Hello,

I just installed a fix for my AIX 5.3L and when i rebooted the machine and tried to rlogin/telnet to it i have the following error message:

telnetd: failed to write to /etc/utmp: There is not enough space in the file sys
tem.
/dev/pts/0: 3004-004 You must "exec" login from the lowest login shell.

I have the same message when i try to login locally on the machine.

I was able top access a pre-boot menu where i had a white screeen with the Power PC logo.
The choice i have on the menu is:
1 - SMS menu
5 - Default Boot
6 - Stored Boot
8 - Firmware


Now I think what I have to do is to expand my / file system so the login scripts can have access to the /etc/utmp file. But i dont really know how to do it as i am not well experienced with AIX and i dont have the 5.3 CDS, i only ghave the 5.2.

Any suggestion is more than welcome.

Thanks

I haven't worked on an AIX system but I have worked on SCO OpenServer before (which stems from the same System V family.) We would usually get this error from a log or dump file that got way too big. Alot of the time, when we encountered this error, it was due to a memory or filesystem issue; the large file is a by-product of a deeper problem.

You will need to get shell at console from the second runlevel when it asks for the root password. If AIX doesn't prompt for this, I would restart the computer midway through bootup; it may prompt for intervention up reboot since it noticed a failed boot.

If you are able to get to console root, remove the /etc/*tmp to clear out any corrupted system data files (they will get regenerated, but you will loss prior system stats like login accounting.) Run a full filesystem check and clear out any large files in the /tmp or /var/log directory. Next you will want to run a 'find / -size 100M' to check for huge files.

If you are unable to get an interactive shell, then unfortunately I am at loss. Here is another link about the same issue but it involves filesystem settings rather than an actual space issue.

http://www.unix.com/showthread.php?t=21006

Good luck!

Thanks a lot Unreal, I will check that right away.

Hmm.. I tried this on an older machine and pressing F5 gets me to a menu where I can choose a single user mode option. Once in single user you can clean out / or access smitty to increase the file system size.

just tried it on a power5 as well and it was the same. Pressing F5 get the menu that you described and choosing option 5 for default boot list will give the option to boot into single user mode.

Hmm I might be unlucky with the F5 key..

I am on a pSeries type 7026-B80.

When i hit the "5" key right after the keyboard initialization process, it says Starting software please wait..
Then i have a black screen where i can type anything I want (green text) but its not a shell. I have been waiting more than 5 mins now and i still do not have a menu or options to choose from...

How did you get here before?

I was able top access a pre-boot menu where i had a white screeen with the Power PC logo.
The choice i have on the menu is:
1 - SMS menu
5 - Default Boot
6 - Stored Boot
8 - Firmware

I can access this menu everytime.

But when i select 5 (Default Boot List) I end up with a black screen where i can type whatever i want w/o any kind of validation, (definitely not a login shell) I waited 10 mins and I still had that black screen with green text (the text I entered).

I apreciate the help a lot.

I tried it on the old 7026-H50 and a 9117-570 and they both had similar menus.

what's in the SMS menu? Do you have an option for a Maintenance console?

Hello crabboy, sorry for the delay my shift was over.

Here is what i see on the SMS Menu:

1- Display Configuration
2- Multiboot
3- Utilities
4- Select Language


Sub Menus

Display Configuration:
Well the title says it all. It displays my config.

Multiboot
1- Select Software (when I press one i have the message: No operating System Installed)
2- Software Default (When pressed, i have the same message: No OS Instaled)
3- Select Install Device (choices are SCSI CDROM, and 2 ethernet cards)
4- Select Boot devices (My default boot list is : 1-SCSI CDROM and 2-HDD)
5- Ok prompt (some kind of hardcore prompt where you see "Ok" after every command you type)
6- Multiboot startup <off>

* Even though 1 and 2 say no OS Installed, this is not true. I can boot up to the AIX login Screen but i cannot login.
Utilities

1- Set Passwords and unattended start mode
2- SCSI Spin Up
3- Display Error Log
4- Remote Initial Program Load Setup
5- Change SCSI Id
6- Select Console


I also inserted the AIX 5.2 Instalaltion CD and proceeded to enter the Maintenance Mode. When I Select the option : Access a Volume group i have an error saying there are no volume groups on the hard drives. (the HDD is not mounted so i guess thats normal behavior??)

You may have to boot from the install media into a OS maintenance shell. Once there you can mount the /file system and do the maintenance you need. If you need help with the maintenance shell boot let me know and I can walk you through it.

Let the system be ready for login.
I think u have a CDE.
Press on "Options" tab
select command line login
Press Enter quickly
U will get prompt for command line login
Login quickly without delay.
Now clean the FS or enhance the FS size using smitty
logout and press Enter 2/3 times and wait.
U will get a CDE. Login there

BEST WISHES

Boot to the install CDs and go to recovery mode. Load the filesystems in single user mode and get to clearing root, yo.

Some great guy from IGM sent me the AIX cds free of charge. This fixed my problem. I needed to mountrootvg with the Installation disks.