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DrFishstik
Tux's lil' helper
Tux's lil' helper


Joined: 05 Dec 2002
Posts: 85
Location: University Park, PA

PostPosted: Sun May 30, 2004 2:45 pm    Post subject: noob sparc question Reply with quote

Sparc Noob alert :oops:
I recently acquired an old sparc ultra 5 workstation but don't have a keyboard and mouse for it. :? When the unit powers on i see a white (firmware?) screen saying it is defaulting to a serial port for input and output (Port A i think) then the monitor goes blank. :?:

My question is how do i use a serial cable (i have one) to log into my ultrasparc and install gentoo? Or should i just hold out and get a kb and mouse?
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Mark Clegg
Apprentice
Apprentice


Joined: 05 Jan 2004
Posts: 270
Location: ZZ9 Plural Z Alpha

PostPosted: Sun May 30, 2004 5:56 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Connect the serial cable to a dumb terminal, or Linux PC running minicom, or Wxxxxxs. box running hyperterminal,

I think you need to set the terminal to 9600 baud.

The OBP detects the keyboard if present to use the built in screen/keyboard, or if not found, Serial-A for a console.

To get to the OBP ok prompt to allow you to boot from CD you'll need to issue the equivalent of a Stop-A on the sun keyboard. - I seem to remember sending a line-break from the terminal will achieve this.

from the ok prompt you can then do a 'boot cdrom' to get the live-cd loaded, and you can then follow the install doc's
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DrFishstik
Tux's lil' helper
Tux's lil' helper


Joined: 05 Dec 2002
Posts: 85
Location: University Park, PA

PostPosted: Mon May 31, 2004 5:25 am    Post subject: Thanks! Reply with quote

Thanks for the quick reply, I'm going to set up minicom and see what I get.
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Jester20
n00b
n00b


Joined: 31 May 2004
Posts: 13

PostPosted: Mon May 31, 2004 7:30 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

The cable you need is a DB9F - DB25M Null Modem Cable. A standard serial cable will not work. I purchased one at http://www.stsi.com for about $10. or you can make one with parts from radioshack for about $7 + time + solder.
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