System Recover from CD

[FTSE SysAdmin]

Hi,


I've got a system which I cannot boot from the primary/alt disk. It appears that or /stand/vmunix were removed, changed permissions or simple disapeared.

System is HP-UX 11.11 (11i)

Unfortunatly ignite isn't an option for this server at current stage. Therefore it requires an harder process to recover this server.

I've searched everywhere for a procedure how to recover HPUX and its VGs through boot from an installation CD but also no luck.

By any change would someone know how to recover a HP from CD, to a point that can be restored from backup software (network dataprotector)? Many thanks

[Robert-Jan Goossens_1]

Hi FTSE,

Check this doc.

Document description: How to Recover the Kernel for HPUX
Document id: KBAN00000233

http://www4.itrc.hp.com/service/cki/docDisplay.do?docLocale=en_US&docId=200000062684128

Regards,
Robert-Jan

[FTSE SysAdmin]

Many thanks I'll try it shortly.

I suspect that I'll not able to see /stand at all because I've tried without success to boot from /stand/vmunix.prev

I'm expecting to have to build a new kernel and somehow to restore whatever part of vg00 is there in those disks.

[Robert-Jan Goossens_1]

Ok, let me know if you need more help. The includes the steps to recover from cd cd/dvd.

Robert-Jan

[FTSE SysAdmin]

The document refers to a old procedure. However I managed to get the root FS mounted... but LVM is complaining when I type:

# vgchange -a y /dev/vg00

vgchange: Warning: Couldn't attach to the volume group physical volume "/dev/dsk/c0t6d0":
The path of the physical volume refers to a device that does not
exist, or is not configured into the kernel.
vgchange: Warning: Couldn't attach to the volume group physical volume "/dev/dsk/c3t6d0":
The path of the physical volume refers to a device that does not
exist, or is not configured into the kernel.
vgchange: Warning: couldn't query physical volume "/dev/dsk/c0t6d0":
The specified path does not correspond to physical volume attached to
this volume group
vgchange: Warning: couldn't query physical volume "/dev/dsk/c3t6d0":
The specified path does not correspond to physical volume attached to
this volume group
vgchange: Warning: couldn't query all of the physical volumes.
vgchange: Couldn't activate volume group "/dev/vg00":
Quorum not present, or some physical volume(s) are missing.

Other thing is I've go no vmunix either vmunix.prev in /stand (orignal disk) no wonder I could not boot.

[Robert-Jan Goossens_1]

http://www4.itrc.hp.com/service/cki/docDisplay.do?docLocale=en_US&docId=200000066026201

doc is for 11.X

[FTSE SysAdmin]

I went though the document but what I've got isnt a IPL/LIF issue.

I've got no vmunix/vmunix.prev available on /stand therefore this document wouldn't work from the point of booting the system in LVM maintenance mode (-lm).

[Robert-Jan Goossens_1]

No I know.

If i'm correct, you do have a kernel now.

reboot the system into maintenance mode.

then you will be able to activate your vg00 volume group.

Robert-Jan
Ps do you have an ignite tape ?

[FTSE SysAdmin]

Unfortunatly I dont have any kernel on the disks neither have an Ignite tape for this system. Otherwise this would have been sorted couple hours ago. :)


I've noticed that vmunix, vmunix.prev and system are missing from /stand. For this reason the boot had failed

Now to get that kernel back into that place is starting to seem a mission impossible.

To help, this server doesn't have tape drive, just DVD and network.

ATM I'm trying to find a way to put the kernel into the disk... possible ftp/rcp if there are no usr/lib dependencies (since I dont have usr mounted)

[Robert-Jan Goossens_1]

1.
Boot from the path of the CORE (INSTALL) media and do not interact with ISL.On 700's: at boot admin prompt type:
bo

On 800's:
bo ;

then respond with "no" to interact with ISL

2.
Select [ Run a Recovery Shell ] Use the and/or arrow keys to navigate through the following menus, and use the key to select an item. If the menu items are not clear, select the "Help" item for more information.

3.
Would you like to start up networking at this time? NO

4. The HP-UX CORE MEDIA RECOVERY MENU will be displayed:
s. Search for a file
b. Reboot
l. Load a file
r. Recover an unbootable HP-UX system
x. Exit to shell
c. Instructions on chrooting to a lvm /(root).


Select one of the above: r <-----

5. The HP-UX Recovery MENU will be displayed:
a. Rebuild the bootlif (ISL, HPUX, and the AUTO file) and install
all files required to boot and recover HP-UX on a target
root file system.
b. Do not rebuild the bootlif but install files required to boot
and recover HP-UX on the root file system.
c. Rebuild only the bootlif.
d. Replace only the kernel on the root file system.

Go for option -- d Replace a kernel

Robert-Jan

[FTSE SysAdmin]

HP-UX Recovery MENU

Select one of the following:
a. Mount the root disk and exit to a shell only.
b. Recover the bootlif/os partitions.
c. Replace the kernel on the root file system.
d. Both Options: b and c
v. Read information about LVM Recovery (LVM.RECOVER)

m. Return to 'HP-UX Recovery Media Main Menu'.
x. Exit to the shell.

Use this menu to select the level of recovery desired.

Selection: c
Entering file system checking ...

FILE SYSTEM CHECK
MENU
The file system check '/sbin/fs/vxfs/fsck -y /dev/rdsk/c4t6d0s1lvm'
will now be run.

Select one of the following:
a. Run fsck -y.
b. Prompt for the fsck run string on c4t6d0s1lvm.
m. Return to the 'HP-UX Recovery MENU.'

Selection: a


** /dev/rdsk/c4t6d0s1lvm
** Last Mounted on /ROOT/stand
** Phase 1 - Check Blocks and Sizes
** Phase 2 - Check Pathnames
** Phase 3 - Check Connectivity
** Phase 4 - Check Reference Counts
** Phase 5 - Check Cyl groups
28 files, 0 icont, 52 used, 43218 free (146 frags, 5384 blocks)
Going to mount /dev/dsk/c4t6d0s1lvm to /ROOT/stand as read only
Umount /ROOT/stand
Doing fsck on /ROOT file system
/sbin/fs/vxfs/fsck -y /dev/rdsk/c4t6d0s2lvm
file system is clean - log replay is not required
Mount /ROOT file system
/sbin/fs/vxfs/mount /dev/dsk/c4t6d0s2lvm /ROOT
Mount /ROOT/stand again
/sbin/fs/hfs/mount -F hfs /dev/dsk/c4t6d0s1lvm /ROOT/stand
Entering loading kernel....
The kernel is missing or zero size! Please try to determine the problem, and then retry.


=================================================================
The root disk has been mounted under /ROOT, if you want to chroot
to this directory type the commands:
loadfile chroot
chroot /ROOT /sbin/sh

:( didn't work

[Robert-Jan Goossens_1 · Accepted solution]

This is the complete recovery handbook.

http://www4.itrc.hp.com/service/iv/docDisplay.do?docId=prodITRC/DE_SW_UX_swrec_EN_01_E/SystemRecovery.pdf

Go to "Automated Procedure 4: Replacing the Kernel only"

[FTSE SysAdmin]

I suspect that "c. Replace the kernel on the root file system." does is to replace the vmunix with vmunix.prev.

Now I've used tftp to get the backup vmunix and system that I had on other HP.

Did work!!! I'm now booting from the disk with correct kernel.

[FTSE SysAdmin]

Many thanks Robert-Jan