Mailing List Archive: Gentoo: SPARC

my UltraSparc U2 doesn't boot (wired)

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zhangweiwu at realss

Dec 11, 2004, 2:46 AM

Post #1 of 9 (208 views)
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my UltraSparc U2 doesn't boot (wired)

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I install the box smoothly (I installed U5 many a time). After modified
/etc/fstab and so like, I type 'silo' and I was told '/etc/silo.conf
seems valid', now everthing is ready, I quit chroot and
umount everything and reboot.

After reboot, the OBP tells me it is booting from net, and waiting for
network packets. I Stop+A into OBP, manually let it boot from the only
SCSI hdd, and it failed (with an error message I don't remember and
could not repeat, reason see below). That was very late in the night, so
I 'boot cdrom', get into chroot and type 'emerge kde' and left home.

When I come back the next morning, the LCD showed me 'no signal' (even
after several reboot). I also tried replacing several other monitors and
made sure it's not the monitor problem. I used VGA->13W3 converter.
Further more, I made sure the OBP and whole system (except video card)
must be working, by typing blindly to control OBP, leting it
successfully booted from CDROM (by tracking CDROM and network LED). I
also tried to reset by Stop-N.

I also tried to type blindly to adjust VGA rate, without any luck. I am
almost sure I did it correctly because I did it many a time.

I also tried getting into OBP through serial console (never did it
before). I have a FreeBSD notebook. I tried to connect FreeBSD notebook
COM port to the U2 serial port A (there are two, serial port A and
serial port B) with the cable the reseller gave me (cable should be
okay). Then I issue this command on FreeBSD:
freebsd # cu -lcuaa0
(this means to connect to the serial port at 9600 baud)
And type "~#" (this means send a BREAK in FreeBSD tool 'cu')

cu(1) behave as if the cable is not connected to anything, that is, no
display, no echo back.

What do you think I should do right now? My colleague opposed me that
Linux must burned the video card (damn these windoze people, when
something went broken he always says 'Linux burned xxxx'), but I think
perhaps the video card is really broken. Now if it is true, I must find
a way to break into OBP to operate the box..

Thank you for your hints!

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zhangweiwu at realss

Dec 11, 2004, 1:09 AM

Post #2 of 9 (209 views)
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my UltraSparc U2 doesn't boot (wired) [In reply to]

I install the box smoothly (I installed U5 many a time). After modified
/etc/fstab and so like, I type 'silo' and I was told '/etc/silo.conf
seems valid', now everthing is ready, I quit chroot and
umount everything and reboot.

After reboot, the OBP tells me it is booting from net, and waiting for
network packets. I Stop+A into OBP, manually let it boot from the only
SCSI hdd, and it failed (with an error message I don't remember and
could not repeat, reason see below). That was very late in the night, so
I 'boot cdrom', get into chroot and type 'emerge kde' and left home.

When I come back the next morning, the LCD showed me 'no signal' (even
after several reboot). I also tried replacing several other monitors and
made sure it's not the monitor problem. I used VGA->13W3 converter.
Further more, I made sure the OBP and whole system (except video card)
must be working, by typing blindly to control OBP, leting it
successfully booted from CDROM (by tracking CDROM and network LED). I
also tried to reset by Stop-N.

I also tried to type blindly to adjust VGA rate, without any luck. I am
almost sure I did it correctly because I did it many a time.

I also tried getting into OBP through serial console (never did it
before). I have a FreeBSD notebook. I tried to connect FreeBSD notebook
COM port to the U2 serial port A (there are two, serial port A and
serial port B) with the cable the reseller gave me (cable should be
okay). Then I issue this command on FreeBSD:
freebsd # cu -lcuaa0
(this means to connect to the serial port at 9600 baud)
And type "~#" (this means send a BREAK in FreeBSD tool 'cu')

cu(1) behave as if the cable is not connected to anything, that is, no
display, no echo back.

What do you think I should do right now? My colleague opposed me that
Linux must burned the video card (damn these windoze people, when
something went broken he always says 'Linux burned xxxx'), but I think
perhaps the video card is really broken. Now if it is true, I must find
a way to break into OBP to operate the box..

Thank you for your hints!

