HP-UX OS HELP NEEDED

[Helen Lawrence_1]

I have corrupted my /etc/passwd file on a server, specifically I have specified
a shell that does not exist for root. I cannot su to root from another user
since there are no other user accounts on the system. I cannot log in as root
on the console since it states that the shell does not exist and logs me out.
On Sun and SGI machines, I would boot the CDROM and copy a new /etc/passwd file
into place on the real root drive and then boot the system normally.

I assume the same will work for HP but I am unfamilar with the steps/commands
to perform this action. Can anyone provide me with this information.

Thanks,
helen.c.lawrence@bellatlanic.com

[Randy Mather]

boot the system into single user mode

enter the when the boot up prompts to discontinue the boot process.

IPL>bo

interact with ISL ? YES

at the prompt type >> hpux -is

[Karunanidhi Subramanian]

Hi!
Oops! You have corrupted one of the most important files in the system. O.K,
Anyway, you don't need to boot through CDROM. You have to just boot the system
in SINGLE USER MODE and repair the /etc/passwd file.

1. Power up your system.
2. Interrupt the boot process when prompted (This is
boot prom dependent. You may either be asked to "press any key" or
"press and hold the ESCAPE key".)
3. In the Mainmenu type "bo"
i.e. Main menu>bo
4. Interact with IPL. When prompted for this type "y"
5. In ISL prompt type "hpux -is"
i.e. ISL>hpux -is
6. This will lead you to single user mode without asking passwd.
7. Don't do the mistake of editing the /etc/passwd file
Instead use SAM to modify the user properties.
i.e #/usr/sbin/sam
Note: if /usr is a seperate filesystem, you need to mount it using the
command "/etc/mount /usr"
8. To be on the safer side - once, change the passwd of root.
9. Reboot your system
i.e. #cd /
#/etc/reboot

Regards,
S. Karunanidhi,
Customer Services Engineer, Wipro Ltd.