Originally posted by: ca1cu1on

Greetings,

I have migrated 3 Servers all from 5.3 TL 05 to 6.1 TL 02:
9115-505 - Test migration
9131-52A - Database Server
9113-550 - Application Server

The first two migrated to AIX 6.1 TL02 with no issue. The third machine boots, however, no console log in appears. I can, though, telnet and rsh into the machine no problem using an emulator (exceed), and remote mount filesystems...I just can't log in to the machine through the console OR through the emulator (exceed).

I ran a ps -ef | grep console, where I see /usr/bin/X11/aixconsole
so I ps -ef | grep the PID of /usr/bin/X11/aixconsole and I see:
1. sleep 2 process tied to PID of /usr/bin/X11/aixconsole that keeps respawning
2. another process tied to PID of /usr/bin/X11/aixconsole for /usr/sbin/rc.bootx

In the rc.bootx file I see the loop under:
#wait boot sequence to end
which apparently is never ending...

Can someone explain why the loop is occurring and how to pass through the loop so that a console log in can be made?
Thanks in advance!

Originally posted by: ca1cu1on

The inittab seems to be hanging:

init:2:initdefault:
brc::sysinit:/sbin/rc.boot 3 >/dev/console 2>&1 # Phase 3 of system boot
powerfail::powerfail:/etc/rc.powerfail 2>&1 | alog -tboot > /dev/console # Power Failure Detection
mkatmpvc:2:once:/usr/sbin/mkatmpvc >/dev/console 2>&1
atmsvcd:2:once:/usr/sbin/atmsvcd >/dev/console 2>&1
tunables:23456789:wait:/usr/sbin/tunrestore -R > /dev/console 2>&1 # Set tunables
rc:23456789:wait:/etc/rc 2>&1 | alog -tboot > /dev/console # Multi-User checks
rcemgr:23456789:once:/usr/sbin/emgr -B > /dev/null 2>&1
fbcheck:23456789:wait:/usr/sbin/fbcheck 2>&1 | alog -tboot > /dev/console # run /etc/firstboot
srcmstr:23456789:respawn:/usr/sbin/srcmstr # System Resource Controller
rctcpip:23456789:wait:/etc/rc.tcpip > /dev/console 2>&1 # Start TCP/IP daemons
rcnfs:23456789:wait:/etc/rc.nfs > /dev/console 2>&1 # Start NFS Daemons
rcitm1:2:wait:/etc/rc.itm1 > /dev/console 2>&1
mkcifs_fs:2:wait:/etc/mkcifs_fs > /dev/console 2>&1 <- This is the last thing that I can prove loads

One of these may be the cause:
sniinst:2:wait:/var/adm/sni/sniprei > /dev/console 2>&1
cron:23456789:respawn:/usr/sbin/cron

This never occurs:
install_assist:2:wait:/usr/sbin/install_assist </dev/console >/dev/console 2>&1 <- Is this the post installation configuration setup (TCP/IP, root pw, etc? It doesn't appear in inittab of other 2 successfully started servers...If so, this never happens, is it required after install, or can I rem it??
Rest of inittab:
piobe:2:wait:/usr/lib/lpd/pioinit_cp >/dev/null 2>&1 # pb cleanup
qdaemon:23456789:wait:/usr/bin/startsrc -sqdaemon
writesrv:23456789:wait:/usr/bin/startsrc -swritesrv
uprintfd:23456789:respawn:/usr/sbin/uprintfd
shdaemon:2:off:/usr/sbin/shdaemon >/dev/console 2>&1 # High availability daemon
l2:2:wait:/etc/rc.d/rc 2
l3:3:wait:/etc/rc.d/rc 3
l4:4:wait:/etc/rc.d/rc 4
l5:5:wait:/etc/rc.d/rc 5
l6:6:wait:/etc/rc.d/rc 6
l7:7:wait:/etc/rc.d/rc 7
l8:8:wait:/etc/rc.d/rc 8
l9:9:wait:/etc/rc.d/rc 9
naudio::boot:/usr/sbin/naudio > /dev/null
ntbl_reset:2:once:/usr/bin/ntbl_reset_datafiles
rcml:2:once:/usr/ml/aix61/rc.ml > /dev/console 2>&1
logsymp:2:once:/usr/lib/ras/logsymptom # for system dumps
perfstat:2:once:/usr/lib/perf/libperfstat_updt_dictionary >/dev/console 2>&1
diagd:2:once:/usr/lpp/diagnostics/bin/diagd >/dev/console 2>&1
ctrmc:2:once:/usr/bin/startsrc -s ctrmc > /dev/console 2>&1
dt:2:wait:/etc/rc.dt
cons:0123456789:respawn:/usr/sbin/getty /dev/console
ha_star:h2:once:/etc/rc.ha_star >/dev/console 2>&1
vty1:2:off:/usr/sbin/getty /dev/vty1
vty0:2:off:/usr/sbin/getty /dev/vty0
rcpkcs11:2:wait:/etc/rc.pkcs11 > /dev/console
rcnetwlm:23456789:wait:/etc/rc.netwlm start> /dev/console 2>&1 # Start netwlm
lpd:2:once:/usr/bin/startsrc -s lpd
ibmdir:2:once:/usr/ldap/sbin/rc.ibmdir > /dev/null 2>&1
xmdaily:2:once:/usr/bin/topasrec -L -s 300 -R 1 -r 6 -o /etc/perf/daily/ -ypersistent=1 2>&1 >/dev/null #Start local binary recording

Originally posted by: The_Doctor

I've seen similar symptoms before. Our problems may not be identical but removing the line ->

install_assist:2:wait:/usr/sbin/install_assist </dev/console >/dev/console 2>&1

fixed my issue. Notice the "wait" on this item. Your system startup will wait for this to complete & in your case, I'd hazard a guess, it never completes.

I'd suggest dropping this line from inittab & see if this doesn't clear things up for you.

Originally posted by: shargus

install_assist is a GUI program that finishes up the initial install (see the man page).
It's supposed to put up a menu on the console to guide you through setting up terminal type, initial hostname and IP, etc.
It could be that it's confused as to where the console is, and is waiting for input from the wrong place.

Originally posted by: ca1cu1on

I commented out the following line, as you suggested:

install_assist:2:wait:/usr/sbin/install_assist </dev/console >/dev/console 2>&1

and it booted correctly. Thanks!
Any ideas as to why this option causes the inittab to hang on some servers and not others?

Originally posted by: tony.evans

As described above, it's either waiting for you to choose a console (i.e. it's sent output to all attached terminals asking you to press 1 or 2 or whatever to use as your active console) or the defined console has something on it which it's expecting you to interact with.

Because the inittab entry says 'wait', init will do nothing until that process exits.