--
gentoo-sparc [at] gentoo mailing list

zhangweiwu at realss

Dec 11, 2004, 8:24 AM

Post #3 of 9 (210 views)
Permalink

Re: my UltraSparc U2 doesn't boot (wired) [In reply to]

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Zhang Weiwu wrote:

|
| I also tried getting into OBP through serial console (never did it
| before). I have a FreeBSD notebook. I tried to connect FreeBSD
| notebook COM port to the U2 serial port A (there are two, serial
| port A and serial port B) with the cable the reseller gave me
| (cable should be okay). Then I issue this command on FreeBSD:
| freebsd # cu -lcuaa0 (this means to connect to the serial port at
| 9600 baud) And type "~#" (this means send a BREAK in FreeBSD tool
| 'cu')
|
| cu(1) behave as if the cable is not connected to anything, that is,
| no display, no echo back.

I wanna add that I today also tried to break into OBP using minicom
from a near-by gentoo Linux host. minicom shows that I am online
(which I understand as 'connected'), sent BREAK by Ctrl-A f but it is
like nothing happened, no OBP prompt ('ok') and no echo back. I am
using correct (I think) settings on minicom, ttyS0 9600baud 8N1, no
modem initialize string.

Wired. Seems OBP is refusing console connection.
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wesolows at foobazco

Dec 11, 2004, 9:32 AM

Post #4 of 9 (208 views)
Permalink

Re: my UltraSparc U2 doesn't boot (wired) [In reply to]

On Sat, Dec 11, 2004 at 05:46:17PM +0800, Zhang Weiwu wrote:

> I also tried to type blindly to adjust VGA rate, without any luck. I am
> almost sure I did it correctly because I did it many a time.

I do not know what the problem is with graphics, since it was working
earlier and isn't now.

> I also tried getting into OBP through serial console (never did it
> before). I have a FreeBSD notebook. I tried to connect FreeBSD notebook
> COM port to the U2 serial port A (there are two, serial port A and
> serial port B) with the cable the reseller gave me (cable should be
> okay). Then I issue this command on FreeBSD:
> freebsd # cu -lcuaa0
> (this means to connect to the serial port at 9600 baud)
> And type "~#" (this means send a BREAK in FreeBSD tool 'cu')
>
> cu(1) behave as if the cable is not connected to anything, that is, no
> display, no echo back.

If you want to use serial console, turn off the ultra, unplug the
keyboard, and power it back on with a null-modem cable hanging off
port A. If you do not see anything, you have a problem. That could
be a bad cable, broken terminal, hosed ultra, insufficient goat
sacrifice, or it could also be that the self-test is still going on
(on U2 it takes a long time).

> What do you think I should do right now? My colleague opposed me that
> Linux must burned the video card (damn these windoze people, when
> something went broken he always says 'Linux burned xxxx'), but I think
> perhaps the video card is really broken. Now if it is true, I must find
> a way to break into OBP to operate the box..

Linux doesn't know how to burn things out. The X server probably does
but the X server for ffb doesn't adjust anything that can burn out the
card (some PC cards let software control the clocks on the card. Set
them too high, poof. ffb doesn't do that, so it can't happen). That
said, it could very well have failed on its own, but ffb are fairly
reliable devices.

You could also try setting the environment variable again. Something
like:

setenv output-device screen:r1024x768x60

which would work on just about any monitor. You can try other common
resolutions too, like 1152x900x66, which is probably the default.

You can also try set-defaults. This will reset all variables much
like the Stop+N thing except it's easier to know you've done it right.

Time to exercise your noggin. Troubleshooting is a methodical
science; you must first understand all the things that possibly could
be wrong, then devise tests to rule out each of them. We can't do
this for you.

--
Keith M Wesolowski
"Site launched. Many things not yet working." --Hector Urtubia

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zhangweiwu at realss

Dec 11, 2004, 7:27 PM

Post #5 of 9 (212 views)
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Re: my UltraSparc U2 doesn't boot (wired) [In reply to]

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Keith M Wesolowski wrote:

| If you want to use serial console, turn off the ultra, unplug the
| keyboard, and power it back on with a null-modem cable hanging off
| port A.

Thank you for this help! Now I can get into OBP by through serial console.
The remain problems:
1) still no screen output (since I have serial console now, this is
not a big problem.)
2) the u2 still could not boot from sda1 when silo is (seems)
correctly installed.

