Elite3D microcode hang up

Gecklord · Apprentice Joined: 17 Mar 2004 Posts: 174

yesterday I tried to get my Elite3D. I emerged afbinit, added it to the default runlevel and copied the afb.ucode file to /usr/lib...
but when the screens says: Elite3D microcode is loading (or similar) the machine won't do anything, it just refuses to boot... :cry:

Gecklord · Apprentice Joined: 17 Mar 2004 Posts: 174

trying to load the microcode with afbinit /dev/fb0 /usr/lib/afb.ucode also freezes the system!

Ferris · Posted: Fri Jun 11, 2004 4:33 pm Post subject:

If you build afbinit by hand from afbinit.c and make sure that you change

Gecklord · Apprentice Joined: 17 Mar 2004 Posts: 174

my system is a u80
the problem is that solaris just stops while checking the config files!
the obp says that the card is alright - "no errors found"

Ferris · Posted: Fri Jun 11, 2004 5:57 pm Post subject:

I suppose the "just stopping" could be another symptom of the same problem. And whatever checking OBP does, it can't care about the microcode, of course.

There is at least one other U80+Elite with Gentoo around here someplace, so keep asking around. But what you are describing sounds
hardware related: the only way afbinit can hang is if the afb refuses to acknowledge a download, IIRC.
That's why I suggested reseating the Elite, cleaning contacts, or other not-making-good-contact type problems.

Sorry I don't have better information, but look at afbinit yourself: there's not much to it.

bung-foo · Tux's lil' helper Joined: 09 Jun 2002 Posts: 146

I'm running gentoo on an ultra 80 with an elite 3d. I emerged the afbinit program and copied afb.ucode from an old solaris install. You only need afbinit for X, the console should work great without it loaded.

"my system is a u80
the problem is that solaris just stops while checking the config files!
the obp says that the card is alright - "no errors found""

Are you using solaris or gentoo?
Can you boot into obp?
Does the system only hang when it goes past obp and into the gentoo boot process?

If so, try booting from the gentoo cd and removing afbinit from your boot process. Maybe the afb.ucode file you have on your hard disc is corrupt or something?

Good luck.

Abe

Gecklord · Apprentice Joined: 17 Mar 2004 Posts: 174

@ferris
I've already removed afbinit from the default runlevel and built it by hand after editing afbinit.c to get some output - but nothing happens when I'm trying to load the microcode - no output... the system just freezes!

@bung-foo
I am using both - on separate disks
i'm able to boot into obp but trying to install solaris the system stops doing anything after finishing the configfile check

maybe my Elite3D is lockedup - could that be?

Ferris · Posted: Mon Jun 14, 2004 11:58 am Post subject:

Does solaris boot if you remove the Elite card? The only way I know for afbinit to hang like
you are describing is if the afb is refusing to take the microcode, and never responding.

If you take out the Elite and then can boot Solaris, that would tell you there are problems with your particular afb.

But that is what it sounds like, since neither system can boot successfully when the afb is installed.

Regards,
Ferris

Gecklord · Apprentice Joined: 17 Mar 2004 Posts: 174

Solaris boots without any errors with the Elite3D pulled out - I've put my old RaptorGFX8 in!
Is there a way for me to fix my Elite3D?

Ferris · Posted: Mon Jun 14, 2004 4:34 pm Post subject:

All I would know to do is to clean the contacts very well and try again, making sure that it is firmly seated.

I don't know if anyone repairs these, or if it's strictly a replacement part. Someone else might have better information.

Regards,
Ferris

Ferris · Posted: Mon Jun 14, 2004 5:52 pm Post subject:

Gecklord,
For what it's worth: I just had occasion to reboot a U60+Elite3D-m3, and went
through an experience similar to yours. My solution was to power-cycle and
reboot, after which everything was fine.
This indicates to me that the 'shutdown -r ...' sequence did not reset the afb
completely, so that it could not load the microcode. It also suggests that if
you make sure that yours is physically clean and that if you keep trying, you might have good luck.
Of course, it might also mean that by having this discussion, you have broken my afb long-distance. :wink:

But I would like that not to be the case.

Gecklord · Apprentice Joined: 17 Mar 2004 Posts: 174

so what would you suppose me to do?

Ferris · Posted: Mon Jun 14, 2004 10:53 pm Post subject:

My best guess is that your Elite card is not good. If, after you clean the contacts and install it
firmly it still doesn't work, you will need help from someone else.

At worst, you will have to replace the card, I suppose, but I am really not a good source of hardware help.

My previous post was only to note that it can take at least one complete power cycle to get an Elite to reset itself.