any ideas ?

my system hangs on boot just after dpid2 subsystem is loaded. Propably something wrong with the firmware. Somehow I can't even boot from cd or floppy.

system is:
IBM RS/6000 43P-240
os: AIX v_4.2.1

thanks,
/newbie/potkuri

Hi potkuri,

If the book sequence gets as far as starting up dpid2, it isn't a firmware problem. You need to get into single user mode and fix it. (I assume you have a good reason for running such an old, unsupported, version of AIX; but if not, upgrading to AIX 5.1 or 5.2 would be a Good Thing(TM) when you can - if memory serves, 4.2.1 is about 8 years old now).

The most likely reason not to be able to boot from CD is that the bootlist sees the hard disk first. If you haven't checked this, it's worth a look. When you boot up, you get words coming up : keyboard...mouse...SCSI...speaker (something like that, anyway). After keyboard comes up, you have a few seconds (until the second beep) to hit a function key and either enter the SMS menu or use the default bootlist, either of which should help. I can't remember which key it is for than model of RS/6000.

If you have a graphical console, try f1, f4 or f5. If an ascii console, try 1, 4 or 5.

If you get into the SMS menu, go to multiboot and change the boot device order by putting cd0 first. The default bootlist should have cd0 before hdisk0 in the bootlist.

If you want to boot from CD, just hit f5 after the keyboard icon. That will boot from the CD drive, regardless of what's in the normal mode bootlist. F1 goes to the SMS menu, if that's what you want.

Thanks for replying,

I just noticed that cd-drive does not read images burned by a newer drive. the light's just blinking... so no boot from CD.

my plan is to install linux into this box. This architecture's just totally new to me.

oh, allmost forgot. While trying to boot from CD, I got this error message

"(image: triangle) 29a00004 "



thanks,

potkuri

The CD issue might be a separate problem. You could try upgrading the microcode of the server and/or cd drive for that. Unfortunately, you need to be booted up to install the CD microcode, so that doesn't help you much. Some CD drives with very old microcode can't boot from newer CDs due to the different format of the boot sector.

According to the AIX hardware manual, 29A00004 means a stuck keyboard key, so try replacing the keyboard.

Ok,

where did you find those errorcodes ? seems that SMS -> utilities -> Update microcode gives error when trying to update microcode:

" 25010002 "

/potkuri/

25010002 : Diskette in drive does not contain *.IMG file. Insert diskette with firmware update file.

I found them just by googling for 29A00004 AIX, though it helps that I knew it was there (RS/6000 B50 Service Guide in pdf format - the codes are the same as the 240).

To update microcode, your first port of call is http://techsupport.services.ibm.com/.../download.html

You want the 7043-240. Read the instructions (you care about sections 5.1.2, 6.1 & 6.2). Now click on the DOS link from the main page, at the bottom of the next page is the link to download the exe file you need. Then, diskette in hand, you're ready to rock.

Potkuri,
Your problem is definitely not a microcode problem, so it's useless to boot on the diskette and put another microcode.
The CD-Rom problem is a CD-rom firmware problem, so you need to have AIX running in order to change it, so it's still useless booting on floppy.
Your problem really seems due to a filesystem full problem somewhere (/tmp, or /var/tmp, etc..), so you need to boot in maintenance mode.
Don't you have and old "official" AIX delivery media ? Then boot on it and fix the problem.
If not, do you have a tape backup (even a very old one) ? then, you may boot from the tape device. If you don't have it, borrow one from another AIX system...

Ok, it's booting now !

one final question,

would it make sense to install & use this old AIX system (V4.2.1) instead of installing linux ?

I'm not sure how secure this old system is and does IBm even provide any updates (for free)?

br,

potkuri

Linux is not free at all on that system, so you will probably not have it... So it's better let the system under AIX,or try to move to a newer AIX version.

The hardware is fine (RS/6000 hardware lasts forever and that model isn't the oldest around by a long way - I manage ten-year-old hardware which is still doing a perfectly good job on production systems).

The version of AIX, whilst it will work OK and is perfectly good for playing around with, is very old so isn't as nice as the newest version and isn't actively supported by IBM.

IBM supply patches for free (you can download them easily) for supported versions of AIX : 5.1 and 5.2. I think patches for 4.3.3 are still available, though it is technically out of support.

If you don't have a newer copy of AIX to hand, you can probably pick one up on eBay. Bear in mind though that AIX is a licensed proprietary product and the license is non-transferable as far as I know. This means that to run AIX legally, you need to buy a license from IBM or an IBM reseller. I've no idea how much an AIX license costs, but almost certainly more than you're willing to play (I think a few hundred pounds).

Hi Potkuri,

Three years later, I am curious what solved your problem with the boot hang. Would be great if you can share it with us still.