IBM Repairing File Systems with fsck in AIX (LE... http://www-01.ibm.com/support/docview.wss?uid...

Repairing File Systems with fsck in AIX (LED 517 or 518)

Technote (FAQ)

Question
Repairing File Systems with fsck in AIX (LED 517 or 518 hang)

Answer

This document covers the use of the fsck (file system check) command in Maintenance mode to repair inconsistencies
in file systems. The procedure described is useful when file system corruption in the primary root file systems is
suspected or, in many cases, to correct an IPL hang at LED value 517, 518, or LED value 555.

This document applies to the AIX OS as well as PowerVM (VIO) Server.

1. Boot your system into a limited function maintenance shell (Service, or Maintenance mode) from AIX bootable media
to perform file system checks on your root file systems.
Please refer to your system user's or installation and service guide for specific IPL procedures related to your type
and model of hardware. You can also refer to the document titled "Booting in Service Mode," available at Support
Search for IBM Power Servers.

2. With bootable media of the same version and level as the system, boot the system. If this is a VIOS LPAR, use
the correct VIOS media. The bootable media can be any ONE of the following:
Bootable CD-ROM
NON_AUTOINSTALL mksysb
Bootable Install Tape
Follow the screen prompts to the following menu:
Welcome to Base Operating System
Installation and Maintenance
3. Choose Start Maintenance Mode for System Recovery (Option 3).
The next screen displays the Maintenance menu.

4. Choose Access a Root Volume Group (Option 1).

The next screen displays a warning that indicates you will not be able to return to the Base OS menu without
rebooting.

5. Choose 0 continue.
The next screen displays information about all volume groups on the system.

6. Select the root volume group by number.

7. Choose Access this volume group and start a shell before mounting file systems (Option
2).
If you get errors from the preceding option, do not continue with the rest of this procedure. Correct the problem
causing the error. If you need assistance correcting the problem causing the error, contact one of the following:
local branch office
your point of sale
your AIX support center
If no errors occur, proceed with the following steps.

8. Run the following commands to check and repair file systems.

NOTE: The -y option gives fsck permission to repair file system corruption when necessary. This flag can be used to
avoid having to manually answer multiple confirmation prompts, however, use of this flag can cause permanent,
unnecessary data loss in some situations.

1 of 3 03/07/2016 10:46 PM
IBM Repairing File Systems with fsck in AIX (LE... http://www-01.ibm.com/support/docview.wss?uid...

fsck /dev/hd4
fsck /dev/hd2
fsck /dev/hd3
fsck /dev/hd9var
fsck /dev/hd1
9. To format the default jfslog for the rootvg Journaled File System (JFS) file systems, run the following command:
/usr/sbin/logform /dev/hd8

Answer yes when asked if you want to destroy the log.

10. If your system is hanging at LED 517 or 518 during a Normal mode boot, it is possible the /etc/filesystems file is
corrupt or missing. To temporarily replace the disk-based /etc/filesystems file, run the following commands:
mount /dev/hd4 /mnt
mv /mnt/etc/filesystems /mnt/etc/filesystems.[MMDDYY]
cp /etc/filesystems /mnt/etc/filesystems
umount /mnt

MMDDYY represents the current two-digit representation of the Month, Day and Year, respectively.

11. Type exit to exit from the shell. The file systems should automatically mount after you type exit. If you receive
error messages, reboot into a limited function maintenance shell again to attempt to address the failure causes.

12. If you have user-created file systems in the rootvg volume group, run fsck on them now. Enter:
fsck /dev/[LVname]

LVname is the name of your user-defined logical volume.

13. If you used the preceding procedure to temporarily replace the /etc/filesystems file, and you have user-created file
systems in the rootvg volume group, you must also run the following command:
imfs -l /dev/[LVname]

14. If you used the preceding procedure to temporarily replace the /etc/filesystems file, also run the following command:
imfs [VGname]

The preceding commands can be repeated for each user-defined volume group on the system.

15. If your system was hanging at LED 517 or 518 and you are unable to activate non-rootvg volume groups in Service
mode, you can manually edit the /etc/filesystems file and add the appropriate entries.
The file /etc/filesystems.MMDDYY saved in the preceding steps may be used as a reference if it is readable.
However, the imfs method is preferred since it uses information stored in the logical volume control block to
re-populate the /etc/filesystems file.

16. If your system has a mode select key, turn it to the Normal position.

17. Reboot the system into Normal mode using the following command:
sync;sync;sync;reboot

If you followed all of the preceding steps and the system still stops at an LED 517 or 518 during a reboot in Normal
mode, you may want to consider reinstalling your system from a recent backup. Isolating the cause of the hang could be
excessively time-consuming and may not be cost-effective in your operating environment. To isolate the possible cause
of the hang, would require a debug boot of the system. Instructions for doing this are included in the document
"Capturing Boot Debug", available at Support Search for IBM Power Servers. It is still possible, in the end, that isolation
of the problem may indicate a restore or reinstall of AIX is necessary to correct it.

If you need assistance correcting the problem causing the halt, contact one of the following:

local branch office

your point of sale
your AIX support center

Cross reference information

Segment Product Component Platform Version Edition

Operating System AIX Installation- backup- restore

Historical Number
isg1pTechnote0230

Document
information

More support for:

AIX family

Software version:

2 of 3 03/07/2016 10:46 PM
IBM Repairing File Systems with fsck in AIX (LE... http://www-01.ibm.com/support/docview.wss?uid...

5.3, 6.1, 7.1

Operating system(s):
AIX

Reference #:
T1000131

Modified date:
2015-07-28

3 of 3 03/07/2016 10:46 PM