Sun Virtual Library Extension (VLE)
 

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In this Document

Symptoms

Changes

Cause

Solution

Created from <SR 3-7711457973>

Applies to:

Symptoms

VLEs manufactured with version 1.3.12 of the software may start creating large log files and may consume most of the available free space in the rpool. When this happens, customer jobs may get impacted and VLE may become inoperative.

Changes

Applies only to machined manufactured with VLE 1.3.12 code.  Field machines upgraded to VLE 1.3.12 code are not exposed to this problem.

Cause

VLE uses cron to initiate log management tasks at regular intervals.  When the size of a log files exceed a predefined threshold, the log is “rolled” and a new log file is created.  Because of a syntax error resulting in an incorrect user definition in the /etc/shadow file, the task to manage the VLE logs will not execute.  The first entry in the file (for root), may contain a space as the first character of the entry.  This leading space in the entry renders the entry invalid and impacts the VLE by breaking the automatic log rolling feature.

Solution

Edit the etc/shadow file and remove the leading space in the entry for “root”, this should be the first line of the file.  Once the entry is corrected, the logs will be processed and rolled at the next cron interval.  There is no need to stop and start vle services.

If your VLE has or is thought to have this defect please open a MOS case to have local support perform the required edit.

Detailed shadow file edit instructions:

1. Connect and log into to the VLE via a terminal session (Putty or ILOM redirection can be used).
2. Become the root user: sudo bash   (provide the password to become the root user).
3. Change to the etc directory: cd /etc
4. Verify this VLE has the manufacturing defect by examining the shadow file using the 'less' file viewer: less shadow
5. Examine the display.
   If the defect is present the first line will have a space to the left of the first word which is root. 
   It is this extra space character which must be eliminated.
   To exit the 'less' file viewer press the cue (q) key.
6. If this machine does not have a space to the left of the word root on the first line of the shadow file then no further action is required, do not continue and exit this process.
   If this machine does have a space to the left of the word root on the first line of the shadow file then continue.
7. Start the edit of the shadow file using the vi editor: vi shadow
8. Examine the display. 
   The cursor will be on the first line of the shadow file and will be over the letter 'r' in the first word, root.
   There will be a space to the left of the word root.
9. Press the left arrow key (<--) on the keyboard to move the cursor from the 'r' in the word root the space to the left of the word root.
10. Press the 'x' key on the keyboard to delete the space.
    The remainder of the line will shift left one character and the cursor will again be over the 'r' in the word root.
11. Save the file and exit the editor by pressing the following keys: colon, double-u, cue, exclamation point (:wq!)
12. Verify the file edit was done correctly by examining the file using 'less': less shadow
    Examine the display.
    There should be no space to the left of the word root on the first line of the file.
    To exit the 'less' file viewer press the cue (q) key.

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