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Boot Process
Unix / Linux Boot Process
10
Computer Science
Undergraduate 3
07/20/2014

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Term
Boot PROM
Definition

All Sun systems have resident boot PROM firmware that provides basic hardware testing and initialization prior to booting. The Sun boot PROM has access to a standard set of generic device drivers. The system needs these drivers to access and control the buses and the boot device to boot the system properly.

Term
Functions of Boot PROM
Definition
  • To provide basic hardware testing
  • Initialization prior to booting
  • To enable users to boot from a wide range of device drivers
Term

Goal of the OpenBoot Architecture Standard

 

Definition
  • Test and initialize system hardware
  • Determine the system's hardware configuration
  • Boot the operating system
  • Provide an interactive interface for configuration, testing and debugging
  • Enable the use of third-party devices
Term
Command to Determine the Revision of OpenBoot PROM
Definition

# /usr/platform/`uname-m/sbin/prtdiag -v

--or--

prtconf -V

Term
POST stop-key sequence
Definition

One of the first test POST runs is to check to determine if a keyboard is connected to the system and if a Stop-key option is present.

Stop-D key sequence is initiated when Stop and D keys are hold down simultaneously. This switches the system to diagnostic mode. This mode runs more extensive POST diagnostics on the system hardware. 

Stop-A key sequence interrupts any program that is running and puts the system into the command entry mode for the OpenBoot PROM. Pressing Stop and A simultaneously will achieve this state and presents an ok prompt for the user.

 

Term
Disabling the Abort Sequence
Definition

To diable the abort key sequence, edit the /etc/default/kbd file. 

Inside the file, "KEYBOARD_ABORT=disable" line is commented out. That line should be uncommented and after the file is saved, execute the command "kbd -i". 

The Stop-A key sequence will only be allowed during the boot process.

Term
Basic Boot Prom Commands - I
Definition

banner: Displays the power-on banner / system boot version / mac address

boot: Boots the system

help: Lists the main help categories

printenv: Displays all parameters’ current and default values

setenv: Sets the specified NVRAM parameter to some value

reset-all: Resets the entire system; similar to a power cycle

set-defaults: Resets all parameter values to the factory defaults

probe-scsi: Identifies the devices on the internal Small Computer System Interface (SCSI) bus

probe-scsi-all: Identifies the devices on all SCSI buses

probe-ide: Identifies devices on the internal integrated device electronics (IDE) bus

Term
Basic Boot Prom Commands - II
Definition

probe-fcal-all: Identifies devices on all Fibre Channel loops

show-devs: Displays the entire device tree

devalias: Identifies the current boot device alias for the system

nvalias: Creates a new device alias name

nvunalias: Removes a device alias name

show-disks: Displays and allows a selection of device paths for the disks to be used for nvalias

sync: Manually attempts to flush memory and synchronize file systems (take dump)

test: Runs self-tests on specified devices

show-nets: Show network devices

Term

eeprom Commands

Definition

Use the /usr/sbin/eeprom command to view and to change the NVRAM parameters:

eeprom: lists all of the parameters with their current values.

eeprom boot-device: lists a sigle parameter and its value ( the parameter of boot-device in this statement).

eeprom boot-device=disk2: this changes the value of the default boot device to disk2.

eeprom auto-boot?=true: this changes the value of the auto-boot? to true.

Term
The Service Management Facility (SMF)
Definition
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