Archive for the 'Configuration' Category

“Bus Fault” when trying to probe-scsi-all on a Sun Ultra 5

Monday, February 4th, 2008

I had a customer recently call me with a “bus fault” when he was trying to probe-scsi-all from the ok prompt. On separate occasions, I had sold him an Ultra 5 and a Dual Differential SCSI card (part# 375-0006) and he had just recently installed the SCSI Card into the Ultra 5 with the aforementioned […]

I have a Cable Modem or DSL connection (or some type of broadband) and I am using a router/sharing device (i.e. Linksys, Netgear, UGate, etc…) to hook up several PCs to my broadband connection. How do I add my Sun box to the network so I can surf the web and check email from it, etc?

Monday, January 7th, 2008

UNFINISHED: – re-read and complete A: This solution is assuming you don’t have a configured network connection on your Sun box. It will start you from the very beginning, undoing any configuration that has been previously done. Make sure you’ve got a network cable plugged into your hub/router before starting. NOTE: This solution is assuming […]

Is there an OpenBoot PROM cheat sheet or reference sheet?

Saturday, July 28th, 2007

A: Ask and you shall receive. Use this handy-dandy OpenBoot PROM or OBP Reference Guide courtesy of Sun Microsystems as a refresher. I didn’t write it, but it’s about as thorough and useful as it would be if I did.

When I start up my machine, I get a message that says: ‘mfg-options’ environment variable invalid How do I fix this?

Tuesday, July 17th, 2007

A: From the OK prompt (a.k.a. OBP or OpenBoot PROM) you need to setenv mfg-options to the right value.

Whenever I log into my machine and I try to hit the backspace key, it does not erase characters like I expect it to. Instead, it prints a ^H for each keypress. How do I erase?

Tuesday, July 17th, 2007

A: Solaris gurus don’t ever make mistakes. That’s why the backspace key doesn’t work! KIDDING! Seriously, though — similar to this solution, you should only be getting this error if you are consoled into a machine via a null modem cable, if you have telnet-ed into a remote machine or if you are using a […]

I’m trying to use vi, but instead of clearing the screen and allowing me to view my file, it jumbles the file and none of the commands react as expected; or in more general terms, “In console (command line) mode, I’m trying to use any application that requires use of the full screen (SunVTS, vi, etc) and when I launch it, it doesn’t correctly show the entire screen. It looks like a garbled version of the application I’m trying to use.”

Tuesday, July 17th, 2007

A: If you are using CDE, Gnome or another GUI, you should not be experiencing this problem. If you are, I’m not quite sure what the problem is, but this solution probably won’t help you. Still, you’re free to try. This solution is only needed by those either consoled into a machine via a null […]

How can I establish a serial connection (aka tip hardwire session) from one Sun machine to another?

Friday, July 13th, 2007

A: Depending on which Sun machines you are connecting, you will need a certain type of null modem cable suited to that machine. Most older Sun machines (UltraSPARC II and some III) will require a DB25 male connector on the end. Newer ones (some UltraSPARC III and IV) will need RJ-45 serial connections.