Error "Invalid or no boot device specified" from mksysb or mkszfile

Environment

OS Level: AIX Version 4.2
Type/Model:Unspecified

Problem

The error "Invalid or no boot device specified" is received when running a mksysb or a mkszfile.

Solution

To resolve the error, complete the following steps:

Verify that the link to /dev/ipldevice is correct for the bosboot command. The device should be linked to the physical volume that has hd5 on it. Find which disk has hd5 on it by entering:
```
# lslv -m hd5
```
The output will be similar to the following:
```
hd5:N/A
LP      PP1     PV1             PP2     PV2             PP3     PV3
001     0001    hdisk0
```
The output should list one disk. If there is mirroring, two or three may display.
Create a link for the ipldevice to the raw hdisk, that is, use the rhdisk# instead of the hdisk#.
If /dev/ipldevice already exists, verify that it is pointing to the correct disk and that it displays the correct major and minor numbers.
- Enter the following commands:
```
# cd /dev
# ls -l ipldevice
```
  The output displays similar to the following:
```
crw-rw----   2 root     system    10,  3 Apr 30 22:28 ipldevice
```
- Search for the major and minor numbers displayed. Using the preceding output for example, you would enter (10 is the major number, 3 is the minor number):
```
ls -l | grep "10, 3"
```
  The output displays similar to the following:
```
brw-rw----   1 root     system    10,  3 May 22 16:00 hd5
crw-rw----   2 root     system    10,  3 Apr 30 22:28 ipldevice
crw-rw----   2 root     system    10,  3 Apr 30 22:28 rhd5
```
Using the sample output from the lslv -m hd5 command in step 2, the ipldevice above is incorrectly linked to rhd5. It should be linked to rhdisk0.

Incorrect links should be removed and relinked to the correct rhdisk using hard links. Enter the following commands:

# rm ipldevice
# ln rhdisk0 /dev/ipldevice
# ls -l ipldevice rhdisk0

crw-------   2 root     system    19,  0 Apr 30 22:28 ipldevice
crw-------   2 root     system    19,  0 Apr 30 22:28 rhdisk0

This is the correct method for linking the ipldevice.

[ Doc Ref: 9538428185506 Publish Date: Apr. 28, 2000 4FAX Ref: none ]