For 2), I am too dumb to find any threads or hints to know what is
exactly the reason. This needs experience. (I just came from x86 world
and keep using terms like 'active partition' 'mbr' and so like.) So I
just copied all the diagnostic thing I could do to OBP and paste it on
the list, hoping it could bring me some hints from experts :)

{0} ok boot disk0
Boot device: /sbus/SUNW,fas@e,8800000/sd@0,0 File and args:

Can't open boot device

{0} ok boot sd
Boot device: /sbus/SUNW,hme@e,8c00000 File and args: sd
Timeout waiting for ARP/RARP packet
Timeout waiting for ARP/RARP packet

{0} ok show-devs
/SUNW,ffb [at] 1,0
/SUNW,UltraSPARC-II@1,0
/SUNW,UltraSPARC-II@0,0
/sbus [at] 1,0
/counter-timer [at] 1,3c00
/virtual-memory
/memory@0,0
/aliases
/options
/openprom
/chosen
/packages
/sbus [at] 1,0/SUNW,bpp@e,c800000
/sbus [at] 1,0/SUNW,hme@e,8c00000
/sbus [at] 1,0/SUNW,fas@e,8800000
/sbus [at] 1,0/SUNW,pll@f,1304000
/sbus [at] 1,0/sc@f,1300000
/sbus [at] 1,0/zs@f,1000000
/sbus [at] 1,0/zs@f,1100000
/sbus [at] 1,0/eeprom@f,1200000
/sbus [at] 1,0/SUNW,fdtwo@f,1400000
/sbus [at] 1,0/flashprom@f,0
/sbus [at] 1,0/auxio@f,1900000
/sbus [at] 1,0/SUNW,CS4231@d,c000000
/sbus [at] 1,0/SUNW,fas@e,8800000/st
/sbus [at] 1,0/SUNW,fas@e,8800000/sd
/openprom/client-services
/packages/disk-label
/packages/obp-tftp
/packages/deblocker
/packages/terminal-emulator

{0} ok devalias
screen /SUNW,ffb [at] 1,0
net /sbus/SUNW,hme@e,8c00000
disk /sbus/SUNW,fas@e,8800000/sd@0,0
cdrom /sbus/SUNW,fas@e,8800000/sd@6,0:f
tape /sbus/SUNW,fas@e,8800000/st@4,0
tape1 /sbus/SUNW,fas@e,8800000/st@5,0
tape0 /sbus/SUNW,fas@e,8800000/st@4,0
disk6 /sbus/SUNW,fas@e,8800000/sd@6,0
disk5 /sbus/SUNW,fas@e,8800000/sd@5,0
disk4 /sbus/SUNW,fas@e,8800000/sd@4,0
disk3 /sbus/SUNW,fas@e,8800000/sd@3,0
disk2 /sbus/SUNW,fas@e,8800000/sd@2,0
disk1 /sbus/SUNW,fas@e,8800000/sd@1,0
disk0 /sbus/SUNW,fas@e,8800000/sd@0,0
scsi /sbus/SUNW,fas@e,8800000
floppy /sbus/SUNW,fdtwo
ttyb /sbus/zs@f,1100000:b
ttya /sbus/zs@f,1100000:a
keyboard! /sbus/zs@f,1000000:forcemode
keyboard /sbus/zs@f,1000000
name aliases

{0} ok printenv
Variable Name Value Default Value

tpe-link-test? true true
scsi-initiator-id 7 7
keyboard-click? false false
keymap
ttyb-rts-dtr-off false false
ttyb-ignore-cd true true
ttya-rts-dtr-off false false
ttya-ignore-cd true true
ttyb-mode 9600,8,n,1,- 9600,8,n,1,-
ttya-mode 9600,8,n,1,- 9600,8,n,1,-
sbus-probe-list 0123 0123
mfg-mode off off
diag-level max max
#power-cycles 88
system-board-serial# 5013132168756
system-board-date 34864d2f
fcode-debug? false false
output-device screen:r640x480x60 screen
input-device keyboard keyboard
load-base 16384 16384
boot-command boot boot
auto-boot? true true
watchdog-reboot? false false
diag-file
diag-device net net
boot-file
boot-device disk net disk net
local-mac-address? false false
ansi-terminal? true true
screen-#columns 80 80
screen-#rows 34 34
silent-mode? false false
use-nvramrc? false false
nvramrc
security-mode none
security-password
security-#badlogins 0
oem-logo
oem-logo? false false
oem-banner
oem-banner? false false
hardware-revision
last-hardware-update
diag-switch? false

