failed to open /dev/tty (unable to gain login prompt on server)

[Adam Noble]

I currently have an issue with a K360 HP9000 server. On the console screen I am unable to gain a login prompt, however the message "getty failed to open /dev/tty no such device or address appears". The /dev/tty file exist with the correct permissions and /dev/console is also present. I would be grateful if anyone has any ideas how to resolve the problem.

[Ravi_8]

Hi,

login as root on the console
#insf -e

would solve the problem

[Adam Noble]

Ravi, the whole point is I can't login to the console because of the error. I have ran insf -e via a telnet session but this only creates files that do not exist whereas this file does.

[John Palmer · Accepted solution]

Adam,

One possibility is that another process has /dev/console open. Try running fuser /dev/console to check.

Regards,
John

[Ravi_8]

Hi,

look at /etc/inittab if you have there:
cons:123456:respawn:/usr/sbin/getty console console

Also check if /dev/console is:
crw--w--w- 1 root sys 0 0x000000 Sep 5 13:39 /dev/console

You can recreate /dev/console with:
insf -evd cn

If you can't do this on console, get into single user mode.

[Michael Steele_2]

Bad console path, got an old ioscan laying around? Got to determine or verify it first, then:

reboot, hit any key within 10 seconds for BCH main menu. Type the following...

> pa co

Thos will tell you what the console path is set to.

> pa co 0/0/4/1

This will set the HW address to the console.

> RS (* reboot *)

NOTE: Above is approximate procedure, it may vary a little with your server.

[Adam Noble]

Thanks all I fear that a re-boot is required. I think the problem is with other processes accesing /dev/console, however if I kill these processes it will take down the infromix database. I therefore am unable to re-create /dev/console. I think the only safe mechanism for doing this would be a re-boot.

[John Palmer]

If /dev/console is in use, then you could try the following:-

mv /dev/console /dev/console.old
mknod /dev/console c 0 0x0
chmod 622 /dev/console

Then kill your console getty, init should respawn it.

Regards,
John

[John Poff]

Hi,

What does a 'ps -ft console' return?

JP