Question

Graphics card problem (PGX64 on Sun 420R)

Asked by: anokun7

I recently bought a Sun 420R server. I was told that the Video card had a problem. I got a PGX64 Sun (ATI Rage) graphics card and fitted that into its slot (the last PCI slot from the right).

I connected the cable from a working monitor and booted the server. I did not see any output - the monitor light kept on blinking - at least (I thought) I did not get the message that the serial cable is not connected, in the monitor. I do not think any OS is installed in the server - and I do not have the CD's to load any drivers. So should I have seen any output in my monitor - should there have been some change like the monitor waking up and showing the bios screen etc. None of those happened.

So I am not sure what could be wrong - where would one start to look for problems - is it the graphics card or some other hardware, I do not have another server compatible with the graphics card to check it out. So can somebody please help with where I should start looking for the problem.
Thanks!

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Asked On
2008-04-27 at 09:13:26ID23357081
Tags

Sun

,

PGX64 on 420R

Topics

Computer Servers

,

Sun Solaris

,

Video Cards

Participating Experts
3
Points
250
Comments
9

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Answers

 

by: omarfaridPosted on 2008-04-27 at 09:50:56ID: 21449634

If you have a laptop / pc you may try to connect (using hyper terminal) to the serial port (1st port or port A) of the machine and try to see the settings at the OK prompt:

check the values for the input-device and output-device.

From the OK prompt use printenv

to set these variables use

setenv input-device keyboard (or ttya for serial terminal)
setenv output-device screen (or ttya for serial terminal)

- Normally Sun will ship a console (serial) cable along with the m/c.

Some useful links for cables and pin assignment.

http://sunse.jinr.ru/local/modem/A-B-Ycablepinout.html
http://www.lammertbies.nl/comm/cable/RS-232.html
http://www.sunhelp.org/unix-serial-port-resources/serial-pinouts/
http://www.softpanorama.org/Solaris/Startup_and_shutdown/serial_console_on_solaris.shtml

 

by: arthurjbPosted on 2008-04-27 at 17:57:55ID: 21450961

A 420r will not talk to a video card if the operating system is not installed.

This page gives the initial set-up instructions using the serial port;
http://docs.sun.com/source/806-1086-11/qsetup_e.htm

You must use the serial port when first using the 420, until you get the os installed.

This page describes the installation of the PGX-64;
http://docs.sun.com/source/806-6548-10/806-6548-10-7.html

One big mistake that lots of folks make is to hook up the usb keyboard/mouse while trying to use the serial port.  Do not do that...

The PGX-64 instructions also show how to make the graphics card into the default terminal, but before you can do that, you must be able to talk to the machine through the serial port.

The links that omarfarid posted are good resources for serial port connections, but it is still a pain in the neck to get the serial port stuff working properly.  I keep an old vt100 in the closet just for talking to Sun servers, since that is the easiest solution.

Good Luck!

 

by: yuzhPosted on 2008-04-27 at 18:06:09ID: 21450974

a few things you can do:

option 1) remote login to your box as root (or su as root), cahnge the eeprom settings:
eeprom "input-device=keyboard"
eeprom "output-device=screen

shutdown the box the ok prompt, then type in:
boot -rv

or

option 2):
shutdown the system normally. Install Graphic card,  keyboard & mouse,
monitor.

power on the box, then type in: (need to do it fast!)

<Stop> N
to reset your NVRAM

at ok prompt, type in:

boot -rv

it will do the job for you.

or
option 3)

setenv input-device keyboard
setenv output-device screen
then type in
boot -rv

 

by: arthurjbPosted on 2008-04-27 at 20:16:15ID: 21451390

yuzh, your advice is good for installing a card in an operational server, but he said that there is no os loaded...

Reseting the NVRAM could be dangerous on an operational server if it is booting from a non-standard disk configuration.

 

by: yuzhPosted on 2008-04-27 at 22:24:50ID: 21451697

If you have no OS, you can do:
power on the box, then type in: (need to do it fast!)

<Stop> N
to reset your NVRAM

PS: hold down <Stop> N for 10 -20 seconds.

 

by: arthurjbPosted on 2008-04-28 at 19:47:01ID: 21459278

Will resetting the NVRAM make the newly installed graphic card into the default terminal?

I had not heard that before.

 

by: anokun7Posted on 2008-05-25 at 13:35:25ID: 21643593

I am sorry I could not reply sooner.

Thanks for the many responses. I am trying each option one by one. I started with connecting to the serial port. I read all the links and it looks possible and has a lot of useful info. I think they are all lacking in one basic information - what type of serial cable to use.

The server already has a serial (DB25) to RJ45 converter. So I tried connecting with a straight ethernet cable - I also tried using a cross cable. Should I still try a serial cable? In my laptop which is a thinkpad, I have a female VGA port and actually nothing else. I expected at least a female DB9 port. Am I completely misunderstanding what I am supposed to do as far as connecting the cables?

Thanks.

 

by: anokun7Posted on 2008-05-29 at 18:19:22ID: 21674603

Anybody - any help?

What would one do if there is no serial port on the laptop. Are there serial to usb cables available? or better serial to vga?

Thanks.

 

by: omarfaridPosted on 2008-05-29 at 18:28:55ID: 21674637

yes, if you laptop does not have serial port, you can get usb to serial (or serial to usb) cable.

you need to you null modem cable

20120131-EE-VQP-002

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