Configuration problems

The /etc/rc, /etc/exports, and /etc/hosts files can contain errors

Configuration problems usually occur in one of the three configuration files on the root volume:

This section describes common configuration problems.

What to do when the filer is not accessible from the administration host

If you can access the filer from the console but not from the administration host, the filer's /etc/hosts file on the root volume might have an IP address that is unreachable. Complete the steps in the following table to fix this problem.

Step Action
1 Log in to the filer from the system console.
2 At the filer prompt, enter the following commands, replacing the information shown in italics with values appropriate for your filer: 
ifconfig if mediatype type IP_address netmask netmask

exportfs -i -o root=adminhost_IP_addr /

nfs on
3 Mount the root file system from the administration host.
4 Edit the configuration files as described in Chapter 2, "Filer Administration Basics."

Filer runs setup when /etc/rc is damaged or missing

If the /etc/rc file on the root volume is accidentally deleted, the filer automatically runs setup the next time it is booted.

If the system does not respond to network requests after a boot, check the console to make sure that the system is not waiting for your input.

If the filer cannot boot from the hard disk because of damaged configuration files, you can boot it from the system boot diskette. In this case, you must manually initialize the filer and correct the configuration. See "Booting from system boot diskette" for information about booting from the system boot diskette.

How to recover from configuration errors if NFS is the only licensed protocol

If you are running NFS only, complete the steps in the following table to recover from configuration errors in the /etc/rc file.

Step Action
1 Display the boot menu from diskette as described in "Booting from system boot diskette."
2 Enter 2 to choose Boot without /etc/rc.

Note: Booting the filer without the /etc/rc file on the root volume automatically disables CIFS service. You cannot do this procedure using CIFS.

3 At the filer prompt, enter the following two commands, replacing the variables shown in italics with values appropriate for your filer: 
ifconfig if mediatype type IP_address netmask netmask

exportfs -i -o 
access=adminhost_IP_addr,root=adminhost_IP_addr nfs on
4 Mount the root file system from the administration host.
5 Edit the configuration files.
6 Remove the system boot diskette from the disk drive and reboot the filer to test the new configuration files.

Note: Although you can correct network problems using various keyboard commands, correct the /etc/rc file on the root volume so that it initializes the system correctly if there is a power outage or system software failure.

Copyright © 1999, Network Appliance, Inc. All rights reserved.

Part No. 210-02334
File: trbl14.htm
Last updated: 04/26/99 08:11:58