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1991-10-28
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BOOT Administrative Commands BOOT
_________________________________________________________________
NNAAMMEE
boot - Description of Sprite boot options and behavior
OOPPTTIIOONNSS
There are a number of boot options that can be used to
change the boot behavior. If you are unfamiliar with the
booting process you should read the subsequent sections
before this one.
--cc Causes a fileserver to ignore the existence
of /bootTmp/boot and to boot as a dependent
fileserver. This is useful for booting
fileservers with trashed disks.
--ff Causes a fileserver to boot without checking
its disks. This can lead to corrupted disks
if the disks are not consistent before they
are attached. The --ff option should not be
used if the system halted abnormally.
--ss The --ss option causes the machine to boot in
single-user mode. A login shell is run by
initsprite before both diskcmds and bootcmds.
Initsprite will continue when the login shell
exits.
--xx If the machine is a fileserver it will run
/boot/rootcmds after running /boot/diskcmds.
This option allows a non-root fileserver to
serve as root. Only the root fileserver has
the correct mount table for exporting "/" --
the rootcmds file contains the necessary com-
mands for allowing a non-root fileserver to
export "/".
_________________________________________________________________
DDEESSCCRRIIPPTTIIOONN
The first couple sections of this man page are a user's
guide to booting Sprite. Note that these are general
instructions; each file server should have its specific
booting instructions posted near its console.
The rest of the man page goes into more detail about the
boot process and is probably of interest only to people who
hack Sprite.
BBOOOOTTIINNGG SSUUNNSS
For all Suns except SPARCstation 2's the boot command typed
at the PROM has the format
bb _x_x((_a,_b,_c))_k_e_r_n_e_l [_o_p_t_i_o_n_s]
Sprite v.1.0 Printed: October 28, 1991 1
BOOT Administrative Commands BOOT
For machines that are booted off of the network _x_x is usu-
ally iiee or llee, depending on whether the machine has an Intel
or Lance ethernet chip. For machines that boot off their
disk, _x_x is usually ssdd. For SPARCstation 2's the boot com-
mand is
bb [_d_e_v_i_c_e] _k_e_r_n_e_l [_o_p_t_i_o_n_s]
where _d_e_v_i_c_e is usually nneett or ddiisskk. (For SPARCstation 2's
running Sprite at Berkeley, _d_e_v_i_c_e normally defaults to
nneett.)
The magic numbers _a, _b, _c in parentheses are usually
optional. They specify information about the host that sup-
plies the kernel (for booting off the net), disk partition,
etc. For network booting, the middle number is the last
four digits of the IP address of the server. You only need
to specify this number if the default doesn't work. For
example, to ensure that Murder boots off of Allspice (IP
address 128.32.150.27), use
bb llee((00,,996611bb))ssuunn33..mmdd//sspprriittee
and to boot off of Ginger (IP address 128.32.150.28), use
bb llee((00,,996611cc))ssuunn33..mmdd//sspprriittee
The string _k_e_r_n_e_l tells which kernel to load and boot. When
booting off a disk, _k_e_r_n_e_l is usually just the name of the
kernel, e.g., ``new'' or ``sprite''. When booting off the
net, you must also specify the machine-dependent directory
that the kernel is found in, e.g., ``sun3.md/new''. Use
ssuunn33..mmdd for Sun 3's, ssuunn44..mmdd for Sun 4's, and ssuunn44cc..mmdd for
SPARCstation 1's and 2's.
BBOOOOTTIINNGG DDSS33110000''ss
The basic boot command for a DECstation 3100 is
bboooott --ff _p_r_o_t_o(())_k_e_r_n_e_l [_o_p_t_i_o_n_s]
where _p_r_o_t_o is either ttffttpp or mmoopp. Generally mmoopp is pre-
ferred, since it is faster and more reliable. Unfor-
tunately, it provides no feedback until the kernel starts
running, so you have to put up with a 10-30 second pause
before there's any sign of life.
The _k_e_r_n_e_l string depends on whether the DECstation knows
what server to use. The simplest rule is to always type
iinniitt to the PROM before booting, and use only the kernel
name (e.g., ``sprite'' or ``new'') for _k_e_r_n_e_l.
Sprite v.1.0 Printed: October 28, 1991 2
BOOT Administrative Commands BOOT
BBOOOOTTIINNGG DDSS55000000''ss
The boot command for a DECstation 5000 looks like
bboooott _s_l_o_t//_x_x_x//_k_e_r_n_e_l [_o_p_t_i_o_n_s]
The _s_l_o_t string is the slot number for the device being
booted from. You can use the PROM's ccnnffgg command to get a
list of what devices are installed at what slots. Sprite
DECstations typically have two ethernets installed; you
should boot from the lower-numbered ethernet.
The _x_x_x string is the protocol type when booting from the
net. Use mmoopp. It is the disk name (e.g., ``rz0'') when
booting from the disk.
The _k_e_r_n_e_l string is just the name of the kernel (e.g.,
``new'').
WWHHEERREE KKEERRNNEELLSS LLIIVVEE
Machines that boot off of their own disk typically have a
small boot partition, such as /allspiceA or /lustA. In this
case the kernel nneeww would be installed as /allspiceA/new.
Kernels that are downloaded from a Sprite server are
installed in /sprite/boot (e.g., /sprite/boot/sun3.md/new).