{0} ok probe-scsi
This command may hang the system if a Stop-A or halt command
has been executed. Please type reset-all to reset the system
before executing this command.
Do you wish to continue? (y/n) y
Target 1
~ Unit 0 Disk SEAGATE ST318203LSUN18G 034A0022G64907
~ Copyright (c) 1999 Seagate
~ All rights reserved
Target 6
~ Unit 0 Removable Read Only device TOSHIBA
XM-5401TASUN4XCD103604/12/95

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zhangweiwu at realss

Dec 11, 2004, 7:49 PM

Post #6 of 9 (207 views)
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Re: my UltraSparc U2 doesn't boot (wired) [In reply to]

Zhang Weiwu wrote:

> So I just copied all the diagnostic thing I could do to OBP and paste
> it on
> the list, hoping it could bring me some hints from experts :)

I think I should also past my silo.conf and attach fstab in case anyone
wish to see it.
(I get these files by booting from livecd, launch sshd, get in to the
box by using ssh from another host, chroot and copy&paste)

zhangweiwu [at] U ~ $ cat /etc/silo.conf
partition = 1
root = /dev/sda1
timeout = 10
image = /vmlinux
label = linux
image = "cat /etc/msgs/hello.msg"
label = H
single-key
image = "ls -l /lib/modules/"
label = L
single-key

Attachments:

fstab.u2 (0.37 KB)

wesolows at foobazco

Dec 11, 2004, 8:31 PM

Post #7 of 9 (208 views)
Permalink

Re: my UltraSparc U2 doesn't boot (wired) [In reply to]

On Sun, Dec 12, 2004 at 10:27:15AM +0800, Zhang Weiwu wrote:

> {0} ok boot disk0
> Boot device: /sbus/SUNW,fas@e,8800000/sd@0,0 File and args:
>
> Can't open boot device

You have no disk at target 0.

> {0} ok probe-scsi
> This command may hang the system if a Stop-A or halt command
> has been executed. Please type reset-all to reset the system
> before executing this command.
> Do you wish to continue? (y/n) y
> Target 1
> ~ Unit 0 Disk SEAGATE ST318203LSUN18G 034A0022G64907
...

Try boot disk1

If it works, either move the disk to the other slot or do setenv
boot-device disk1.

--
Keith M Wesolowski
"Site launched. Many things not yet working." --Hector Urtubia

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zhangweiwu at realss

Dec 11, 2004, 8:50 PM

Post #8 of 9 (212 views)
Permalink

Re: my UltraSparc U2 doesn't boot (wired) [In reply to]

Keith M Wesolowski wrote:

>On Sun, Dec 12, 2004 at 10:27:15AM +0800, Zhang Weiwu wrote:
>
>
>
>>{0} ok boot disk0
>>Boot device: /sbus/SUNW,fas@e,8800000/sd@0,0 File and args:
>>
>>Can't open boot device
>>
>>
>
>You have no disk at target 0.
>
>
>
>>{0} ok probe-scsi
>>This command may hang the system if a Stop-A or halt command
>>has been executed. Please type reset-all to reset the system
>>before executing this command.
>>Do you wish to continue? (y/n) y
>>Target 1
>>~ Unit 0 Disk SEAGATE ST318203LSUN18G 034A0022G64907
>>
>>
>...
>
>Try boot disk1
>
>If it works, either move the disk to the other slot or do setenv
>boot-device disk1.
>
>
Thank you. Your method boot okay! Now only display problem is not
solved. I think I should contact the reseller.

Oh. I wasted several days hanging around this box.

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wesolows at foobazco

Dec 11, 2004, 10:23 PM

Post #9 of 9 (209 views)
Permalink

Re: my UltraSparc U2 doesn't boot (wired) [In reply to]

On Sun, Dec 12, 2004 at 11:50:44AM +0800, Zhang Weiwu wrote:

> Thank you. Your method boot okay! Now only display problem is not
> solved. I think I should contact the reseller.

Good luck with that. If "resetenv" followed by plugging in the
keyboard and rebooting doesn't work, then yeah maybe they'll help.
Otherwise they'll tell you how great Solaris 7 is and charge you a
bundle for their trouble. Oh yeah, your monitor is probably not Sun
original too, so you're basically hosed.

Hate to break it to you, but once you connect a Sun box to something
non-Sun, or fail to buy Sun support, or install Linux you're on your
own. It's called living by your wits.

> Oh. I wasted several days hanging around this box.

Next time www.google.com. It'll answer your questions a lot faster
than I can.

--
Keith M Wesolowski
"Site launched. Many things not yet working." --Hector Urtubia

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