Hi,

We had a power issue (!) that resulted in a systems crash on our rs6000
running aix4.2, AP 6.1.

We had to re-create the rootvg using a mksysb tape, and then re-import
the data volume group (datavg) using importvg. The partitions in the
datavg were fsck'd without any issues found.

When we now try to start the Pick environment using "ap -0", the
flusher starts ok, but choosing "X" to execute the system results in
the flusher closing down with the message "Pick installation failed,
illegal activation".

Do we need to re-install (and activate) or are we missing something
obvious?

Hi Neil,

AP Six point one? Wow, don't let Henry hear that! <g>

While I'm not sure that is is ever still supported there, try:
http://www.rainingdata.com/support/a...ctivation.html

And see if you can't get your system back on its feet. There you should
also find phone numbers in case the online activation fails.

Hope this helps,
-Tom

"Tom deL" wrote
Umm, that page is for use once you've got ap -0 up and logged in to
DM on port 0 to run the ACTIVATE verb. Neil's gonna have to get help
from RD staff, _or_his_VAR_ to get past this bottleneck. If Neil doesn't
have a VAR any longer for some reason, RD should be able to get him
in contact with a new one.

I'm guessing some quick advice will get this installation back up and
running, without lots of mass deletions/reinstallation.

Somehow I'm having this flashback to an odd search command,
find / -user root -perm 4000 -print

....but it's probably nothing important; just forget I mentioned it.

"Frank Winans" wrote
find / -user root -perm -4000 -print

Ok. Comparing this output on the "dead" box to a live system, the only
file that seems to be missing is:-

cr-S------ 1 root system 2, 2 30 Dec 1997 /dev/picksn☺
▬ë

Frank, anyone, ideas on "re-creating" this on the box that doesn't work?

Thanks for kick-starting the old grey matter Frank!

Unix Admin 101 - mksysb does NOT restore any user-created or
block/character files in the /dev directory! AP obviously writes
"required licensing info" to the picksn???? file in dev & will not run
without it.

mksysb may not restore these "special" files - but it does back them
up!!!

All I needed to do was:-
* login as root
* cd /
* fast forward the tape to the start of the archived files:-
:tctl -f /dev/rmt1.1 fsf 3
* and then restore the contents of dev & any sub-directories from the
tape:-
:restore -qvxdf /dev/rmt1.1 "./dev"
25 minutes later, reboot box & all fine & dandy!!