SUMMARY: How to set multiple boot devices using consvar

From: Carsten Udsen <cud_at_benau.dk>
Date: Fri, 09 Mar 2001 13:42:08 +0100

(Original question below)

Thanks to Corinne Haesaerts and Colin Walters.
I have now done some further tests and my conclusion is, that it is not
possible to set bootdef_dev to multiple devices using consvar when running
UNIX 4.0F (no problem in UNIX 5.1). Furthermore the "consvar -g" output in
UNIX 4.0F only tells half the truth, unless you use the "-nc" option.

Additionally: The "consvar -s bootdef_dev rz0,rz4" command in UNIX 4.0F made
the server "panic", until patch kit duv40fas0004 was installed!

The following output documents my tests (I use cdrom0/rz4 since I have only
one disk in the server).

UNIX 5.1:

  root_at_noisy:/> consvar -g bootdef_dev
  bootdef_dev = dsk0
  root_at_noisy:/> consvar -nc -g bootdef_dev
  bootdef_dev = SCSI 0 5 0 0 0 0 0
  root_at_noisy:/> consvar -s bootdef_dev dsk0,cdrom0
  set bootdef_dev = dsk0,cdrom0
  root_at_noisy:/> consvar -a
  Console environment variables saved
  root_at_noisy:/> consvar -g bootdef_dev
  bootdef_dev = dsk0,cdrom0
  root_at_noisy:/> consvar -nc -g bootdef_dev
  bootdef_dev = SCSI 0 5 0 0 0 0 0,SCSI 0 5 0 4 400 0 0

UNIX 4.0F (PK4):

  root_at_noisy:/> consvar -g bootdef_dev
  bootdef_dev = rz0
  root_at_noisy:/> consvar -nc -g bootdef_dev
  bootdef_dev = SCSI 0 5 0 0 0 0 0
  root_at_noisy:/> consvar -s bootdef_dev rz0,rz4
  prom_setenv:No such device:'/dev/rz0a,/dev/rz4a'
  Failed to set bootdef_dev
  (After halt - at CONSOLE:) >>>set bootdef_dev dka0 dka400
  root_at_noisy:/> consvar -g bootdef_dev
  bootdef_dev = rz0 (not true)
  root_at_noisy:/> consvar -nc -g bootdef_dev
  bootdef_dev = SCSI 0 5 0 0 0 0 0,SCSI 0 5 0 4 400 0 0
  root_at_noisy:/> consvar -s bootdef_dev rz0
  set bootdef_dev = rz0
  root_at_noisy:/> consvar -a
  Console environment variables saved
  root_at_noisy:/> consvar -g bootdef_dev
  bootdef_dev = rz0
  root_at_noisy:/> consvar -nc -g bootdef_dev
  bootdef_dev = SCSI 0 5 0 0 0 0 0

With kind regards,
Carsten Udsen

> -----Original Message-----
> From: Carsten Udsen
> Sent: Friday, March 02, 2001 10:27 AM
> To: Tru64 UNIX Managers (E-mail)
> Subject: How to set multiple boot devices using consvar
>
> Hello managers!
>
> AlphaServer DS20E with UNIX 4.0F.
>
> I know that I can set bootdef_dev to multiple devices on the console
> prompt like this:
> >>> set bootdef_dev dka0 dka100
>
> The problem is that the server is now 200 kilometers away, and I would
> like to do the same with the consvar command. But none of the following
> attempts (and many other I tried) work:
> consvar -s bootdef_dev rz0 rz1
> consvar -s bootdef_dev rz0,rz1
> consvar -s bootdef_dev "rz0 rz1"
>
> Is it possible? How?
>
> With kind regards
>
> Carsten Udsen
> UNIX - Systems Engineer
> Benau Denmark A/S
>
> "Travel is fatal to prejudice, bigotry and narrow-mindedness." - Mark
> Twain
>
Received on Fri Mar 09 2001 - 12:49:06 NZDT

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