[noleex]

Hi, I just started my Onyx2 IR2 since years to check if it’s still working but I forgot how to do over years   When I power it on no screen appears, just black, idk if it’s because of the hdmi Monitor (connected via hdmi to vga cable -> to 13w3 adapter to the onyx. I remember that I always need to use my octane via console to boot the onyx2 into system. But I don’t have the octane anymore just a newer MacBook Pro. Does anybody know if I need to see anything basically by just starting the box or is it normal that the screen keeps black ? Btw I didn’t connect any mouse or keyboard to it, don’t know if that causes an issue in bootup too ?

Thanks

[Raion]

So I own an Onyx2, and here's my startup procedure from a graphics console:

1. Flip the breaker on the back, wait for the SMC to light up. You MUST have cables attached including keyboard and the graphics cable.
2. Turn the key to On, and all 9 fans should start up
3. The monitor will show the IR3s booting up, but mine takes nearly 15 mins to come up due ostensibly to the fact I have two RM10s and a rather heavy setup of 4G of RAM, 4x400MHz CPUs. YMMV.

For a serial connection, if I recall, it's standard 9600 baud to the console port next to the breaker and that will show you the entirety of the boot process.

I think you need to connect either over serial to see, or try connecting a keyboard, it would say on the SMC if something was the matter likely.

[Irinikus]

It defaults to a serial console mode when it doesn’t detect a keyboard and mouse on startup, hence the black screen.

Also correct me if I’m wrong, but the SGI 13w3 doesn’t give you a digital output, and HDMI is purely digital!

The DVI outputs found on the DCD option cards for a Tezro or Octane2 do offer a digital output, hence I’m able to successfully use DVI to HDMI converters to run my monitors from such a system.

[jan-jaap]

mine takes nearly 15 mins to come up due ostensibly to the fact I have two RM10s and a rather heavy setup of 4G of RAM, 4x400MHz CPUs.

That's the RAM test. It basically does the equivalent of the 'ide' diagnostics RAM test every time it boots. If that bothers you you can disable it on the MSC by setting DIP switch #1 to the 'ON' position, see: https://archive.org/details/Origin2k_Har...9/mode/2up

Mine is fully loaded with RAM. I have disabled the test.

[noleex]

I tried to connect Keyboard and mouse to it via PS2 to USB converter, Keyboard and mouse lights up so I guess that they are working, at the beginning it says sys ok and after a while and some number stuff on the LCD screen P O M 1 C appears but no screen, monitor says no signal all the time, also tried my TV because it has an analog VGA input in case the VGA to HDMI adapter isn't working properly. Can somebody give me a tutorial how to connect my Mac with the ONYX2 to see the booting console (I have one of these Serial to USB cables I can connect to my Mac, and it fits straight into the console port of the Onyx...

cheers

[Raion]

You need to ditch the PS/2 - to - USB adapters. They don't work.

But yeah, I don't use macOS, so I can't advise you on serial connections. They changed so much since the last time I used it.

[Irinikus]

If you use Mac OS, then use Serial Tools: (These are the settings used to connect to my Tezro, you would just use 9600 to connect to the Onyx2 instead of 38400)

[noleex]

Thanks, finally thats the console output / but no screen:
IP27 PROM SGI Version 6.156  built 11:27:56 AM Nov 18, 2003
Testing/Initializing memory …………… DONE
Copying PROM code to memory …………… DONE
Discovering local IO ………………….
Found an io Board with nic 030-1305-001.
DONE
Discovering NUMAlink connectivity ……… DONE
Found 2 objects (2 hubs, 0 routers) in 10464 usec
Waiting for peers to complete discovery…. DONE
Global master is /hw/module/1/slot/n2
Testing/Initializing all memory ……….. DONE
Checking partitioning information ……… DONE
Loading BASEIO prom ………………….. DONE

BASEIO PROM Monitor SGI Version 6.156  built 11:26:28 AM Nov 18, 2003 (BE64)
4 CPUs on 2 nodes found.
Installing PROM Device drivers …………           
Base I/O Ethernet set to /dev/ethernet/ef0

Walking SCSI Adapter 0 (/hw/module/1/slot/io1), (pci id 0)
1+ 2- 3- 4- 5- 6+ 7- 8- 9- 10- 11- 12- 13- 14- 15- = 2 device(s)


Walking SCSI Adapter 1 (/hw/module/1/slot/io1), (pci id 1)
1- 2- 3- 4- 5- 6- 7- 8- 9- 10- 11- 12- 13- 14- 15- = 0 device(s)

Initializing PROM Device drivers ……….            DONE
Checking hardware inventory ……………              DONE


**** System Configuration and Diagnostics Summary ****

CONFIG:

        No. of NODEs enabled    = 2

        No. of NODEs disabled  = 0

        No. of CPUs enabled    = 4

        No. of CPUs disabled    = 0

        Mem enabled            = 4096 MB

        Mem disabled            = 0 MB

        No. of RTRs enabled    = 0

        No. of RTRs disabled    = 0


DIAG RESULTS:

        ALL DIAGS PASSED.

**** End System Configuration and Diagnostics Summary ****



System Maintenance Menu

1) Start System
2) Install System Software
3) Run Diagnostics
4) Recover System
5) Enter Command Monitor

[Irinikus]

Try hitting "5" to enter the command monitor and type: setenv console g

Also type in: printenv (so that we can see your environmental settings.)

Here's a copy of my Onyx2's environmental settings just for reference:

[noleex]

>> setenv console g
>>
>> printenv
AutoLoad=No

dbgtty=/dev/tty/ioc30

root=dks0d1s0

nonstop=0

rbaud=19200

SystemPartition=dksc(0,1,8)

OSLoadPartition=dksc(0,1,0)

OSLoader=sash

OSLoadFilename=unix

TimeZone=PST8PDT

oldConsolePath=/hw/module/1/slot/io1

gConsoleIn=default

gConsoleOut=default

diskless=0

scsihostid=00

ProbeAllScsi=n

RestorePartEnv=y

dbaud=9600

volume=80

sgilogo=y

netaddr=192.168.1.2

ConsoleOut=/dev/tty/ioc30

ConsoleIn=/dev/tty/ioc30

cpufreq=400

ConsolePath=/hw/module/1/slot/io1

console=g

>>