As a last resort kernels can also be downloaded from Ginger.
Those kernels are installed in /tftpboot (e.g.,
/tftpboot/sun3.md/new). Suns that boot off of Ginger must
have a link in /tftpboot to their boot program. See the
documentation for bboooott(8S) on Ginger.
BBOOOOTT SSEEQQUUEENNCCEE
WWAARRNNIINNGG:: This section is rather dated and is probably inac-
curate in spots.
This section outlines the sequence of events that occur dur-
ing the boot process. The command typed at the prom is used
to start the downloader, then download the kernel from the
server and start execution. The early part of the boot is
the same on all machines. Kernel data structures are set up
and kernel processes started. Late in the boot the machine
checks for the presence of a disk, and it starts the first
user process _i_n_i_t_s_p_r_i_t_e. The actions initsprite takes vary
depending on the configuration of the machine. There are
three standard machine configurations. _C_l_i_e_n_t_s are diskless
workstations. They are dependent on the root fileserver to
complete the boot process. Machines with disks must check
them during boot for inconsistencies. Checking the disks
requires the _f_s_c_h_e_c_k and _f_s_a_t_t_a_c_h programs, and related data
files. _S_t_a_n_d_a_l_o_n_e _f_i_l_e_s_e_r_v_e_r_s have these utilities on their
own disk, and are therefore able to check their disks
Sprite v.1.0 Printed: October 28, 1991 3
BOOT Administrative Commands BOOT
without the root fileserver. _D_e_p_e_n_d_e_n_t _f_i_l_e_s_e_r_v_e_r_s have a
disk, but it does not contain the needed files. Dependent
fileservers must get these files from the root file server.
Clients
/boot/initsprite is exec'ed as the first user process.
If "/" is unavailable the workstation will wait inde-
finitely, checking for "/" at 1 minute intervals.
Initsprite will run /hosts/_h_o_s_t_n_a_m_e/bootcmds if it
exists and /boot/bootcmds otherwise.
Dependent fileservers
Fileservers will detect the presence of a disk and
attach it as "/bootTmp". This prefix is local to the
machine and is not exported. If the directory
/bootTmp/boot is not found, then the fileserver assumes
it is a dependent fileserver. /boot/initsprite is
exec'ed as the first user process. Initsprite will run
/boot/diskcmds to verify that the disks are not cor-
rupted. The table used to mount the disks is found in
/hosts/$HOST/mount. Upon completion the machine will
try to find a server of "/". If no server for "/" is
found the workstation will retry at 1 minute intervals.
Once a server is found, /hosts/_h_o_s_t_n_a_m_e/bootcmds or
/boot/bootcmds is run. Initsprite will delete the
"/bootTmp" prefix prior to exiting.
Standalone fileservers
A standalone fileserver will attach its disk as
/bootTmp and then check for /bootTmp/boot. Having
found this directory it will create a new prefix "/"
using the /bootTmp prefix. These prefixes are now
synonyms and are local to the machine. The standalone
fileserver can then proceed with the boot in the same
manner as a dependent fileserver. /boot/diskcmds is
run. Unlike a dependent fileserver, /boot/diskcmds is
on the machine's own disk. The mount table is found in
/hosts/$HOST/mount, also on the machine's own disk. At
some point in the boot the machine has to stop being
its own server of "/" and look for the real server.
This happens after diskcmds has been run. The machine
will delete the "/" prefix and try to open "/". If the
open fails the machine will try again at 1 minute
intervals. Once "/" is found the appropriate bootcmds
is run. Initsprite will delete the "/bootTmp" prefix
prior to exiting.
FFIILLEESS
/boot
/boot is a directory that contains all of the files and
utilities needed to boot a Sprite machine. Standalone
fileservers each have a /boot directory on their local
Sprite v.1.0 Printed: October 28, 1991 4
BOOT Administrative Commands BOOT
disk and will use it during the boot process.
/boot/cmds
Contains utility programs needed during boot.
/boot/diskcmds
Run by fileservers to check their disks. Note that
dependent fileservers run the diskcmds found on the
root fileserver.
/hosts/_h_o_s_t_n_a_m_e/mount
The mount table read by fileserver _h_o_s_t_n_a_m_e. Stan-
dalone fileservers should have a copy of their mount
table in /hosts/_h_o_s_t_n_a_m_e/mount on both the local disk
and the root fileserver.
/boot/serverInfo
Provides machine name and type information to stan-
dalone fileservers. Standalone fileservers cannot
depend upon the root fileserver being able to provide
/etc/spritehosts (the usual place this information is
found) so they need their own file. The file should
consist of the appropriate line from /etc/spritehosts.
/boot/bootcmds
This file is unique to the whole system. Standalone
fileservers DO NOT look in their local /boot for this
file. bootcmds contains commands for starting various
user-level servers and other system configuration com-
mands.
/hosts/_h_o_s_t_n_a_m_e/bootcmds
If this file exists it is run instead of
/boot/bootcmds.
/boot/rootcmds
This file contains the commands necessary for a backup
root server to actually export root. In the normal
case the file will contain the single line "prefix -x /
-l /bootTmp".
KKEEYYWWOORRDDSS
boot, bootcmds, diskcmds, rootcmds
Sprite v.1.0 Printed: October 28, 1991 5