[Raion]

Trying to install IRIX to my Challenge S units, using a SCA to 50 Pin adapter to use a modern HDD. Unfortunately every drive I try, after repartitioning gets:

swap partition (0) is not a valid swap area.

From Option 2. My env 

I am not of the belief that this indicates an invalid HDD, but I've tried everything from running every "Exercise" routine, "auto" etc. in the FX partitioner. I do not have an SGI or other SCSI system I can format them with at this time, as the Tezro is apart for a PSU replacement. 

So if there's anything I can do from sash to fix this let me know:

>> printenv
AutoLoad=Yes
TimeZone=EST5EDT
console=d
diskless=0
dbaud=9600
volume=80
sgilogo=y
autopower=y
netaddr=192.0.2.1
eaddr=08:00:69:0a:34:09
ConsoleOut=serial(0)
ConsoleIn=serial(0)
cpufreq=150
SystemPartition=scsi(0)cdrom(3)rdisk(0)partition(8)
OSLoadPartition=scsi(0)cdrom(3)rdisk(0)partition(0)
OSLoadFilename=
OSLoader=sash

That's my current ENV. I'm using CD currently as I don't have an AUI transceiver handy to try that.

[Jacques]

Stupid questions, I assume Irix 6.5?

Also, did you run fx with the --x option?

And, did you do /r/ro create root partition and also r/re repartition for swap space? remember to write out the label and sy sync the partition tables?

[Raion]

Yes, I don't run 6.2 or 5.3 period, and yes. I know enough about FX to know that.

----- partitions-----
part type blocks Megabytes (base+size)
0: xfs 266240 + 35577430 130 + 17372
1: raw 4096 + 262144 2 + 128
8: volhdr 0 + 4096 0 + 2
10: volume 0 + 35843670 0 + 17502

capacity is 35843670 blocks

----- please choose one (? for help, .. to quit this menu)-----
[ro]otdrive [o]ptiondrive [e]xpert
[u]srrootdrive [re]size
fx/repartition> ro

fx/repartition/rootdrive: type of data partition = (xfs)
Warning: you will need to re-install all software and restore user data
from backups after changing the partition layout. Changing partitions
will cause all data on the drive to be lost. Be sure you have the drive
backed up if it contains any user data. Continue? yes

----- partitions-----
part type blocks Megabytes (base+size)
0: xfs 266240 + 35577430 130 + 17372
1: raw 4096 + 262144 2 + 128
8: volhdr 0 + 4096 0 + 2
10: volume 0 + 35843670 0 + 17502

capacity is 35843670 blocks

----- please choose one (? for help, .. to quit this menu)-----
[ro]otdrive [o]ptiondrive [e]xpert
[u]srrootdrive [re]size
fx/repartition> ..

----- please choose one (? for help, .. to quit this menu)-----
[exi]t [d]ebug/ [l]abel/ [a]uto
[b]adblock/ [exe]rcise/ [r]epartition/
fx> l

----- please choose one (? for help, .. to quit this menu)-----
[sh]ow/ [sy]nc [se]t/ [c]reate/
fx/label> sy

writing label info to dksc(0,4,0)

----- please choose one (? for help, .. to quit this menu)-----
[sh]ow/ [sy]nc [se]t/ [c]reate/
fx/label> /exit

[dexter1]

FWIW, this is the nvram of my Challenge S currently up and running:

Code:

cyane:/home/frank> nvram
dbaud=9600
tapedevice=
root=dks0d1s0
swap=
dumpdev=
showconfig=isfalse
initfile=
initstate=
swaplo=
nswap=
sync_on_green=
console=d
gfx=
keybd=
nogfxkbd=
cpufreq=175
monitor=
pagecolor=
screencolor=
logocolor=
diskless=0
srvaddr=
netaddr=192.168.0.2
diagmode=
hostname=
dlserver=
dlgate=
dlif=
dllogin=
maxpmem=
debug_bigmem=
eaddr=08:00:69:09:a4:81
rdebug=
dbgmon=
nodbgmon=
scsiretries=
volume=80
scsi_syncenable=
SystemPartition=scsi(0)disk(1)rdisk(0)partition(8)
OSLoadPartition=scsi(0)disk(1)rdisk(0)partition(0)
OSLoader=sash
OSLoadFilename=/unix
OSLoadOptions=auto
AutoLoad=Y
sgilogo=y
rbaud=
passwd_key=
rebound=
scsihostid=
scsihostid=
prompoweroff=
triton_invall=
pci_no_auto=
mrmode=
mrconfig=
netmask=
kernname=scsi(0)disk(1)rdisk(0)partition(0)/unix
_R5000_CVT_WAR=
_RM5271_BADVADDR_WAR=
ConsoleIn=serial(0)
ConsoleOut=serial(0)
vn_rele_inactive_nag=

[weblacky]

I think dexter1 is on to it. It claims 0 isn’t a valid swap space partition and according to your partition post, it isn’t.

Since you can’t do a resentenv without Irix , can you erase the swap NVRAM or overwrite it with a valid number?

The documentation I’m reading says that the default irix swap partition is partition 1 if nothing is configured.

http://csweb.cs.wfu.edu/~torgerse/Kokua/.../ch09.html

If this documentation is correct I would try to match dexter1 in making a root nvram entry and a blank swap nvram entry.

The link above says that swap automatically looks at whatever drive’s labeled as root.

Let us know what happens.

[Raion]

I can resetenv from the PROM, but that doesn't fix the issue. I'm gonna tweak the settings and see if I can figure it out.

[Raion]

Fixed it. Stupid PROM defaults to the lowest SCSI ID, not the logical one

[mamed]

Fixed it. Stupid PROM defaults to the lowest SCSI ID, not the logical one

whats the fix for this

[Raion]

This was 2 years ago so I don't recall the exact fix.

[dirtrider]

This was 2 years ago so I don't recall the exact fix.

I registered and logged in just to complete the thread  If still facing the original problem with "swap partition (0) is not a valid swap area" message:
1) check with printenv what values are assigned the env variables SystemPartition and OSLoadPartition
2) they are defaulted to the lowest SCSI ID, meaning they will be probably set to your CD-ROM ->incorrect!
3) set them accordingly to your HD, with: 
        >> setenv SystemPartition scsi(0)disk(X)rdisk(0)partition(8)
        >> setenv OSLoadPartition scsi(0)disk(X)rdisk(0)partition(0)
4) exit and start CD installation.

cheers