Re: [OpenIndiana-discuss] Offtopic question to old SPARC users
The crystal oscillator may or may not be OK, but low voltage can still cause the surrounding logic in the NVRAM chip to malfunction, or an IO signal from low to high voltage to be interpreted as the wrong logic level. Remember -- the claimed problem is not that the clock is slow but that the time is stuck. I can't help with the NVRAM on old systems, but FWIW an x86 system I used to have here at home would randomly change clock times when running by numbers of hours/minutes/days/years while running, for example changing the month and year but keeping the rest of the date fields constant, even when running NTP. So there's definitely a possibility for the clock to get messed up when the system is running, unless my issue was an x86-only thing. If the NVRAM is busted, then presumably boot after minutes or hours of power off won't keep proper time. And on the other hand, if the system survives being powered off for a while, the hardware clock may be OK. Hugh. On 11/23/13 6:49 PM, Michael Stapleton wrote: My understanding is that the time is read from the NVRAM chip only once when booting, then the time is updated by the kernel clock() function by interrupt 10 while running. High interrupt rates could cause the clock interrupt to be missed, slowing time. A lot of serial activity could cause it. I also do not see how low power could slow down the timer assuming it uses a crystal oscillator. All that to say that I bet it is not related to the NVRAM chip. Mike ___ OpenIndiana-discuss mailing list OpenIndiana-discuss@openindiana.org http://openindiana.org/mailman/listinfo/openindiana-discuss
Re: [OpenIndiana-discuss] Offtopic question to old SPARC users
My understanding is that the time is read from the NVRAM chip only once when booting, then the time is updated by the kernel clock() function by interrupt 10 while running. High interrupt rates could cause the clock interrupt to be missed, slowing time. A lot of serial activity could cause it. I also do not see how low power could slow down the timer assuming it uses a crystal oscillator. All that to say that I bet it is not related to the NVRAM chip. Mike On Fri, 2013-11-22 at 23:45 +0100, Jim Klimov wrote: > Hello all, > >My attention was requested to an old UltraSPARC E450 machine with > Solaris 8, whose clock was going slower and worse for the past few > days, maybe weeks. Since about today it has practically stopped - > or more precisely, loops over the same 2-3 second interval over and > over, even with NTP client enabled. > >My hunch would be a dead battery on CMOS, or whatever the analog > of one would be. Any ideas where it might be located, and what model > it is (like CR2032 on Intel-compatibles)? Any more ideas? > >So far they are doing backups and the machine will go into a diag > reboot; normal reboot did not clear the errors at least. > >The beast is old, but serves as an appliance of an old database > which nobody knows how to manage or migrate nowadays, even if into > a Solaris8 branded zone on a newer SPARC, and the production payload > is needed and important. Nobody knows how it works, but they know > too well what for. Bummer... > > Thanks for any hints, hunches, anecdotes... > //Jim Klimov > > ___ > OpenIndiana-discuss mailing list > OpenIndiana-discuss@openindiana.org > http://openindiana.org/mailman/listinfo/openindiana-discuss ___ OpenIndiana-discuss mailing list OpenIndiana-discuss@openindiana.org http://openindiana.org/mailman/listinfo/openindiana-discuss
Re: [OpenIndiana-discuss] Offtopic question to old SPARC users
