[dstep]

I have tried to use GM3B board's serial port with serial cable which I used to connect 9 pin tty(0) console from my PC. With console the cable works fine (PROM, login, etc...), with GM3B board's serial port it does not display anything. The cable hardware - RX, TX and GND pins only soldered. Soft - 9600/8/N/1.

Can anybody help?

Best wishes
Dmitri

[jan-jaap]

I have tried to use GM3B board's serial port with serial cable which I used to connect 9 pin tty(0) console from my PC. With console the cable works fine (PROM, login, etc...), with GM3B board's serial port it does not display anything. The cable hardware - RX, TX and GND pins only soldered. Soft - 9600/8/N/1.

Hmmm. The DE9 serial port on the GM3B uses the same pinout as the regular console port on the system. This pinout is not what a PC uses but you already know this if you can see prom output.

I've played with the GM monitor myself but it's years ago. I'm pretty sure it gives some diagnostics output when you power up the system, and then presents a menu where you can manipulate memory and registers. I think there's even an 68K debugger included.

My console cable for the old IRISes has the flow control signals wired but I have no idea if you need that. 9600/n/8/1 sounds right.

[dstep]

I have tried to use GM3B board's serial port with serial cable which I used to connect 9 pin tty(0) console from my PC. With console the cable works fine (PROM, login, etc...), with GM3B board's serial port it does not display anything. The cable hardware - RX, TX and GND pins only soldered. Soft - 9600/8/N/1.

Hmmm. The DE9 serial port on the GM3B uses the same pinout as the regular console port on the system. This pinout is not what a PC uses but you already know this if you can see prom output.

I've played with the GM monitor myself but it's years ago. I'm pretty sure it gives some diagnostics output when you power up the system, and then presents a menu where you can manipulate memory and registers. I think there's even an 68K debugger included.

My console cable for the old IRISes has the flow control signals wired but I have no idea if you need that. 9600/n/8/1 sounds right.

Thank you for answer
Which ones RTS, CTS, DCD, DTR?
Do you connect the cable to PC?

[jan-jaap]

Which ones RTS, CTS, DCD, DTR?
Do you connect the cable to PC?

Try man(7) serial on an IRIX old enough to support the PowerSeries or Crimson, e.g. everything up to 6.2:

Code:

    There are four different types of connectors found on various 4D models.
    The DB-9 serial port connectors, which are found on the Challenge, Onyx,
    Personal Iris, and PowerSeries machines,  have the following pin
    assignments.

                                -------------------
                                \  5  4  3  2  1  /
                                 \  9  8  7  6   /
                                  ---------------

                        __________________________________
                        |Pin_|_Name_|_Description_________|
                        | 2  | TD   | Transmit Data       |
                        | 3  | RD   | Receive Data        |
                        | 4  | RTS  | Request To Send     |
                        | 5  | CTS  | Clear To Send       |
                        | 7  | SG   | Signal Ground       |
                        | 8  | DCD  | Data Carrier Detect |
                        | 9  | DTR  | Data Terminal Ready |
                        |____|______|_____________________|

Or http://www.sgistuff.net/mirrors/4dfaq/in...erialports

This is just the meaning of the pins on the side of the IRIS, the generic instructions for making a NULL modem cable apply (e.g. TX <-> RX, RTS <-> CTS etc). I made such a cable (IRIS 4D <-> IBM DB9) many years ago, have been using it with a real PC when they still had serial ports and with USB COM port dongles on PC and MacBook.

If all else fails I can open my cable and see if it has full, partial or no handshaking. My guess would be full handshaking.

[dstep]

I have made a cable like
http://www.sgistuff.net/mirrors/4dfaq/in...erialports
but adapted for DB9, and it works now for VGXT serial connector.

Thank you

[CB_HK]

I have made a cable like
http://www.sgistuff.net/mirrors/4dfaq/in...erialports
but adapted for DB9, and it works now for VGXT serial connector.

Thank you

dstep, could you post the on/off configuration of your RM lights? A picture would work perfectly too. I’m back to troubleshooting my VGXT board set and I’m convinced the boards are most likely working correctly but want to be sure. Thanks!

Glad you got your cable setup squared away!

[jan-jaap]

I have made a cable like
http://www.sgistuff.net/mirrors/4dfaq/in...erialports
but adapted for DB9, and it works now for VGXT serial connector.

Thank you

dstep, could you post the on/off configuration of your RM lights? A picture would work perfectly too. I’m back to troubleshooting my VGXT board set and I’m convinced the boards are most likely working correctly but want to be sure. Thanks!

Glad you got your cable setup squared away!

Here's a blinkenlights party photo of my 4D/380 VGX. I don't think the LEDs on a VGXT are any different. IIRC the top LED on the RM's is lit, the 2nd off, the 3rd blinking and the rest lit. Something tells me that most of the LEDs reflect the status of Image Engines -- there are 20 on each RM I believe.

Unfortunately I can't start the monster right now because I'm redoing the wiring to the 19" rack sitting right next to it. The place is a mess and the 4D/380 is disconnected.

If the system is running either IRIX 5.3 or 6.2 I have diagnostics for the big iron graphics. That might help, assuming the pipe is detected and doesn't crash the system at boot.

[dstep]

I have made a cable like
http://www.sgistuff.net/mirrors/4dfaq/in...erialports
but adapted for DB9, and it works now for VGXT serial connector.

Thank you

dstep, could you post the on/off configuration of your RM lights? A picture would work perfectly too. I’m back to troubleshooting my VGXT board set and I’m convinced the boards are most likely working correctly but want to be sure. Thanks!

Glad you got your cable setup squared away!

Hello

I have made some pictures and video of mine system with VGXT (one CPU board id disconnected). Also I have trouble with VGXT it displays only at boot stage. VGXT says - checksum error. I will start a new thread for it.



PS I tried to add a video but unsuccessfully. I can send the video to you some other way, if you interested.

---

By the way I "fixed" all the system which did not start at all by pushing every IC in its bed to improve electrical connection (be carefull, I used big antistatic mat). Also this method helped me to remove "garbage" on display.

[jan-jaap]

Hey, another Predator rack! Don't see many of those around.

Any idea about it's history? Mine was originally owned by the Fraunhofer-Arbeitsgruppe für Graphische Datenverarbeitung in Darmstadt, Germany (FhG-AGD, now Fraunhofer-IGD). Mine is the system in the article below:

[CB_HK]

Awesome! Thank you both for the photos!

jan-jaap, I think I still have the diagnostics you sent me a while back. I'm going to dig them out shortly to run.

As an aside, I'm missing almost all the screws that hold the front board connectors in place. The connectors are definitely snug, but I'm wondering if I need to source replacement screws. The old USENET posts make mention of any loose connections being a cause for errors and boards not working correctly. Any thoughts?