Ran out of space on /var mount in Solaris, how to remedy this?

[isasir]

I inherited an Oracle database on a Solaris SPARC server. Most of my work I do in Windows, so I don't know much about Unix.

However, the /var mount apparently is 100% full and simple commands like vi won't even run since there's no room.

The people that we last worked with to set-up this machine don't even remember what the root password is, and are both on vacation right now anyways.

I have my own login, but I don't know if I can do anything with my level of access.

Any suggestions?

 

[drag]

You probably can't do anything without root. Sharp divisions between users and root is a hallmark of Unix security design.

/var is often used a as a catch-all for all sorts of stuff. System logs, printing spools, convient default place to stick databases.

You could probably go in their and clean a bunch of old stuff out if you knew what to look for, but without root access your pretty much screwed. Unless you have something like a ftp directory their that your user has rights to.

For instance I would tell you for a temporary fix find a directory that has lots of space being used up, but is not mission critical. Then copy the directory over to a different partition with lots of space, then delete the original directory and create a symbolic link pointing to that copied on the different partition from the original spot.

But since you don't have root, you may have to reboot into single user mode and set a root password. Of course that means that you have to take the machine down. I would be very carefull if your doing this for the first time on a production machine.... Weird things break when partitions are full. If it was just a home machine I'd say go for it, but I don't want you to loose anything important.

there are people who do this sort of thing for a living and you can call and get help and they tell you want to do, but it's not going to be free. In fact it may cost alot, but it would be worth it. You got any consultant or tech guy that you deal with about setting up backups and stuff that may not be on vacation? Maybe somebody local in a phone book? Maybe Sun themselves?

(you do do backups, right?)

 

[isasir]

I'm going to lunch right now, otherwise I'd post more, but,
I came across this article giving details on how to reset a root password. DO you know if this is accurate, and if so, is it something I should try?

Text

 

[n0cmonkey]

Great directions. I've done that a few times, and they look accurate to me.

 

[eigen]

Originally posted by: n0cmonkey
Great directions. I've done that a few times, and they look accurate to me.

Nocmonkey is there anything you havent done..I am always impressed.

genuine nocmonkey fanboi here.

 

[n0cmonkey]

Originally posted by: eigen

Originally posted by: n0cmonkey
Great directions. I've done that a few times, and they look accurate to me.

Nocmonkey is there anything you havent done..I am always impressed.

genuine nocmonkey fanboi here.

My first Anandtech stalker.