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verruckt
Apprentice
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Joined: 22 Sep 2003
Posts: 169
Location: missing Hörvelsingen...

PostPosted: Tue Nov 25, 2003 9:17 pm    Post subject: IPX complications Reply with quote

Hey guys. After reading of Blazik's endeavor into an IPX, I decided to give it a shot. Im running into some problems though, here is what im getting. Everything is there hardware wise, though it does have a larger hdd (4.5gb). It also has an ethernet card in it as well. As far as I can tell these are the only deviations from a stock IPX. While booting, it takes a full 30-40 seconds for a video signal to get to the monitor. I do have a 13w3-vga adaptor though, so that _might_ be the cause but im not sure. Anyway, I am not able to boot from the hdd, though id prefer to wipe it, and put a fresh os on it. I have a bootable image on floppy and an ethernet cable plugged in. It should be getting an address from my dhcp server.

That all aside, here is what im getting on my OBP screen:

Code:

Incorrect configuration checksum;
Setting NVRAM parameters to default values.
Setting diag-switch? NVRAM parameter to true
Probing /sbus@1, f8000000 at 0.0 dma esp sd st le
Probing /sbus@1, f8000000 at 1,0 SUNW,hme SUNW, fas
Can't clear FAS interrupts: Check SCSI Term. Power fuse.

Can't clear FAS interrupts: Check SCSI Term. Power fuse.
sd st
Probing /sbus@1, f8000000 at 2,0 Nothing there
Probing /sbus@1, f8000000 at 3,0 cgsix

Sparcstation IPX, Keyboard present
Rom Rev. 2.6, 64 mb memory installed, Serial #16777215
Ethernet address ff:ff:ff:ff:ff:ff, Host ID: ffffffff

The IDPROM contents are invalid
Testing 64 megs of memory 34
Type b (boot), c (continue), or n (new command mode)
>boot floppy
Boot device: /sbus/le@0,c00000  File and args: oot floppy
Internal loopback test -- Did not receive expected loopback packet.
Can't open boot device

Type b (boot), c (continue), or n (new command mode)
>


Now, if my memory serves me. I once read some info about the OBP interpreting a bogus address for some reason? Can't remember what exactly the cause was, but it was common with older sparcs. And also, I get this same error every time i boot. Im not real good in the OBP, but will the floppy image not boot because of not being able to get the IP address? I can't really make any sense of all this.
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verruckt
Apprentice
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Joined: 22 Sep 2003
Posts: 169
Location: missing Hörvelsingen...

PostPosted: Tue Nov 25, 2003 9:27 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Did some googling...

Found this nice link on NVRAM chips.
http://www.obsolyte.com/sunFAQ/faq_nvram.html
Guess ill order a new chip for it, unless anyone has some suggestions. :cry:
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vtaoe
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Joined: 16 Aug 2002
Posts: 25
Location: Pensacola, FL, US

PostPosted: Tue Nov 25, 2003 9:58 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Read the NVRAM FAQ at that link closely. Your chip battery might not be toast, it might just need reinitializing. I had to do this to an Ultra 10 I bought used because it had a PROM password set and I couldn't change anything. I booted up whilst holding STOP-N to zeroize the NVRAM contents, and the resulting messages were very similar to what you are reporting. I was then able to, following the instructions in that FAQ, re-program the NVRAM to an operable status. (You need to get the ethernet address off the little yellow sticker on the NVRAM chip before you begin.) Only if you reprogram it and then it forgets who it is after being turned off for awhile, or if the system clock drifts while it's off do you need a new NVRAM chip. Try re-programming it first, though.
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verruckt
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Joined: 22 Sep 2003
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Location: missing Hörvelsingen...

PostPosted: Wed Nov 26, 2003 1:52 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

Ok, well, i'll give that a try first then. Might as well save $20 if i can. :lol:
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vtaoe
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Joined: 16 Aug 2002
Posts: 25
Location: Pensacola, FL, US

PostPosted: Wed Nov 26, 2003 2:52 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

I'm glad I did. I had actually ordered the chip from Mouser and cancelled it the next morning after I got everything working okay. I (against my better judgment, but that never stops me) followed some advice I read on the Net and tried to bypass the PROM password by turning the machine on with the NVRAM removed and then re-inserting it with the power on. That, ummm, didn't work, but I was certain the NVRAM was fried. However, much to my surprise, booting with STOP-N reset it, and all I had to do was follow the steps to re-initialize it. It's pretty easy, actually.
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bazik
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Joined: 22 Jul 2002
Posts: 277
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PostPosted: Wed Nov 26, 2003 10:12 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

My IPX still has a full NVRam battery :)

I also put a 4.5 GB scsi disk in it. Only problem was that I couldnt get a 50pin disk and with a 50 -> 68 adapter it was too large to fit in the IPX.

Well, after some metal work I built myself a nice disk bracket:

http://dev.gentoo.org/~bazik/misc/dscn0872.jpg
http://dev.gentoo.org/~bazik/misc/dscn0873.jpg
http://dev.gentoo.org/~bazik/misc/dscn0874.jpg

:lol:

Oh and I dont get a signal from the onboard cg6 at all. It might be dead but I had a spare TurboXGX which works just fine (using 13w3 adapter and AUI -> 10baseT adapter on the IPX).
_________________
Gentoo Linux/Sparc Developer
http://dev.gentoo.org/~bazik/
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verruckt
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Joined: 22 Sep 2003
Posts: 169
Location: missing Hörvelsingen...

PostPosted: Wed Nov 26, 2003 3:59 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

bazik wrote:
My IPX still has a full NVRam battery :)
Oh and I dont get a signal from the onboard cg6 at all. It might be dead but I had a spare TurboXGX which works just fine (using 13w3 adapter and AUI -> 10baseT adapter on the IPX).


My video signal is fine, though I cant figure out why its delayed like it is. Im no Sparc expert, but all the ones ive been around all produce video on a monitor much faster than that. :?
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verruckt
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Joined: 22 Sep 2003
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Location: missing Hörvelsingen...

PostPosted: Wed Nov 26, 2003 4:10 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Ok, i'm making a little progress here...

running stop+n seems to have kicked it into action a little.

Code:

The IDPROM contents are invalid

SBus slot 0 le esp dma
SBUS slot 1 SUNW, fas SUNW, hme
SBus slot 2
SBus slot 3 cgsix

Boot device: /sbus/esp@0,800000/sd@3,0  File and args:
SCSI device 3,0 is not responding
Can't open boot device

Type b (boot), c (continue), or n (new command)


At this point i just typed 'n' and got back to the 'ok' prompt

Code:

ok boot floppy
Boot device: /fd File and args:
SILO boot:
Uncompressiong image...


Whoopee! Success???
and then this...

Code:

Uncompressing image...
IDPROM: Unknown format type!
Program terminated
ok


:cry:

Now what on earth could be up with the hdd? I know that it previously worked fine in a sparc 20, and should still have aurora linux on it. Oh well, ill keep playing with it.
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