Cannot add user on Centos Server - Input/Output error

Question

Today, on my Centos server I tried to add a user but got the following error:

-bash: /usr/sbin/useradd: Input/output error

How do i fix it?

Thanks

UPDATE:

var/log/messages is blank

df -h also gives me a the same input/output error:

-bash: /usr/sbin/df: Input/output error

'free' also gives me the same error:

-bash: /usr/sbin/free: Input/output error

Also, I cannot even shutdown the server ie: shutdown -s, gives me the same error.

Any ideas what might be the issue?

More info please. Anything in `/var/log/messages`? What does `df -h` say? What does `mount` say? — Marki, Aug 11 '13 at 20:01
I've run into this once or twice when running out of memory and swap space, there's no room to store stdin/out or write to the terminal buffer sessions I believe. — inetplumber, Aug 11 '13 at 20:50
It looks like serious filesystem corruption. Do you see anything in the output of `dmesg`? Hope you've got backups! — larsks, Aug 12 '13 at 19:26
No I do not have backups. I would like to know, how do you back up a linux server - What commands? — DextrousDave, Aug 16 '13 at 09:36

score 1 · Accepted Answer · answered Aug 12 '13 at 21:04

1

Sorry to agree with Larsks, but FS Corruption seems the most likely culprit. I've seen this a couple of times, and its been disk corruption each time.

If you are able:

touch forcefsck
then to reboot, either
init 6

OR

echo 1 > /proc/sys/kernel/sysrq

Although avoid the "echo..." because its more akin to hitting the reset button! Good luck

answered Aug 12 '13 at 21:04

GeoSword

1,647
12
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Thank you GeoSword, but I contacted my ISP to restart the server from their end since I could not restart it remotely...After the restart, the server is fine now again. But thanks for the tip... – DextrousDave Aug 16 '13 at 09:37

Cannot add user on Centos Server - Input/Output error

1 Answers1