Re: /etc is gone

j j wrote:
> where do find all that is printed before i get a shell prompt? /var/log/?
> jj

Probably not, if you're not getting a normal boot. In other words, if there are problems with a disk drive preventing the file system where /etc is from mounting (that's almost always /), then wherever /var/log is may also be having problems.

Besides, without / and /etc/fstab, how would the system be able to figure out where to find /var/log?

You'll just need to copy down on paper what you see on the screen. You can also try typing 'mount' and a carriage return to see what it says is mounted.

Of course, this all assumes the system is having major problems early on in the boot process. You have not provided, as yet, enough information to figure out where the system stands in the normal sequence. Anything printed on your monitor and still visible could help.

>
> On 6/21/07, *Bob McGowan* <rmcgowan@veritas.com
> <mailto:rmcgowan@veritas.com>> wrote:
>
> Karl E. Jorgensen wrote:
> > On Mon, Jun 18, 2007 at 08:54:30PM -0400, j j wrote:
> >> Hello
> >>
> >> I have been have trouble with my debian box(64 studio). i just
> discovered that
> >> /etc directory is missing. I dont think i deleted it, but it
> seems that I must
> >> have.
> >
> > Perhaps not.
> >
> > Things to look at:
> >
> > - you haven't mounted something on /etc, have you? Although insanely
> > stupid, pls don't be offended. When weird things happen, it's
> time to
> > be insanely paranoid... (/proc/mounts should tell)
> >
> > - You haven't chroot'ed yourself, have you? (I know. Paranoia...)
> >
> > - Anything in the system logs? (things like re-mounting read-only or
> > filesystem corruption would be very interesting...)
> >
> > I am surprised that you don't mention any other problems - if
> /etc/ was
> > really really gone, I'd expect loads of other problems. Hence the
> > somewhat paranoid checks...
>
> Not least of which would be no password file, hence no way to log
> in. Plus, no rc scripts to bring the system up, either. So, I'd
> suggest the system has booted into some sort of maintencance
> mode. Or, you're simply in maintenance mode for some other reason,
> running from some sort of RAM disk?
>
> More info is needed, as printed during the startup, particularly
> just before the point where you get a shell prompt.
>
> >
> > Hope this helps
>
> --
> Bob McGowan
>
>
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-- 
Bob McGowan

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