SunPCI 1.3 just returning a blank window
Tim
I've just bought I SunPCI i card off e-bay for my Ultra10. I
initially installed SunPCi v1.3 (downloaded from sun.com) of the
software under Solaris 9 (with a little bodging for the drivers).
Although the software appears to load and I created a 2GB virtual
disk, the software does not appear to be functioning as I expected.
I have a screen titled SunPCi, it contains a File, Options and Help
menu. Although all three work, the main window displays nothing.
I've attempted to reattach various created HD images, but still no
joy. I've rebuilt my workstation with Solaris 8 (02/02), but the same
again.
I've performed a BIOS update on the SunPCi card, updating to v0.59 (I
think), the Ultra10 OBP is at 3.11.9 (1998/03/06). prtconf shows
pci108e,5043, instance #0 (but no sub devices under it). Nothing of
interest appears to show up in the messages, just standard looking
entries for sunpcidrv0.
From what I read in the online manuals, I think I should have a DOS
prompt within the main Window. Am I missing a simple integral step?
Any suggestions for trouble shooting this card?
Thanks,
Tim
tpb100*NOSPAM*@ntlworld.com
Please delete the *NOSPAM* from the e-mail address above if you wish
to reply via e-mail. Thanks.
Ronald van Zantvoort
The card needs to switch on, apparently. You should first see a *sort
of* standard BIOS/CMOS/POST screen like you are used to from Intel PC's.
After that the OS should kick in.
So, you have a problem before that.
I can think of three things
either your commandline is incorrect (/opt/SUNWspci2/bin), or it is
already running in a VNC (in a Boot@Boot configuration it should run in
a VNC at display #10, you can find a VNCviewer in /opt/SUNWspci2/bin as
well)
your PCI slot is not initializing
your BIOS update went wrong (/opt/SUNWspci2/bios)
Ronald van Zantvoort
Or you just haven't waited long enough (it can take up to 30 seconds for
the card to come up)
Michael Laajanen
Tim wrote:
> Hi,
>
> I've just bought I SunPCI i card off e-bay for my Ultra10. I
> initially installed SunPCi v1.3 (downloaded from sun.com) of the
> software under Solaris 9 (with a little bodging for the drivers).
I did a upgrade from Solaris 8 to 9 due to I did not manage to do the
"little bodging for the drivers" :) how did you do that?
/michael
Alex Moore
SunPCI is not officially supported on Solaris 9. However, I use it every
day without a problem. Go to the drivers/solaris directory that you
installed the software and copy sunpcidrv.280.* to sunpcidrv.290.*
You may also need to add the following to ~/pc/SunPC.ini
[Display]
OldText
Alex Moore
Michael Laajanen
install then the upgrade and failed. I must have done something stupid
so I will give a new try for sure.
I will try to get back to you if I fail again :)
/michael
Tim
I installed the SunPCI 1.3 package, the post script failed. Copy the
v8 driver files in /opt/SUNWspci/drivers/solaris folder to v9 format.
Removed the package using pkgrm (which leaves the new copied files),
then added the package again. The post install appears to work now,
and the drivers appear to work (but I still get this blank window).
Tim
Thanks for the tip, but still no joy (even under Solaris 8).
Tim
Tim
The card is a SunPCi 1, so I'm not sure if the VNC software makes any
difference. I tried to connect from my linux box using the standard
vncviewer ultra10:10 command, but no luck (it's a little too late to
try downloading and installing the sun version).
How would I tell if the PCI solot is not initializing? The card kind
of appears in dmesg and prtconf, but since I've never used one before,
I don't know if all of the drivers are loading correctly. A SCSI card
was using the same PCI slot without any issues before installing the
SunPCi card. I've also tried moving slots (just incase it's seated
wrong), and I've also tried plugging a monitor directly into the card
after running the /opt/SUNWspci/bin/sunpci binary. The card didn't
come with any of the optional add ons, e.g. serial card but I don't
think this should cause any issues.
As a last resort, I'll see if the processor and RAM working in another
box (not sure if I'll find anything that old) before calling it quits.
Any more suggestions?
Tim
Alex Moore
> Thanks for the tip, but still no joy (even under Solaris 8).
>
> Tim
What screen resolution are you using? I remember having a blank screen
occasionally in SunPCI's startup window after I started running Gnome.
Then I happened to find, from the help of this newsgroup, that I was
running 8-bit color (or something like that). Since changing the X window
setup to use 'defclass TrueColor defdepth 24', the SunPCI startup screen
is never blank. Have you tried xwininfo?
