MY QUESTION:
> After testing that a serial line on a SPARC could successfully "tip" to
> another machine, I moved the line to an AXPpci 33 machine (OSF/1 v3.2),
> did ">>> set console serial", and ">>> init", and power cyled the machine.
> After seeing no terminal output from either serial port, and observing only a
> motionless cursor in the lower left hand corner of the AXP's still attached
> monitor, I turned it off, disconnected the keyboard, and monitor, and turned it
> back on. Still nothing. Now it seems like I've LOST the SRM console and can
> do nothing -- think the system was configured so that it does not automatically
> boot. Any ideas? Thanks.
SUMMARY OF REPLIES:
"David Warren warren_at_atmos.washington.edu" suggested using a null modem cable.
"Selden E Ball Jr SEB_at_lns62.lns.cornell.edu" suggested making sure that the
terminal was correctly configured (9600 baud, 8 bits, no parity), checking
the cabling (null modem?), typing at the keyboard even if no output was
appearing on the console.
"Norman Wilson <norman_at_hprc.utoronto.ca>" suggested checking the baudrate,
trying to use null modem, and removing the graphics card.
"Dr. Tom Blinn <tpb_at_zk3.dec.com>" wrote:
>Trevor, I checked with a colleague who works with the AXPPCI 33 boards a
>lot.
>
>He says that if you haven't really broken something, you should be able to
>just re-connect the keyboard and monitor and that when you press return on
>the keyboard, you should be able to get the >>> console prompt back and then
>issue a "set console graphics" to get your graphics console working again.
>
>The serial console is supposed to work, but you could be connected to the
>wrong serial port (if there is more than one, I don't have a board in front
>of me to check), or be using a bad adapter.
>
>If the inside connections are proper, you should be able to get a serial
>port console >>> prompt even with graphics console selected and the keyboard
>and the monitor present. If you can't get that to happen through the serial
>(tip) line, then something is hooked up wrong.
>
>The 9-pin-to-phone connector is H8571-J REV There is another one which
>looks just like it but it will NOT WORK!
>
>Also, be sure you have a null modem connection between the SPARC system and
>the AXPPCI 33. The AXPPCI 33 looks like terminal equipment and expects to
>be connected to another terminal through a null modem. Depending on how the
>other systems are set up, they may look like terminal equipment (DTE) or
>like data communications equipment (DCE), and it matters. I'm assuming you
>are familiar with this already, but it rarely hurts to check the obvious.
CONCLUSION:
Using the correct baudrate, parity, and a null modem cable were
essential, however, the serial console only worked when the board was
configured (using jumpers) to boot from using firmware from loader
floppy. I reloaded the firmware, switched back the jumper, rebooted and
got a working serial console...
Thanks everyone.
/tdm
Received on Tue Jan 02 1996 - 21:59:21 NZDT