Sparcstation IPC and Debian Linux
Dave Houlker
I'm new to SUN hardware but I've "rescued" a Sparcstation IPC and would like
to install Linux on it. I know it's not a particularly fast or useful
machine but it is ideal for learning on.I have a Type 4 SUN keyboard and a
monitor of some description but no CD.
Sorry for the excessive length but here are the boot/power up messages(all
via Serial port A and Hyperterminal):
Starting real time clock...
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 Nothing there
Probing /sbus@1,f8000000 at 2,0 cgthree
Probing /sbus@1,f8000000 at 3,0 bwtwo
Can't open input device.
SPARCstation IPC, No Keyboard
ROM Rev. 2.4, 24 MB memory installed, Serial #16777215.
Ethernet address ff:ff:ff:ff:ff:ff, Host ID: ffffffff.
The IDPROM contents are invalid
Testing
Testing audio chip; listen for a beep
Synchronous Error Reg Test
Synchronous Virtual Address Reg Test
Asynchronous Error Reg Test
Asynchronous Virtual Address Reg Test
System Enable Reg Test
Testing 24 megs of memory. Still to go
Cache Tag Memory Test
Cache Data Memory Test
SBus slot 0 le esp dma
SBus slot 1
SBus slot 2 cgthree
SBus slot 3 bwtwo
Boot device: /sbus/le@0,c00000 File and args:
Internal loopback test --
Did not receive expected loopback packet.
Can't open boot device
Type b (boot), c (continue), or n (new command mode)
>n
Type help for more information
ok printenv
Parameter Name Value Default Value
selftest-#megs 1
oem-logo
oem-logo? false false
oem-banner
oem-banner? false false
output-device screen screen
input-device keyboard keyboard
sbus-probe-list 0123 0123
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,-
fcode-debug? false false
diag-file
diag-device net net
boot-file
More [<space>,<cr>,q] ?
boot-device disk disk
auto-boot? true true
watchdog-reboot? false false
local-mac-address? false false
use-nvramrc? false false
nvramrc
screen-#columns 80 80
screen-#rows 34 34
sunmon-compat? true true
security-mode none none
security-password
security-#badlogins 0
scsi-initiator-id 7 7
version2? true true
hardware-revision
last-hardware-update
testarea 0 0
mfg-switch? false false
diag-switch? true false
ok probe-scsi
Target 3
Unit 0 Disk MAXTOR LXT-213S SUN02074.26
ok boot floppy
Boot device: /fd File and args:
Can't read disk label.
Can't open Sun disk label package
Can't open boot device
ok
I'm not too worried about the IDPROM and NVRAM messages I've got info about
that.
My questions are:
1. Is the floppy drive OK? It was trying to boot from a disk image(Debian
rescue disk) written using "rawrite3.exe" on WinME
2. Assuming the floppy is dead is there any way of booting from a serial
terminal?
3. If everything was OK could the system handle a 2Gb HDD?
Many thanks for any help/pointers
Dave Houlker
Ben
%Check out http://compsyscon.com.
%They're reasonable.
Very reasonable indeed for the low-end machines!
Ben
LFessen106
>I'm not too worried about the IDPROM and NVRAM messages I've got info about
>that.
>My questions are:
>1. Is the floppy drive OK? It was trying to boot from a disk image(Debian
>rescue disk) written using "rawrite3.exe" on WinME
Probably needs to be cleaned really bad, and then it may not work anyway...
(OOOold)
>2. Assuming the floppy is dead is there any way of booting from a serial
>terminal?
Yes, but you already have a KB and monitor - You don't need to.
>3. If everything was OK could the system handle a 2Gb HDD?
Yes. Many scsi devices/drives will work just fine w/ this hardware. Your best
bet, however, is to pick up an old scsi cdrom and install Linux from bootable
cdrom. Make sure the cdrom you find uses 512byte sectoring, and you're ready
to go.
I never tried this personally on an IPC, so someone might correct me, however,
I have done this exact same process on an IPX, Sparcstation 1, Sparcstation 2,
Sparcstation 10, and a Sparcstation 20 with almost no problems. With the sparc
1 I actually had to install Linux on the hard drive while it was in my Sparc 2
and then simply move the drive into the Sparc 1. For some reason it didn't
want to boot from my cdrom OR the floppy. In all instances I used RedHat 6.2
which is exactly what I recommed for Linux-Sparc. The only real problem you
may have is that pesky prom failure. I have hear tell that you can buy
replacements for around $20 here and there, but in reality, you can get a whole
IPX with a good prom for around that price. Check out http://compsyscon.com.
They're reasonable.
-Linc Fessenden
Dave Houlker
think of cleaning the drive!)
I actually want to use the serial terminal to save space on my desk, and add
to the challenge!
I'll be having a good go at it over the Christmas holidays though.
Regards
Dave Houlker