Chapter 1 Configuring the System Console 13
■ When a serious hardware problem develops while the system is running, the
operating system transitions smoothly to run level 0.
■ When you deliberately place the system under firmware control in order to
execute firmware-based commands.
The last of these scenarios most often concerns you as an administrator, since there
will be times when you need to reach the ok prompt. The section “Methods to Reach
the ok Prompt” on page 13 lists several ways. For detailed instructions, see
“Obtaining the ok Prompt” on page 15.
Methods to Reach the ok Prompt
There are several ways to reach the ok prompt, depending on the state of the system
and the means by which you are accessing the system console.
Note – These methods of reaching the ok prompt work only if the system console
has been redirected to the appropriate port. For details, see “System Console
OpenBoot Configuration Variable Settings” on page 17.
The methods are:
■ Graceful shutdown
■ ALOM system controller break and console command pair
■ L1-A (Stop-A) keys or Break key
■ Manual system reset
A discussion of each method follows. For step-by-step instructions, see “Obtaining
the ok Prompt” on page 15.
Note – As a rule, before suspending the operating system, you should back up files,
warn users of the impending shutdown, and halt the system in an orderly manner.
However, it is not always possible to take such precautions, especially if the system
is malfunctioning.
Graceful Shutdown
The preferred method of reaching the ok prompt is to shut down the operating
system by issuing an appropriate command (for example, the shutdown, init,or
uadmin command) as described in Solaris system administration documentation.
You can also use the system Power button to initiate a graceful system shutdown.
