INIT: Command is respawning too rapidly

[SSTCG]

First let me say I have been trying to learn HP-UX and other flavors of Linux in my "spare time". I have an HP 9000 K class server that I get to play with in my little sandbox. I have been using it primarily for a Time Reference server. The problem WAS that NTP would not autostart if we had a power outage. Being the newbie that I am, I thought I had found my problem and added the path to the ntp.conf file in what looked to be the proper place. When I bounced the server to verify my handiwork, I now get this respawning error just before or right at the point hpux should be loading in the startup sequence.

Now my problem...and I am embarassed to have to ask. I am pretty sure if I can get back into the file I edited, I can undo what I did to break things. However, I can not find ANY way to continue on with the startup to get to a prompt...nor can I interupt the startup sequence at the 10 second pause after PDC and boot up by some other means. When I "press a key" to halt things, I get ignored and the message, "10 seconds has expired..." and so it goes.

I have searched through all the books I have and tried searching other resources.
What can I do or where can I look to find how to fix it? I'm stuck, I broke it, and I want to fix it.
Thanks,
Steve

[Rajeev Shukla]

Steve,

There are 2 things you could do..
1. The respawning message comes on the console so if the server is already on network you could telnet to the server and remodify the files you like.
2. Set your console terminal to either VT100 or HP emulation (according to terminal settings) and then press spacebar when the message comes to interupt the boot sequence..after which you'll get a PDC prompt and you can then type "bo" and when it says to interact with IPL say yes.
After which you will get an ISL promt and then type hpux -is
which takes you to single user mode.

[Jannik]

read this document. I think U have to change the setting of you terminal.

If U have a SUN box use the command "tip hardwire" to connect it to the console, that will work :-).

[Jannik]

forgot the doc :-)...
http://docs.hp.com/en/B2355-90053/ch03s04.html#difs

[SSTCG]

Even though I get the respawning messages, there is no prompt to enter any kind of input the system will pay attention to. Since none of the process (or very few if any) have loaded yet, the normal network connectivity doesn't work for telneting in...unless there's a backdoor method? What REALLY has me stuck is why keyboard input shows up on the display, but is totally ignored when I want to stop the boot process. I know of no way to change console/terminal settings when the system ignores keyboard input (or at least appears to...)
In summary: 1) I know of no way to change console/terminal settings before or during boot, 2) to my knowledge telnet is not possible, and 3) it is an HP 9000 K class using PA-Risc 180 processors loading HP-UX v11.x...not a SUN box. Thanks for the suggestions, but I guess I need further light and knowledge. Any other suggestions?
Thanks again,
Steve

[Enrico P. · Accepted solution]

Hi,
doesn' t the f1-f8 and the menu key work for setting the console and keyboard?


Enrico

[SSTCG]

Thanks to all. Enrico, your query about the "F" keys was the clue that led me to what I was looking for. As I said earlier, there is much I have yet to learn. Even about the basic stuff you all take for granted. Thanks again!
Steve

[Torsten.]

What kind of terminal you are using?

Try this: connect a null modem cable between the console port of the server and a pc. Use hyperterm with vt100 and speed setting 9600. This should work. Once you have interrupt the boot process, boot the primary link

> bo pri

and interact with the loader.

Now start in single user mode and edit your files

ISL> hpux -is

[Torsten.]

Just in case you have a HP terminal (monitor and keyboard), try to reset the terminal to default settings.

Switch the terminal off, press and hold the key "d" some seconds while switching on. Release the key and press return.
(default in english keyboard layout)

[SSTCG]

Torsten,
Enrico had the clue I needed to find the answer. Your suggestions are noteworthy should I come across this situation again, or if I REALLY break it good next time.

Again, thanks to all.
Steve

[SSTCG]

See last message.