Originally posted by: CWL

I'm trying to recover an AIX box that was shutdown improperly. 

Same issue as this thread... https://www.ibm.com/developerworks/community/forums/html/topic?id=77777777-0000-0000-0000-000013918319 

But after I "/usr/sbin/logform /dev/hd8" and reboot it still won't let me run fsck... "fsck: Cannot find the vfs value for file system /dev/hd5"

I know VERY little about AIX. Only what i've read in forms. Any help would be greatly appreciated. 

Originally posted by: AncientAIXer

hd5 is the boot logical volume.  You need to go into maintenance mode as you did before and recreate the boot image.  Determine where hd5 resides.  List all PVs in rootvg with:

lsvg -p rootvg

for each PV, run:

lspv -l hdisk0

One or more (if mirrored) of them will have hd5 on it.  Rebuild hd5 with:

bosboot -a

Verify with

bosboot -v

Check the booklist with:

bootlist -m normal -o

making sure all of the PVs with hd5 images are listed.  If not, run:

bootlist -m normal hdisk0 hdisk1

listing out which PVs have the hd5 image.  You should be able to IPL then...

As a side note, I've worked with AIX since 3.2.5 and have experienced many power failures.  Your experience is extremely rare.  There must have been a very unique set of circumstances occurring during the power failure to cause this.

Good Luck

Originally posted by: AncientAIXer

After posting this, it stuck in the back of my mind.  After researching some, I think the solution may be simpler.  Boot into maintenance mode and run:

getlvcb -AT hd5

This is an undocumented command that will show the Logical Volume Control Block info.  Look at type.  It should be "boot".  If not, run:

chlv -t boot hd5

Run the getlvcb again to verify it updated.  You should be able to run fsck on it...

Originally posted by: CWL

First let me say a big thank you for the reply, I want to try these steps. (keep in mind I have not dealt with AIX before now)

This is what I've done so far to get to this point...

1.Boot to the AIX install CD

2.Start maintenance mode for system recovery

3.Access a root volume group

4.Choose continue

5.I select the 3rd volume group (it has the hd5)

6. choose option 2 (shell before mounting)

I get to the # prompt, I can try to run fsck but get the error above. Almost all commands I've been trying keep coming back "Not found"

"/usr/bin/ksh: lsvg: not found", I can't even use the shutdown command

Any advice is greatly appreciated!!! 

Originally posted by: AncientAIXer

You have to mount the filesystems.

Originally posted by: CWL

Ok, so in my step 6, I should choose... "Access volume group and start shelll" not the one with "before mounting file systems"? Otherwise how do I mount the FS?

I thought you had to unmount the FS before running fsck. (thats why I chose "Before mounting"

Originally posted by: AncientAIXer

Yes, access the volume group and start shell.  After done, you can unmounts the filesystem to run the fsck.

Originally posted by: CWL

Ok, maybe that's why fsck wouldn't work before for me...

Ok started shell and now I get a endless string of  "/etc/getrootfs [586]: 5270 Killed" (the number changes but ranges from 5100 to 5300] is there a halt command?

Reading up on this a bit and is it possible that I might have the wrong OS version CD? how would I check what version is install so that I can find the correct CD?

Originally posted by: AncientAIXer

I think at this point you should call IBM Support.  If you aren't entitled to support, I would find someone who is more knowledgeable of AIX.

Originally posted by: CWL

Yeah, I tried that route and they want 4K to even look at it. We are a small hospital and don't have those kinda of funds. Sad thing is once this box is back up they just want the data off and then decommission it. I feel that we are on the right track just need to get past a few hurtles. 

Don't give up on me now... Any other ideas?

Originally posted by: AncientAIXer

To ensure success the CD/DVD used to boot into maintenance mode should be the same version/level as the installed AIX.  The next best thing is one of higher level.  I'm not sure if I would try a base level media.  If you have none of these, you might be able to download an ISO image from IBM.

Originally posted by: CWL

This is the only CD I seen around here. My manager "Thinks" is the right version but is there a way to make sure what version it is running? 

Have you seen this "/etc/getrootfs [586]: 5*** Killed" error before. I'm not finding too much googling it.

Originally posted by: AncientAIXer

That command returns the location of the boot image.  That type of error indicates that there is a mismatch between the media version and AIX version.  If you can't find media to match, the only alternative is a NIM server if you have one.

Originally posted by: CWL

Ok, hoping mismatch CD\OS version if that the case. I'll keep digging to see if I can find another CD. Is there a way to tell what version is currently installed?

Originally posted by: CWL

Ok, found a AIX 5L V5.3 Update CD 1-3 

Maybe this will work.

 BTW, thanks for all the suggestions!

Originally posted by: CWL

Heres the output for getlvcb -AT hd5...

         AIX LVCB
         intrapolicy = e
         copies = 1
         interpolicy = m
         lvid = 000dc45f00004c00000000fa6bff7161.1
         lvname = hd5
         label = primary_bootlv
         machine id = CCC4C4C00
         number lps = 1
         relocatable = n
         strict = y
         stripe width = 0
         stripe size in exponent = 0
         type = boot
         upperbound = 32
         fs =
         time created  = Sat Jan 31 12:55:23 2004
         time modified = Wed Feb  5 11:43:17 2014

Originally posted by: CWL

Update... its ON now!! Woot!

I think it was the CD version as you stated. Although the part #s were the same as were the OS level (5.3) one was an update (1of3) the other I'm assuming was a standalone (1of8).

I booted to the update set, choose single user mode, it asked me what runlevel, (did a quick google search choose 2) started booting ran though a bunch of screens and then got to a console login prompt!!

It replied to network pings, don't know if all the data is still retained or not but at least its up. Finally got this monkey off my back!

Thanks for the help!

Originally posted by: AncientAIXer

Great News!