Accounting errors encountered when running the runacct command

You might encounter errors when running the runacct command.

Note: You must have root user or adm group authority to run the runacct command.

The runacct command processes files that are often very large. The procedure involves several passes through certain files and consumes considerable system resources while it is taking place. Since the runacct command consumes considerable resources, it is normally run early in the morning when it can take over the machine and not disturb anyone.

The runacct command is a script divided into different stages. The stages allow you to restart the command where it stopped, without having to rerun the entire script.

When the runacct encounters problems, it sends error messages to different destinations depending on where the error occurred. Usually it sends a date and a message to the console directing you to look in the activeMMDD file (such as active0621 for June 21st) which is in the /usr/adm/acct/nite directory. When the runacct command aborts, it moves the entire active file to activeMMDD and appends a message describing the problem.

Review the following error message tables for errors that you might encounter when running the runacct command.

Note:
  • The abbreviation MMDD stands for the month and day, such as 0102 for January 2. For example, an unrecoverable error during the CONNECT1 process on January 2 creates the file active0102 containing the error message.
  • The abbreviation "SE message" stands for the standard error message such as:
    ********* ACCT ERRORS : see active0102 *********
Preliminary State and Error Messages from the runnacct Command
State Command Unrecoverable? Error Message Destinations
pre runacct yes * 2 CRONS or ACCT PROBLEMS * ERROR: locks found, run aborted console, mail, active
pre runacct yes runacct: Insufficient space in /usr (nnn blks); Terminating procedure console, mail, active
pre runacct yes SE message; ERROR: acctg already run for 'date': check lastdate console, mail, activeMMDD
pre runacct no * SYSTEM ACCOUNTING STARTED * console
pre runacct no restarting acctg for 'date' at STATE console active, console
pre runacct no restarting acctg for 'date' at state (argument $2) previous state was STATE active
pre runacct yes SE message; Error: runacct called with invalid arguments console, mail, activeMMDD
States and Error Messages from the runacct Command
State Command Unrecoverable? Error Message Destinations
SETUP runacct no ls -l fee pacct* /var/adm/wtmp active
SETUP runacct yes SE message; ERROR: turnacct switch returned rc=error console, mail, activeMMDD
SETUP runacct yes SE message; ERROR: SpacctMMDD already exists file setups probably already run activeMMDD
SETUP runacct yes SE message; ERROR: wtmpMMDD already exists: run setup manually console, mail, activeMMDD
WTMPFIX wtmpfix no SE message; ERROR: wtmpfix errors see xtmperrorMMDD activeMMDD, wtmperrorMMDD
WTMPFIX wtmpfix no wtmp processing complete active
CONNECT1 acctcon1 no SE message; (errors from acctcon1 log) console, mail, activeMMDD
CONNECT2 acctcon2 no connect acctg complete active
PROCESS runacct no WARNING: accounting already run for pacctN active
PROCESS acctprc1 acctprc2 no process acctg complete for SpacctNMMDD active
PROCESS runacct no all process actg complete for date active
MERGE acctmerg no tacct merge to create dayacct complete active
FEES acctmerg no merged fees OR no fees active
DISK acctmerg no merged disk records OR no disk records active
MERGEACCT acctmerg no WARNING: recreating sum/tacct active
MERGEACCT acctmerg no updated sum/tacct active
CMS runacct no WARNING: recreating sum/cms active
CMS acctcms no command summaries complete active
CLEANUP runacct no system accounting completed at 'date' active
CLEANUP runacct no *SYSTEM ACCOUNTING COMPLETED* console
<wrong> runacct yes SE message; ERROR: invalid state, check STATE console, mail, activeMMDD
Note: The label <wrong> in the previous table does not represent a state, but rather a state other than the correct state that was written in the state file /usr/adm/acct/nite/statefile.
Summary of Message Destinations
Destination Description
console The /dev/console device
mail Message mailed to root and adm accounts
active The /usr/adm/acct/nite/active file
activeMMDD The /usr/adm/acct/nite/activeMMDD file
wtmperrMMDD The /usr/adm/acct/nite/wtmperrorMMDD file
STATE Current state in /usr/adm/acct/nite/statefile file
fd2log Any other error messages