03/21/96, 4FAX# 3466 Reducing the Size of the /var File System in AIX 4.1 SPECIAL NOTICES Information in this document is correct to the best of our knowledge at the time of this writing. Please send feedback by fax to "AIXServ Information" at (512) 823-4009. Please use this information with care. IBM will not be responsible for damages of any kind resulting from its use. The use of this information is the sole responsibility of the customer and depends on the customer's ability to eval- uate and integrate this information into the customer's operational environment. ABOUT THIS DOCUMENT This document describes how to reduce the /var file system in AIX 4.1 on a RISC System/6000. RECOVERY PROCEDURE NOTE: BACK UP THE DATA in the /var file system before pro- ceeding. One way to do this is the following: tar -cvf /dev/fd0 /var (/dev/fd0 can be replaced with /dev/rmt# or the full path of a file; that file CANNOT BE in the /var file system.) Edit the file "/.exrc" and add as the first line: set directory=/tmp 1. Turn the key to the Service position. 2. With BOOTABLE MEDIA OF THE SAME VERSION AND LEVEL AS THE SYSTEM, boot the system. The bootable media can be ANY ONE of the following: o Bootable cdrom o NON_AUTOINSTALL Mksysb o 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 has the "Maintenance" Menu 4. Choose "Access a Root Volume Group" (Option 1) Reducing the Size of the /var File System in AIX 4.1 1 03/21/96, 4FAX# 3466 The next screen displays a warning that indicates you will not be able to return to 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" (Option 1) If you get errors from the above 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 fol- lowing: o local branch office o your point of sale o 1-800-CALL-AIX (to register for fee-based services) All of the above avenues for assistance may be billable. If no errors occur, proceed with the steps outlined below: 8. Unmount the /var file system with the following command: umount /var 9. Remove the /var file system, with the following command: rmfs /var 10. Create the logical volume for /var with the command "mklv -y hd9var rootvg x", where x is the number of physical partitions you want to allocate. Partitions are 4MB by default. For example, mklv -y hd9var rootvg 2 makes logical volume hd9var of size 8MB (2 4MB parti- tions) in the rootvg volume group. 11. Create the /var file system with the following command: crfs -v jfs -d hd9var -m /var -a check=false -a free=false -a vol=/var 12. Now you must set your TERM variable and export it. If you are using a megapel display, try setting TERM=lft. For example: export TERM=lft Reducing the Size of the /var File System in AIX 4.1 2 03/21/96, 4FAX# 3466 If you are using an ASCII terminal of some sort (say an ibm3151), set your TERM to the appropriate terminal type. For example: export TERM=ibm3151 13. Edit /etc/filesystems with the following command. vi /etc/filesystems Go down to the stanza for /var (search for "var"). Within that stanza go to the line that says "mount = false" and change the word "false" to "automatic". Save the file. 14. Mount the /var file system, with the following command: mount /var 15. Change the ownership and permissions to the proper values with the following commands: chmod g-s /var chmod 755 /var chown bin.bin /var 16. Restore the /var files from your backup. 17. With the key in Normal position, issue the reboot command. sync;sync;sync;reboot NOTE: After the system reboots, you may want to edit the file "/.exrc" and remove the line you added previously. Reducing the Size of the /var File System in AIX 4.1 3 03/21/96, 4FAX# 3466 READER'S COMMENTS Please fax this form to (512) 823-4009, attention "AIXServ Informa- tion". You may also e-mail comments to: elizabet@austin.ibm.com. These comments should include the same customer information requested below. Use this form to tell us what you think about this document. If you have found errors in it, or if you want to express your opinion about it (such as organization, subject matter, appearance) or make sug- gestions for improvement, this is the form to use. If you need technical assistance, contact your local branch office, point of sale, or 1-800-CALL-AIX (for information about support offer- ings). These services may be billable. 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