Alpha server running Tru64 - vrestore & edit commands

[Rachel Hopkins]

Hello,
I am in the process of decommissioning a server. During the final backups, the system crashed, and we are only able to bring the system up in a single user mode for now - due to some files being corrupted.

To backup our files to tape we used the vdump command.
Question 1: I tried using the command:
vrestore - t -f devicename to try and see the files backed up, but it only lists the files of the 1st saveset backed up. How do I go about advancing the tape to the next saveset, so I can verify other files ?

Question 2: I would like to try and bring up the system in multiusers mode, but I first need to modify the /etc/fstab script, commenting out a corrupted data directory. Command: "vi" is not recognized in single user mode. How can I go about modifying the file needed.

[Steven Schweda]

> How do I go about advancing the tape [...]

mt fsf

http://h30097.www3.hp.com/docs/pub_page/V51B_DOCS/V51B_DOCLIST.HTM
http://h30097.www3.hp.com/docs/base_doc/DOCUMENTATION/V51B_HTML/REF_LIB.HTM
http://h30097.www3.hp.com/docs/base_doc/DOCUMENTATION/V51B_HTML/MAN/MAN1/0390____.HTM

And use a non-rewinding tape device.

If this is news, you may have overwritten a
lot of stuff when you _made_ the tape.

> "vi" is not recognized in single user mode.

Is "vi" on your PATH?

echo $PATH

My Tru64 system is down now, but I'd assume
that "vi" is somewhere obvious, like /bin or
/usr/bin. Of course, if your "some files
being corrupted" includes important stuff,
then it may be harder to deal with this
problem.

No bets, but I'd think that you could bull
your way past any "mount -a" problems and
get into multi-user mode, unless you've lost
some important stuff (/usr, ...).

[Kapil Jha]

I have also experienced vi behave a bit weired in single user mode.But after some efforts you will do it.
what is TERM ? it should be vt100
Are you able to open vi or it is not opening at all.
BR,
Kapil

[Rob Leadbeater]

Hi,

When in single user mode, only the root file system gets mounted. To get other commands such as vi you'll need to mount /usr and possibly /var, as well as /

# bcheckrc

should do this for you.

You'll also then need to set your terminal type up, so that vi works properly. eg:

# TERM=vt100;export TERM

As for the vrestore, you need to ensure that you're using the no rewind device name, in combination with the "mt fsf" command as Steven has already mentioned.

Cheers,

Rob

[Tingli]

If vi doesn't work, you can use edit to do it. It is a line editor but the its commands are similar to the line editing in vi.