[pca] Corrupted boot_archive

[Rajiv Gunja]

I have seen this happen on many older SPARC servers, which are pre-137137-09
patch (which was when the boot-archive was introduced).
In some cases, I was unable to patch the server using LU. (pre U3 and some
U3)
In some cases, I had to run bootadm command after activating the ABE which
was patched. When rebooted, it would come up fine without issues. (U3 and
U4)

If you are patching any server and have the flexibility to have an alternate
boot disk or ABE, it would very easy to boot it up on the unpatched disk,
mount the patched disk along with its /var and then run bootadm command from
the mounted disk.
(mount /dev/dsk/c0t0d0s0 /a ; mount /dev/dsk/c0t0d0s6 /a/var ;
/a/usr/sbin/bootadm update-archive -R /a )

These issues have nothing to do with PCA, but to do with the boot archive
and their design. If one is going through multiple levels of kernel versions
(not revisions), this is to be expected.

-GGR

--
Rajiv G Gunja
Blog: http://ossrocks.blogspot.com


On 29 July 2010 18:07, Jones, Eric CIV SRF 1236 <Eric.Jones at srf.navy.mil>wrote:

> Well I got the problem fixed, this time when it asked me if I wanted to
> mount /dev/dsk/c1t0d0s0 to /a I said no.
> I didn't get any reply that the attempt was successful just returned to the
> '#' prompt where I typed in bootadm update-archive. This didn't return
> anything either so I did an "init 6" and it came right back up.
> I'll monitor this for a bit before cloning the backup drive.
> Got to test Oracle to make sure it comes up.
> If anyone else has an issue with this patch series, I'll go on limb and say
> it's a kernel patch, please let me know what you have found out.
>
>
>  Eric R. Jones
> SRF JRMC
> C1236
> DSN 315-243-4196
>
> STICK \'stik\ n. 1: A boomerang that doesn't work.
> -----Original Message-----
> From: pca-bounces at lists.univie.ac.at [mailto:
> pca-bounces at lists.univie.ac.at] On Behalf Of Jones, Eric CIV SRF 1236
> Sent: Friday, July 30, 2010 7:00 AM
> To: PCA (Patch Check Advanced) Discussion
> Subject: [pca] Corrupted boot_archive
>
>
> Howdy everyone, I just recently started using PCA again after having so
> much trouble getting it to download and install patches.
> I upgraded 2 boxes, one a sparc and one an X86, to 10 10/09.
> I patched the SPARC and rebooted and was faced with an ugly "unable to
> create boot_archive" error which destroyed the FS. I tried using boot -F
> failsafe and spent 45 minutes hitting "y" until I just gave up swapped with
> the clone and dd'd back to health.
> I have patched my other systems with pca 201006, no the current release,
> with no problem.
> Any one else have an issue with the latest SPARC patches?
> By the way I also did it with updatemanager with the same results.
>
>  Eric R. Jones
> SRF JRMC
> C1236
> DSN 315-243-4196
>
> STICK \'stik\ n. 1: A boomerang that doesn't work.
>
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