Sun Fire[TM] Servers/Solaris[TM] Operating System: CD-ROM Boot Attempt Fails With Error: "Cannot Assemble Drivers for Root"

Asset ID:	1-72-1007666.1
Update Date:	2017-02-02
Keywords:

Solution Type Problem Resolution Sure

Solution 1007666.1 : Sun Fire[TM] Servers/Solaris[TM] Operating System: CD-ROM Boot Attempt Fails With Error: "Cannot Assemble Drivers for Root"

Applies to:

Sun Fire E4900 Server - Version Not Applicable and later
Sun Fire E6900 Server - Version Not Applicable and later
Sun Fire 3800 Server - Version Not Applicable and later
Sun Fire 4800 Server - Version Not Applicable and later
Sun Fire 4810 Server - Version Not Applicable and later
All Platforms

Symptoms

When attempting to boot from a CD-ROM to install the Solaris[TM] Operating System (Solaris OS) BELOW sOLARIS 10 on a new system, that system encounters an error and fails to boot.

For example:

 {8} ok boot cdrom2
SunOS Release 5.9 Version Generic_112233-12 64-bit
Copyright 1983-2003 Sun Microsystems, Inc.  All rights reserved.
Use is subject to license terms.
Cannot assemble drivers for root
/ssm@0,0/pci@1c,700000/pci@3/scsi@5/sd@6,0:b
Cannot mount root on /ssm@0,0/pci@1c,700000/pci@3/scsi@5/sd@6,0:b fstype
ufs
panic[cpu8]/thread=140a000: vfs_mountroot: cannot mount root

Cause

This problem occurs because the system has the CD-ROM attached to an Ultra3 SCSI Host bus adapter (option X6758), and the Solaris OS does not have the necessary drivers for that SCSI adapter incorporated onto the bootable install CD-ROM.

Solution

These drivers are not bundled into any Solaris OS release below Solaris 10.
You can find details about the packages that need to be installed for this SCSI card in Technical Instruction <Document: 1018123.1> .

You can avoid this problem with one of two possible solutions:

Boot off of, and install to, an alternate SCSI card that has the requisite drivers bundled into the Solaris OS media that you use to install.

Install using a Jumpstart[TM] server that uses a Solaris image that has had the requisite drivers added to it.

Refer to the "StorEdge[TM] PCI Dual Ultra3 SCSI Host Adapter Installation Guide, 816-2156."
This document is included with the SCSI card when it is sold.

If the document is unavailable, you can find a link to the latest version from the Sun System Handbook at
https://support.oracle.com/handbook_private/Devices/SCSI/SCSI_Dual_Ultra3_PCI.html

To discuss this information further with Oracle experts and industry peers, we encourage you to review, join or start a discussion in an appropriate My Oracle Support Community, Oracle Sun Technologies Community.

Product
Sun Fire E4900 Server
Sun Fire E6900 Server
Sun Fire 6800 Server
Sun Fire 4810 Server
Sun Fire 4800 Server
Sun Fire 3800 Server

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