How to deal with system is not bootable

BOOT: Explanation of the "FATAL: system is not bootable, boot command is disabled" OBP message

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Keyword(s):OBP, error, fatal, boot

Description Top

This infodoc explains what the "FATAL: system is not bootable, boot command is disabled" OBP

message indicates and what can be done to get the system to boot up.

Document Body Top

This type of a warning can appear on systems such as a Sun Fire V880.

In most cases, this warning occurs at the OBP "ok" prompt if the power-up

initialization (right after the banner was displayed) was aborted. Usually,

this is done by using the Stop-A keystroke (XIR Reset).

If after such an occurence "boot" command is executed, the system displays

the following error:

{1} ok boot

FATAL: OpenBoot initialization sequence prematurely terminated.

FATAL: system is not bootable, boot command is disabled

The system at that point does not boot.

In most cases, this just means that since the proper initialization of the

machine wasn't allowed to complete, the system is unable to boot. This is

done to make sure that OS deamons (such as picld) do not have problems as

they start up during boot (because of the improperly initialized memory,

etc.).

To get the machine to boot properly, issue the "reset-all" command or press

"STOP" key and "N" key together while machine is turning on (release both

keys when you see lights flash on keyboard) and allow the machine to boot

up "hands off".

Note: This "Stop + N" combination is only true when keyboard and

monitor/console are attached to the machine.

If for whatever reason the "boot" command has to be entered manually,

execute the following commands at the "ok" prompt:

setenv auto-boot? false

reset-all

Now, the machine will reset. Allow it to fully initialize. It will then

give the ok prompt without booting automatically.

At this point if the "boot" command is manually executed, it should work

without errors. Also, before running the manual boot, the "auto-boot?"

variable can be set back to "true". This way, the system will again be

set back to its original setting for the next time it is reset or power

cycled.

NOTE: seeing only the "FATAL: system is not bootable ..." message even

after following the above procedure most likely indicates a real problem

(possibly a hardware problem) with that machine.

Internal Only Top