Causes of an LED 609 During a sysback Network Boot

Contents

This document summarizes the causes and recovery procedures for an LED 609.

The information in this document has been verified for AIX Versions 3.2, 4.1, 4.2 and 4.3. It has also been verified for sysback.obj 3.3.3 and sysback.rte 4.1.x.x.

Generally, an LED 609 occurs during a sysback network boot because of failure to tftp the file /tftpboot/<clienthostname>.sbinfo from the server system during the network boot.

When the following conditions result in an LED 609, perform the solutions shown:

1. The /tftpboot/<clienthostname>.sbinfo file does not have read permissions for other. The following example shows how permissions should be set:

       -rw-r--r--   1 root     system     110 Dec 23 1996  mars.sbinfo 
   

   SOLUTION

   Enter the following command:

       chmod 644 /tftpboot/<clienthostname>.sbinfo 
   

   where <clienthostname> is the host name of the client system that is hanging during the network boot.

2. The /tftpboot/<clienthostname>.sbinfo does not exist (where <clienthostname> is the host name of the client system).

   SOLUTION

   Add the network information for the client system using the SMIT sysback command. Enter:

       smitty sysback 
   

   Choose:

       Configuration Options 
       Network Boot Configuration 
       Add or Change a Network Boot Client 
   

3. The IP address entries in the /etc/bootptab file are incorrect for the client system to boot from the boot server.

   SOLUTION

   Add the network information for the client system using the SMIT sysback command. Enter:

        smitty sysback 
   

   Choose:

        Configuration Options 
        Network Boot Configuration 
        Add or Change a Network Boot Client 
   

   Make sure each entry is filled in correctly, as shown:

   Client network adapter type              [token-ring] 
   Client platform/kernel type              [rspc] 
   Client hostname                          [mars.aix.dfw.ibm.com] 
   Server IP address                        [9.19.129.186] 
   Client gateway address (optional)        [9.19.141.241] 
   Client subnet mask (optional)            [255.255.240.0] 
   Client adapter hardware address (optional)     [] 
   

4. On PCI-based systems (7043, 7248, 7024, 7025, S70), you cannot use the leading zeros for any of the IP addresses in the SMS menu. Even though the first tftp works, the second run will fail, hanging on LED 609.

   SOLUTION

   Do not use leading zeros on the client in the SMS menu on the PCI-based system for any of these entries:

       Client IPaddress 
       Server IPaddress 
       Gateway IPaddress 
   

   EXAMPLE

   Incorrect method:

       Client IPaddress:  009.019.145.165 
   

   Correct method:

       Client IPaddress:  9.19.145.165 
   

5. If you are booting a PCI-based system (7043, 7248, 7024, 7025, S70) over the network from a server on the same subnet, you could possibly hang on LED 609. This will affect both sysback.obj 3 and sysback.rte 4.1.1.0 through 4.1.3.1 (fixed with sysback.rte 4.1.3.3 and above).

Execute all the following commands on the sysback boot server system.

1. cd /usr/lpp/sysback/netinst/boot

2. Make a backup copy of the rc.boot or rc.boot4 file depending on the level of sysback/6000 you have installed.

       cp rc.boot4 rc.boot4.org   (For sysback.obj 3) 
       cp rc.boot rc.boot.org     (For sysback.rte 4) 
   

3. Using your favorite editor, edit the following file:

       rc.boot 
   

   • Search for this line:

     [ "$BOOT_GATE_IP" = "$BOOT_SERV_IP" ] && BOOT_GATE_IP=0 
     

   • Change that line to:

     &lbrk "$BOOT_GATE_IP" = "$BOOT_SERV_IP" -o "$BOOT_GATE_IP" \ 
       = 0.0.0.0 ] && BOOT_GATE_IP=0 
     

4. Rebuild the network boot image by performing the following:

       smitty sysback 
   

   Choose:

       Configuration Options 
       Network Boot Configuration 
       Configure/Update a Network Boot Image 
   

If you followed all of the above steps and the system still stops at an LED 609 during a network boot to service mode, you may want to pursue further system recovery assistance from one of the following:

• Local branch office
• Your point of sale
• Your AIX support center

All of the above avenues for assistance may be billable.

For reasons of time and the integrity of your AIX operating system, the best alternative at this point may be to reinstall AIX.