Re: Problem getting to firmware in 7043-150

From: Modine Gunch (mgunch_at_deranged.net)
Date: 09/03/03 

Date: Tue, 2 Sep 2003 20:44:09 -0500
To: RobH <nospam@expcon.co.uk>

On Tue, 2 Sep 2003, RobH wrote:

> > to the firmware prompt (from what I read should be either 0> or 1> for
> > serial or 2> for the graphics console).

> Why do you want to access the firmware prompt? The most common use of
> the firmware prompt on an RS/6000 is to start your Linux installation
> ;-)

> Use the nice friendly SMS menus rather than the firmware prompt - it's
> an RS/6000 your playing with not a Sun SPARC.

Well, see, I didn't know that :) All I got was a system unit and the OS
CDs. No manuals/documentation/etc. Only having dealt with x86, PARISC
and SPARC systems in the past, I was expecting something similar in the
RS6K world.

> If you want to reload the O/S from the CD, put the disc in the drive,
> reboot and hit the F5 key when the keyboard icon appears on boot up. The
> system should then boot from the CD.

Thats what I was looking for =)

> Call me lazy if you like, but when it comes to working out stuff like
> this, on kit I'm unfamiliar with, I read the manuals. Probably something
> to do with having only 14 years experience ;-)

Again, no documentation. Searching IBMs various documentation sites was
slightly less painful than a root canal. Did my best to search for the
answers before giving up in frustration and resorting to posting on
Usenet.

> > The only key that I can hit that does anything at all is the space key
> > - which then seems to send the system into some kind of panic,
> > spitting out screen after screen of garbage.

> Hey, I didn't know that. I must give it a try.

Just out of curiosity please let me know if your system duplicates this
behaviour - I am curious if this is specific to my machine or not, perhaps
I bought a flaky unit.

> > I've tried this using the first serial port as the console with no
> luck

> Sounds like your serial cable may be wired wrong. It should be:-

Must clarify there - the serial connection works fine, I get the expected
output. What I meant was, I didn't know what key to hit to interrupt the
boot sequence using the serial console as well. I will give your
suggestions a try. Many thanks.

> --
> RobH
> The future's dim, the future's mono.

MG