reboot "you don't exist" problem on 2.4.21 hard-hat linux
 

hello to everyone!
My problem is this: I have a 2.4.21 hard-hat linux running on a board, with most of the applications coming from busybox due to the little capacity of the flash memory on the board. I needed to replace a non-busybox-init program and files related because I didn't want to have zombie processes (afaik, in busybox this is still experimental). The problem is: I just cant' succeed in rebooting the system, neither with busybox shutdown, nor with "normal" shutdown application (shutdown -r now).
In the second case, I get the "you don't exist, go away" message on the shell. I searched the internet and looked if that was a /etc/passwd file problem, but in my /etc/passwd file the line

root:x:0:root:/root:/bin/ash

seems to be correct (isn't it?). I log on as root, of course.
Something is strange when I issue "whoami" command, the system answers with

whoami:unknown uid 0

I don't know if this is related or not... anyway, I'm just thinking about anything, because I really need to solve this problem!!!

I'm wondering if you could help me!!! please!!

a desperate
Elisewin :)

Maybe you have wrong minimal uid set in /etc/login.defs and it causes your problem. This is just my guess.

You don't exist go away? Who forgot their password? Or somehow your/etc/passwd file has been corrupted, there should be some information on sys users and passwords in that file. At least one would think so.
Hard hat Linux, is not a system I am familiar with, but at the sys level all Linux is pretty much same old, same old. Is the system currently running, and wont shutdown/reboot? How about brute force? Hit the reset, or(shudder) switch of for 10\15 secs and do a hard reboot. How ever, as your system tells you,you don't exist, logging in may pose a problem, on boot up.
My friend, I am sorry, you need more help than I have knowlege of, it appears, you may have rid yourself of more than you thought.

Log in as root of course NOT! Root is admin only. Did you not create a normal user account at install time? I hope you do not log in as root in everday use. To log in as root for everyday use, is to open your system to attack. No worry about virii, but a port scan and root kit attack can intrude, as root user has complete, unfettered access to the entire system. What am I saying. You should know this anyway.

Sorry I can't be more help. Must be some one here knows Hard hat.

Best wishes.

Shorty943.

a mistake in /etc/passwd line
 

Thank you for your replys!
First of all I just noticed there was a little mistake in /etc/passwd!! it was:
root:x:0:root:/root:/bin/ash
and it should be
root:x:0:0:root:/root:/bin/ash.
Now at least whoami answers correctly... but yet, for my system I don't exist (this sounds a little bit annoying... ^_^)

avallach -> I'm going to investigate on /etc/login.defs as you suggested... thanks!

shorty943 -> of course I can hw reboot the system, but that's not what I need to do... actually in an application I wrote, someone outside the board configures it and soon after this is done my board has to reboot all by itself ^__^.
Concerning root logging problem, don't worry my friend, I'm aware that this should not be done but since I'm sort-of building up the system, this is the only way to go... anyway, it is not on a network or anything-- thank you anyway for the advice!

I wonder if i'll find a solution for my reboot dilemma...

nonews...
 

no news... maybe i do not really exist!:scratch: