Re: [cobalt-users] Single User Mode (RAQ2 )

[Jay Summers <jay@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

>> Well, I've done something really awful to the group file on our staging
>> (thank god) Raq2 and now I can no longer su to root. I've tried the old paper
>> clip method and I'm successful in resetting the admin password but not the
>> root password.
>> 
>> I've done some searching through the archives and have found some great
>> instructions for bringing the machine into single user mode posted by Graeme
>> Fowler.
>> 
>> http://list.cobalt.com/pipermail/cobalt-users/2000-July/015901.html
>> 
>> <snip> 1. Find another machine (laptop perhaps) with serial port free. 2.
>> Find a null-modem serial cable 3. Connect the two together via their serial
>> ports (use port 1 on the RaQ) 4. Run a terminal emulator on the other machine
>> (whatever takes your fancy) 5. Reboot the RaQ. At the start of the boot
>> sequence press 'space' when it says to and you will enter ROM mode - similar
>> to the BIOS on a PC. 6. type (not the enclosing quotes) 'boot' <return> 7.
>> type (not the enclosing quotes) 'set_params "single"' <return> 8. type (not
>> the enclosing quotes) 'bfd' <return> 9. wait for the prompt. You are now in
>> single user mode . </snip>
>> 
>> The problem I'm having is at step 5. I don't get anything saying 'hit the
>> space key'? Is this because the RAQ2 is a Mips processor and these
>> instructions are for the later X86 architecture common in the Raq3's and up?
>> Is there a way to get into single user mode on a Raq2 or is it a matter of
>> getting out the old restore CD?

> telnet/ssh as admin, copy the /etc/group file to admin's home directory, and
> then correct all the cock-ups on this copy.  Then, create a "mock" PKG.  Sea
> rch in the knowledge base for "creating PKGs".  You don't need to go the
> whole-hog - just create create a "packing_list", a null RPM (to fool the GUI
> into thinking that you are installing something) and an upgrade_me script. In
> the upgrade_me script just write a very basic bash shell script, which would
> rename your current /etc/group file to /etc/group.old and then rename your
> corrected version in admin's home directory to /etc/group.  Just make double
> sure before you install it that the paths are all correct :-).  Then, throw it
> at the GUI, and you should be sorted.

That's a fantastic idea, too bad the GUI is down and I can't restart it
without being root. I've even rebooted the server and it doesn't fire up the
GUI. I'm not sure what I screwed up, but now the RAQ doesn't have the
correct permissions to start it up on reboot!!??

If I do build a .pkg, do you think I can run it from the command line via
the Cobalt scripts?

Thanks for your time,
jay