Sun Microsystems 440 manual Externally Initiated Reset XIR, Manual System Reset

Externally Initiated Reset (XIR)

Use the ALOM system controller reset -xcommand to execute an externally initiated reset (XIR). Forcing an XIR might be effective in breaking the deadlock that is hanging up the system. However, an XIR also precludes the orderly shutdown of applications, and so it is not the preferred method of reaching the ok prompt, unless you are troubleshooting these types of system hangs. Generating an XIR has the advantage of allowing you to issue the sync command to produce a dump file of the current system state for diagnostic purposes.

For more information, refer to:

■Netra 440 Server Diagnostics and Troubleshooting Guide (817-3886-xx)

■Advanced Lights Out Manager User’s Guide (817-5481-xx)

Caution – Because an XIR precludes an orderly shutdown of applications, it should only be attempted if previously described methods do not work.

Manual System Reset

Use the ALOM system controller reset command, or poweron and poweroff commands, to reset the server. Reaching the ok prompt by performing a manual system reset or by power-cycling the system should be the method of last resort. Doing this results in the loss of all system coherence and state information. A manual system reset could corrupt the server’s file systems, although the fsck command usually restores them. Use this method only when nothing else works.

Caution – Forcing a manual system reset results in loss of system state data, and should be attempted only as a last resort. After a manual system reset, all state information is lost, which inhibits troubleshooting the cause of the problem until the problem reoccurs.

Caution – Accessing the ok prompt suspends the Solaris OS.

When you access the ok prompt from a functioning Netra 440 server, you are suspending the Solaris OS and placing the system under firmware control. Any processes that were running under the operating system are also suspended, and the state of such processes might not be recoverable.

The diagnostic tests and commands you run from the ok prompt have the potential to affect the state of the system. This means that it is not always possible to resume execution of the operating system from the point at which it was suspended.

12 Netra 440 Server System Administration Guide • August 2004