INIT: Command is respawning too rapidly

[Vinay_20]

HP-UX OS shows following problem

INIT: Command is respawning too rapidly.
Will try again in 5 minutes.
Check for possible errors.
id:cons "/usr/sbin/getty console console # system console"

And this repeats after every 5 mintes and is not at all booting up.

How to overcome this problem ?

[Steven E. Protter]

1) vi /etc/inittab

Comment out the line that is firing up the getty console.

Use Sam to properly configure a getty top run.

SEP

[Bill Hassell]

Since this is the console, it would not be a good idea to turn off the ability to login. Most likely, the device connected to the console is causing continuous data transmission. What is happening is that some sort of data (possibly noise) is being transmitted to the computer's console port and getty is responding with a login request. The request for username and password is immediately answered with noise, and login terminates, then getty restarts. If this cycle occurs more than 10 times in 2 minutes, getty reports the error message you are seeing.

If the console cable has been connected to some new device, disconnect it and see if the messages stop (wait for 10 minutes to be sure). If the console terminal is actually connected, cycle power on the terminal and see if can login...the terminal may have died electronically.

[Dietmar Konermann]

This also happens when /sbin/rc gets into trouble, typically because some files under /etc/rc.config.d are faulty (not syntactically correct shell scripts).

Boot to single user mode and try this:

# . /etc/rc.config

You should see *no* output. If you get an error message, try to track that down further using:

# sh -x /etc/rc.config

Best regards...
Dietmar.

[Bruno Ganino]

Verify the syntax in /etc/inittab.
You should have a line like this
cons:1234:respawn:/usr/sbin/getty console console vt100
(console = refers to console entry /etc/gettydefs, vt100 = terminal type)

HTH
Bruno

[Fabio Ettore]

Hi,

in single user mode

boot pri
yes to interact with ISL
hpux -is

check very well /etc/rc.config.d directory to see if there are commands or strange files. Dietmar's command about sh -x will help you to discover what is/are mock files.

HTH.

Best regards,
Ettore

[Vinay_20]

Hi Everybody.., Thanks for your reply..

I am unable to solve this - Please let me explain my setup here.

Check Attatchment for snap-shot.


I don't have HP-UX dispaly monitor, so I have connected RS-232 console cable and using Hyper-Terminal in Win-2000 to interact with my HP-UX box.

I am unable to go to Single user mode.

Check Attatchment for snap-shot.

This what happens when I press key to Interrupt and go to Single user mode

"Processor is booting from first available device.

To discontinue, press any key within 10 seconds.

Boot terminated.


------- Main Menu -------------------------------------------------------------

Command Description
------- -----------
BOot [PRI|ALT|] Boot from specified path
PAth [PRI|ALT|CON|KEY] [] Display or modify a path
SEArch [DIsplay|IPL] [] Search for boot devices

COnfiguration [] Access Configuration menu/commands
INformation [] Access Information menu/commands
SERvice [] Access Service menu/commands

DIsplay Redisplay the current menu
HElp [|] Display help for menu or command
RESET Restart the system
-------
Main Menu: Enter command > "

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I end up with this command prompt : Is this really Single user mode Prompt ??


"

[Patrick Wallek]

No you are not yet in single-user mode. To get there you must do the following:

At this prompt:
Main Menu: Enter command >

Enter:

bo pri

When asked "Interact with IPL (Y/N)?" enter:

Y

At the next prompt enter:

hpux -is

When that is done then you are in single-user mode.

[Ted Buis]

In single user mode, not all your normal directories are mounted, so you may wish to mount them.

[Hein van den Heuvel]

...and you'll probably want to run bcheckrc

Hein.