create an ignite tape ( using the correct ignite version) you are able to boot from tape. You do not have to install a driver first It is on the tape.

Gideon

[Christopher Finez]

Hi G. Vrijhoeven,

Actually thats the tricky part. All our apps server were initially out of tape drives, we just installed it because we need to use ignite.

On apps1, we did this by SAM. Drive was not readily detected after plug-in, nor by ioscan, nor by insf -e.

On apps2 which doesn't boot, how will I do SAM and install it if it wont boot in the first place. I will try to check it by SEA IPL but im afraid its not there like in the rest of the apps.

[G. Vrijhoeven]

Hi again,

May be i do not understand you correct but.
The ioscan and insf do a search for devices known by the kernel. In order to create an tape drive you need that driver but not to restore the tape. When you need to recover a tape you do not have an O.S. active and so not a kernel active. The ISL software on your system should be able to detect the IPL on your tape drive. The kernel on the tape has the stape driver, so it should work.

Gideon

[Christopher Finez]

Hi Gideon, thanks and please bear with me.

Do you mean to say, an ignite backup will have its stape (driver or whatever) installed in the tape backup and will automatically be detected or restored on the problematic server?

how will i boot using that dat drive in the first place, where no dat drive was connected on it before?

thanks again.

[G. Vrijhoeven]

Hi,

What you can do is:

interrupt the boot process. ( you have 10 secs. )
>SEA IPL

Check for P numbet before the TAPE path. ( Sequential Media)

bo P

The server will boot from tape now and will start restoring.

Mind you have to change the ip-adress etc. if the tape is created on an other server. Herfore you can go in the advanced option to the network tab.

Gideon

[John Carr_2]

Christopher

ignite tapes are for disaster receovery you can put one into a new machine with no operating system installed boot from the tape and it will build your system as was backed up.

you can also interrupt the build at the start and do some nice extras like changing filesystems sizes too or partial recovery.

:-) John.