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Chapter 12 - Using Fixed Disk Utilities

Introduction

Manage fixed disk partitions
Restore a saved kernel from a diskette
Install a new master boot program
Recover from errors on logical disk 1

To Access Fixed Disk Utilities

1. Shut down server software.

2. Reboot the server using the Banyan Install Disks 1 and 2. The Banyan Installation and Utility menu appears.

3. Select Fixed Disk Utilities. The Fixed Disk Utilities menu appears. This menu contains the following options:

Change/Examine fixed disk partition information - Use this option to change the active partition or examine the current partition configuration. Refer to "Managing Partitions with the Fixed Disk Setup Program" in Chapter 3 for instructions on using this option.

Restore kernel from diskette - Use this option to restore a system kernel that you saved on a diskette. If a server does not boot because of a corrupted or missing kernel, use this option to restore a previous kernel.

Install new boot programs - Use this option to attempt recovery of a server that passes hardware diagnostics but does not boot. This option rewrites the boot track on the fixed disk.

Repair drive 1 - Use this option to recover from fixed disk I/O errors on drive 1. This procedure performs a read/write scan of the disk. If possible, back up all data first. Otherwise, data loss occurs.

Exit from Fixed Disk Utilities - Use this option to return to the Banyan Installation and Utility menu.

Restoring a Saved Kernel

To Restore a Kernel

1. From the Fixed Disk Utilities menu, choose Restore Kernel from Diskette. The system prompts you to insert the diskette with the saved kernel.

2. Insert the diskette with the saved kernel into drive A and press ENTER.

3. The system checks for a kernel in /unix.orig. unix.orig is a backup copy of the system kernel, which is stored on the server's fixed disk.

If the system finds a kernel in /unix.orig, the system prompts you to overwrite /unix.orig with the current kernel (called /unix):

- Enter Y to overwrite the current /unix.orig. The system copies /unix to /unix.orig and loads the saved kernel from diskette into /unix.

- Enter N to retain the current /unix.orig. The system deletes the current /unix and loads the saved kernel from diskette into /unix.

If the system does not find a kernel in /unix.orig, it automatically copies /unix to /unix.orig and loads the saved kernel into /unix.

Installing New Boot Programs

Recovering from Fixed Disk I/O Errors

Write down the cylinder, head, and sector numbers for each on-screen error message.
Print the log report containing the errors by choosing Save/Display Server Log Reports from the System Maintenance menu on the Server Console to save the log report to a file. Then print the report by using a DOS editor or by using BPRINT.
Print the log report containing the errors by running MSERVICE or OPERATE from a network PC to save the log report to a file. Then print the report by using a DOS editor or by using BPRINT.

To Recover from Errors on Logical Disk 1

Note: If you backed up your server on tape and use a Compaq 135 MB Tape Drive, a Wangtek Internal Tape Drive, or a tape drive attached to an Emulex IB02B SCSI controller, you will not be able to reload the backup during the reinstallation. These devices use drivers that are not loaded until after the "Reload Backup" option appears. You must complete the installation and then choose Backup/Restore from the Operator Menu in order to load backup tapes using these drives.

1. From the Operator Menu on the Server Console, select Shut Down Server Software. The Shut Down menu appears.

2. Select Shut Down Services and return console to OPERATOR MENU. The system shuts down the services.

3. Take a complete system backup, as explained in the Banyan Server Operations Guide. If the disk damage prevents a complete system backup, back up all services one by one. Any services that you cannot back up must be restored from an earlier backup.

Caution: The following steps destroy all data on the Banyan partition of the disk. Be sure you have backups for all services on this disk.

4. Reboot the server from the Banyan Install Disks 1 and 2. The Installation and Utility menu appears.

5. Select Fixed Disk Utilities. The Fixed Disk Utilities menu appears.

6. Select Repair Drive 1. The system displays a message warning that all data on the Banyan partition will be destroyed and prompts you to proceed.

7. Enter Y. A message appears if the fixed disk is not properly formatted. If this happens, press any key to respond to the prompt and continue with step 8. Otherwise, skip to step 10.

8. Use your system's format utility to low-level format your server's disk.

9. Repeat steps 4 through 7.

10. The system performs a surface scan of the disk and prompts you to enter additional bad blocks. At this point, you should enter the disk error information that you recorded. To enter bad blocks, follow the instructions in "Entering Bad Block Information" in Chapter 10.

11. The system builds the new file systems and displays the Fixed Disk Utilities menu.

12. Select Exit from Fixed Disk Utilities. The Installation and Utility menu appears.

13. Select Full Installation of Banyan server software on fixed disk.

14. Reinstall the Banyan server software by following the procedure on reloading a server in the Banyan Server Operations Guide. If you were able to take a complete system backup after discovering the disk errors, use that backup. If not, use the most recent complete system backup. Then, restore all services that you were able to back up individually after discovering the errors.

To Recover from Errors on Additional Disks

Note: If you backed up your server on tape and use a Compaq 135 MB Tape Drive, a Wangtek Internal Tape Drive, or a tape drive attached to an Emulex 1B02B SCSI controller, you will not be able to reload the backup during the reinstallation. These devices use drivers that are not loaded until after the Reload Backup option appears. You must complete the installation and then choose Backup/Restore from the Operator Menu in order to load backup tapes using these drives.

1. From a network PC, run MSERVICE or OPERATE to identify the file and print services on other drives. These programs identify the file systems the services are on under the heading Resources Used in the Control a Service screen.

2. Select Shut Down Server Software from the Operator Menu on the Server Console. The Shut Down menu appears.

3. Select Shut Down Services and return console to OPERATOR MENU. The system shuts down the services.

4. Back up the services that are on other drives (refer to the Banyan Server Operations Guide for instructions on backing up services). Any services that you cannot back up because of the disk errors must be restored from an earlier backup.

5. From the Operator Menu, choose Restart Services.

Caution: The following steps destroy all data on the Banyan partition of the disk. Be sure you have backups for all services on this disk.

6. From a network PC, use MSERVICE to stop and delete all the services on the drive you want to repair. Be sure you have at least one backup of all file services.

7. Follow steps 5 through 21 under "Installing Additional Fixed Disks" in Chapter 9 to repair the additional disk. During this procedure, you enter the disk error information that you recorded.

8. Recreate all the services you deleted in step 6. Restore the data for services by following the instructions on rebuilding a service in the Banyan Server Operations Guide.

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