Alex Moore
Ronald van Zantvoort
> The card is a SunPCi 1, so I'm not sure if the VNC software makes any
> difference.
/opt/SUNWspci/bin/),
so you should have an vncviewer there
(and a vnc, a vncserver, a Xvnc and a VNCStartup script. These are for
the Boot@Boot config, in which the consoles are sent to a VNC display
(10) in the system at boottime. I'm not even sure if you would be able
to access that from the network, since Sun did some things to the VNC
server, but I do know you are not able to open an SunPCI window directly
if it is already running somewhere else.).
> Any more suggestions?
Did you already try to revert to standard issue BIOS.bin / CMOS.bin?
I know this sounds really corny and you've probably tried it, but it can
take up to 30 seconds for a SunPCI ProII to initialize (even begin with
giving output, after this the BIOS/CMOS starts kicking in...) on a Sun
Fire 280R, so maybe you just try & wait a little?
I'm afraid that's it for now... :-( sorry dude...
Ronald van Zantvoort
Tim
Thanks for your help all, but still no joy. I've tried the following:
- Solaris 9
- Solaris 8 (02/02)
- 8 and 24 bit colour depth
- different memory
- a different processor but couldn't find settings for 2.9V on JP5.
However drivers would not load at all with an incorrect processor.
- Replaced BIOS battery
- different memory (only have PC100 256MB sticks, which may not be
compatible with this card)
- PC Launcher software
- exporting the display to vga monitor sunpci -vga (nothing), and to
another workstation suncpi -display linux:0.0
- waiting for more than 30 seconds for a BIOS screen
- the Display setting in SunPC.ini file (can't remember the setting
off the top of my head)
- didn't try the VNC fully, as the SunPCi 1 cards don't make any
reference to VNC in their manuals/software, will try when I get some
time.
- trapping my fingers in a door to see if it's more fun ;)
The person I bought the card from states he doesn't know if the card
works or not (and so the game begins). My guess is, it didn't survive
the trip over the pond. Thanks again
Tim
Michael Laajanen
> Alex Moore <asm...@no-spam-edge.net> wrote in message news:<pan.2003.10.30....@no-spam-edge.net>...
>
>>On Wed, 29 Oct 2003 14:48:36 -0800, Tim wrote:
>>
>>>Thanks for the tip, but still no joy (even under Solaris 8).
>>>
>>>Tim
>>
>>What screen resolution are you using? I remember having a blank screen
>>occasionally in SunPCI's startup window after I started running Gnome.
>>Then I happened to find, from the help of this newsgroup, that I was
>>running 8-bit color (or something like that). Since changing the X window
>>setup to use 'defclass TrueColor defdepth 24', the SunPCI startup screen
>>is never blank. Have you tried xwininfo?
>>
>>Alex Moore
>
>
> Thanks for your help all, but still no joy. I've tried the following:
>
> - Solaris 9
> - Solaris 8 (02/02)
> - 8 and 24 bit colour depth
> - different memory
> - a different processor but couldn't find settings for 2.9V on JP5.
> However drivers would not load at all with an incorrect processor.
> - Replaced BIOS battery
> - different memory (only have PC100 256MB sticks, which may not be
> compatible with this card)
I used the original 128MB from a Blade 100 on my PC board, works great
but I had to first install 8 02/02 then after everything work fine I
upgraded to 9 and had to fix the old text thing.
I will however try a clean 9 install later, but last time it failed.
/michael
Robert Pouliot
320MB.
--
Never argue with a fool -- people might not be able to tell the difference.
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Justin
PCI card when I tried to display it on the desktop without the -vga
option. And low and behold you answered my questions below. Thank you!!!
Justin
Tim
It's been a few days since my last attempt to get this card working
(the missus wanting quality time...). I've just performed a OBP
update to the latest version. I sit here only a few minutes after the
event in a kind of deathly cold sweat. I'm not big on hardware flash
updates, they usually have only two outcomes: it works, or ŁŁŁ/$$$.
Fair enough, the update was easy and went without a hitch, and to the
best of my knowledge I've only known one flash update to fail.
However, this was a unique situation where a friend updated his BIOS
upon my suggestion, when having issues detecting the full size of his
new HD. Unfortunately, this not so tech savvy individual updated his
BIOS with a MS Word document. I guess uncle Bill is responsible for
more than we could possibly accredit for ;)
In my defense me lud', I did say I would perform the BIOS update
myself. But, a lot can happen in an hours travel time.
Anyway, didn't work. I'll borrow some memory off work and try out a
128MB stick. I think it time to start trawling e-bay again...
Tim