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Correct PROM settings for Personal IRIS IP6... - Printable Version

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Correct PROM settings for Personal IRIS IP6... - mapesdhs - 06-12-2019

Hi all! Anyone know what the right PROM settings are for an IP6 Personal IRIS? After poweron (normal diags passed ok via serial console) the system tries to start but then just beeps and ends up at the PROM menu.

Atm the settings are as follows:

Code:
netaddr=192.168.100.55
dbaud=9600
rbaud=1200
bootfile=dksc(0,1,8)sash
path=dksc(0,1,8)
root=dks0d1s0
keybd=df
console=G
bootmode=m
gfx=alive


In Command Monitor, if I just enter "boot" then it goes into sash ok. At this point I notice via printenv that "path" is now:

Code:
Code:
path=dksc(0,1,8) dksc(0,1,0)

And if I now enter "unix" then it boots IRIX just fine (4.0.5). So manually it works ok, but the current settings are wrong somehow to enable automatic booting. Thoughts anyone?

Here's the system working btw (hinv is slightly out of date as it now has 12MB RAM, though I need to find another 4MB kit; email/PM if you have such a kit available):  


[Image: P1160535s.jpg]

Cheers! Smile

Ian.


RE: Correct PROM settings for Personal IRIS IP6... - johnnym - 06-12-2019

Hi Ian,

(06-12-2019, 10:35 AM)mapesdhs Wrote:  Hi all! Anyone know what the right PROM settings are for an IP6 Personal IRIS? After poweron (normal diags passed ok via serial console) the system tries to start but then just beeps and ends up at the PROM menu.

Atm the settings are as follows:

Code:
netaddr=192.168.100.55
dbaud=9600
rbaud=1200
bootfile=dksc(0,1,8)sash
path=dksc(0,1,8)
root=dks0d1s0
keybd=df
console=G
bootmode=m
gfx=alive


In Command Monitor, if I just enter "boot" then it goes into sash ok. At this point I notice via printenv that "path" is now:

Code:
Code:
path=dksc(0,1,8) dksc(0,1,0)

And if I now enter "unix" then it boots IRIX just fine (4.0.5). So manually it works ok, but the current settings are wrong somehow to enable automatic booting. Thoughts anyone?

I don't remember if my Indigo R3000 (thankfully passed over to me by dexter1 Smile ) automatically booted, but I used the auto command instead of boot from the PROM monitor to boot the OS. The "IRIX Advanced Site and Server Administration Guide" gives some info about what it does. I currently don't have the machine at hand, but I have a copy of the environment available and there I have used c for bootmode. Maybe the latter actually does the trick to automatically boot into the OS after startup:

From "IRIX Admin: System Configuration and Operation"
Code:
bootmode

Specifies the type of boot in pre-ARCS PROMs. ARCS PROMs store this information in the AutoLoad variable. The options have these meanings:

c performs a complete cold autoboot, using the file pointed to by the bootfile variable to boot the kernel; boots sash, then boots kernel; and runs power-on diagnostics.

m (default) goes straight to the command monitor, clears memory, and runs power-on diagnostics.

d goes straight to the command monitor, does not clear memory and does not run power-on diagnostics.



RE: Correct PROM settings for Personal IRIS IP6... - mapesdhs - 07-02-2019

Thanks! I did have c before, changed it to m on advice but it made no difference.

However, I finally worked out what was going on, though it was done with an R3K Indigo that had the same problem. Far as I can tell, the version of fx used by the 5.3/XFS boot CD to prepare a disk creates a disk label which is not compatible with the IRIX fx/mkfs that are present after the patch set is installed. It's complicated, but what I kept finding was that a disk with fully updated 5.3/XFS could not create a clone disk via xfsdump/xfsrestore that could boot; I realised though that the disks I was working with had all already been accessed before, so when I finally tried it with a completely fresh disk (so then IRIX fx created the disk label), then at least the clone worked, it could autoboot ok.

Ian.


RE: Correct PROM settings for Personal IRIS IP6... - arhiman57 - 07-02-2019

Any project in mind for this lovely machine ?

I remember to have made a photo off the prom settings on my 4d/20 (need to find where), but i'm happy it's working again Smile


RE: Correct PROM settings for Personal IRIS IP6... - mapesdhs - 07-02-2019

A company in Israel bought the system. They received it but the Customs or couriers damaged the mbd/gfx assembly, so that's being sent back to me for repair.

I do have another PI, but it'll just be for parts testing.

Ian.


RE: Correct PROM settings for Personal IRIS IP6... - arhiman57 - 07-02-2019

Great to hear that a PI is in production use in 2019. It's a shame that it was damaged, because you're packaging are always nukeproof...Here the PROM of mine, the 4D/25, not the 4D/20, autoboot on 3.3