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db_VISTA database error -4 - invalid database

Troubleshooting


Problem

This technote explains what the IBM® Rational® ClearCase® dbcheck output "db_VISTA database error -4 - invalid database" means and what can be done to resolve the problem on Microsoft® Windows®, UNIX® and Linux®.

Symptom

The following invalid database messages occurs after running dbcheck:



db_VISTA Version 3.20
Database Consistency Check Utility
Copyright (C) 1985-1990 Raima Corporation, All Rights Reserved


*** db_VISTA database error -4 - invalid database


Database consistency check prematurely terminated
Last db_status = -4


1 error was encountered in 0 records/nodes




Cause


This error indicates that the dbcheck utility was unable to collect the information it needed for one reason or another.

Note: This error does not mean there is VOB database corruption.

Resolving The Problem

The following list contains steps to verify if dbcheck was run correctly.

One of these problems is causing the error.

  1. Make sure the correct directory is set; this error may appear if the db directory is not set when the command is run.

  2. Make sure the dbcheck utility was run as the correct user:
    • On UNIX and Linux the dbcheck utility needs to run as root or VOB owner.
    • Make sure that the path is local as to avoid root becoming "nobody" over NFS pathing.
    • On Windows the dbcheck utility needs to run as VOB owner or Administrator.

  3. Log in to and run the dbcheck utility on the host where the VOB storage physically resides.

  4. Make sure that the system to which the database resides is not read only. The utility will need to temporarily open the database for read/write for checking the internal timestamp.

  5. Make sure the string "vob_db" in the command is spelled correctly:

    dbcheck -a -k vob_db 2>&1 dbcheck.out

    This string is not an abbreviation, and should be typed literally.

  6. Ensure that ALL the database files are available. If the database directory has been recently backed up, compare the files in the db directory to a newly created or reliable (live) database's db directory. The following database files that dbcheck is looking for should be present in the db directory:

    vob_db.d01
    vob_db.d02
    vob_db.d03
    vob_db.dbd
    vob_db.k01
    vob_db.k02
    vob_db.k03
    vob_db.k04
    vob_db.str_file
    vob_db_schema_version

For specific directions on how to run the dbcheck utility, refer to technote 1122748.

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Document Information

Modified date:
29 September 2018

UID

swg21148556