Re: Help! OBP update -> boot failure

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Date: Sat, 31 Jan 2004 04:17:36 GMT

Tom Taylor wrote:
> I just attempted to update the OBP on an Ultra-2 system (actually a Sparc-20
> with an Ultra-2 motherboard upgrade) and now it refuses to boot. The old
> version was:
>
> OBP 3.7.8 1998/03/26 19:13 POST 3.3.1 1997/07/09
>
> I downloaded Patch ID# 104169-08 and attempted to install:
>
> OBP 3.25.0 199/12/03 11:35 POST 3.3.8 1998/11/16
>
> Everything seemed to go smoothly (no errors were reported during erasing,
> programming, and verification) until the first reset. The last thing I saw
> displayed on the screen was:
>
> Programming was successful.
> Resetting ...
>
> Next I am staring at a dark screen. The monitor led is is flashing every few
> seconds, as if there is no video signal. Nothing seems to work. Typing in
> the blind does not seem to have any effect. Power cycling seems to produce
> the same conditions.
>
> I dug out a NULL modem cable, set up a terminal session on serial port A
> and cycled the power. After a few seconds, I received the following Fatal
> Reset message and nothing further:
>
>
> Fatal Reset
> SC Control 0000.0000.0200.0000
> SysIO status 0000.0000.0100.0000
> P0 Status 0000.0000.04c0.0000
> P1 Status 0000.0000.04c0.0000
> MC CTL0 0000.0000.04c0.0000
> CC Fault 0000.0000.04c0.0000
> SysIO UE AFSR 0000.ffe0.0000.0000
> SysIO CE AFSR 00ff.ffe0.0000.0000
> CPU AFSR 0000.0001.a0f7.0048
> SDBH AFSR 0000.0000.0000.0000
> SDBL AFSR 0000.0000.0000.0000
>
> On subsequent reboot attempts, the same info is displayed. Only the CPU AFSR
> seems to change.
>
> What does all this mean? And how can I fix it?
>
> Thanks for any insights or assistance,
> Tom Taylor
>
> Tom dot Taylor at unisys dot com
>
>
>
I applied that patch successfully only a few weeks ago, so I can confirm
that it works on at least one system (mine).

Did you need to remove a board to access the jumper? Is it possible
that when you reinstalled the board that it did not seat properly?

I note that the readme file for the patch says:

"* PLEASE REVIEW NOT ONLY THIS README BUT ALSO ADDITIONAL DOCUMENTATION
    GIVEN.
    The file "802-3233-xx.ps" where xx stands for the latest numeric
    revision is a PostScript copy of the "Sun Flash PROM Guide for
Workstations
    and Workgroup Servers - Standalone Version", which provides the
following;
    (i) A board-level diagram that gives the approximate location of the
        hardware jumpers (that will need to be changed).
    (ii) Emergency instructions in the unlikely event that the Flash
         update should fail.
    Note, however, that the Flash PROM Guide is written for a user who is
    running the Flash PROM update utility from a bootable CDROM, and thus
    it will not contain the proper boot commands for installation of this
    patch. Also note that the instructions in the document for installing
    packages are not valid for this patch."

<end>

Appendix A of that document contains recovery procedures for the case
in which the system does not return to the ok prompt after power is
restored. It involves moving J2204, the "Boot control" jumper, but
the full procedure is too long to reproduce here. It would be best
(if you can) to print that document off; if you can't, I can try to
help you work through it off the group.

HTH.

BTW, my e-mail address in the "reply" line is reversed; it actually
starts "ch..."

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