You can get replacement NVRAMs from here http://www.memoryxsun.com/5251673.html. I have hundreds of still in production Netra AX1105's and this is the only source I've found for Sun NVRAM. They come pre-programmed with MAC/Host ID so if you need the existing config you'll have to program it yourself http://www.squirrel.com/squirrel/sun-nvram-hostid.faq Ray On Sat, Nov 23, 2013 at 8:06 PM, Lou Picciano wrote: > Hello Jim, > > We've got a few of these old beasts around; the last of 'em still > anxiously awaiting its, uhhh... 'Retirement Party'. > > Seems to me we had to replace a battery on at least one of these at some > point, but don't think it was the CR2032 'button' type, as I recall. Happy > to send you some parts as needed(?), though distances probably an issue!(?) > Happy, too, to disassemble one to find battery? > > I do remember the project of flashing the EPROM when we got these > things... Jumpers to be set, etc,; great fun! > > Lou Picciano > > - Original Message - > From: "Jim Klimov" > To: "Discussion list for OpenIndiana" > > Sent: Friday, November 22, 2013 5:45:19 PM > Subject: [OpenIndiana-discuss] Offtopic question to old SPARC users > > Hello all, > >My attention was requested to an old UltraSPARC E450 machine with > Solaris 8, whose clock was going slower and worse for the past few > days, maybe weeks. Since about today it has practically stopped - > or more precisely, loops over the same 2-3 second interval over and > over, even with NTP client enabled. > >My hunch would be a dead battery on CMOS, or whatever the analog > of one would be. Any ideas where it might be located, and what model > it is (like CR2032 on Intel-compatibles)? Any more ideas? > >So far they are doing backups and the machine will go into a diag > reboot; normal reboot did not clear the errors at least. > >The beast is old, but serves as an appliance of an old database > which nobody knows how to manage or migrate nowadays, even if into > a Solaris8 branded zone on a newer SPARC, and the production payload > is needed and important. Nobody knows how it works, but they know > too well what for. Bummer... > > Thanks for any hints, hunches, anecdotes... > //Jim Klimov > > ___ > OpenIndiana-discuss mailing list > OpenIndiana-discuss@openindiana.org > http://openindiana.org/mailman/listinfo/openindiana-discuss > > ___ > OpenIndiana-discuss mailing list > OpenIndiana-discuss@openindiana.org > http://openindiana.org/mailman/listinfo/openindiana-discuss > -- *raymond.but...@gmail.com * ___ OpenIndiana-discuss mailing list OpenIndiana-discuss@openindiana.org http://openindiana.org/mailman/listinfo/openindiana-discuss
Re: [OpenIndiana-discuss] Offtopic question to old SPARC users
Hello Jim, We've got a few of these old beasts around; the last of 'em still anxiously awaiting its, uhhh... 'Retirement Party'. Seems to me we had to replace a battery on at least one of these at some point, but don't think it was the CR2032 'button' type, as I recall. Happy to send you some parts as needed(?), though distances probably an issue!(?) Happy, too, to disassemble one to find battery? I do remember the project of flashing the EPROM when we got these things... Jumpers to be set, etc,; great fun! Lou Picciano - Original Message - From: "Jim Klimov" To: "Discussion list for OpenIndiana" Sent: Friday, November 22, 2013 5:45:19 PM Subject: [OpenIndiana-discuss] Offtopic question to old SPARC users Hello all, My attention was requested to an old UltraSPARC E450 machine with Solaris 8, whose clock was going slower and worse for the past few days, maybe weeks. Since about today it has practically stopped - or more precisely, loops over the same 2-3 second interval over and over, even with NTP client enabled. My hunch would be a dead battery on CMOS, or whatever the analog of one would be. Any ideas where it might be located, and what model it is (like CR2032 on Intel-compatibles)? Any more ideas? So far they are doing backups and the machine will go into a diag reboot; normal reboot did not clear the errors at least. The beast is old, but serves as an appliance of an old database which nobody knows how to manage or migrate nowadays, even if into a Solaris8 branded zone on a newer SPARC, and the production payload is needed and important. Nobody knows how it works, but they know too well what for. Bummer... Thanks for any hints, hunches, anecdotes... //Jim Klimov ___ OpenIndiana-discuss mailing list OpenIndiana-discuss@openindiana.org http://openindiana.org/mailman/listinfo/openindiana-discuss ___ OpenIndiana-discuss mailing list OpenIndiana-discuss@openindiana.org http://openindiana.org/mailman/listinfo/openindiana-discuss
Re: [OpenIndiana-discuss] Offtopic question to old SPARC users
Hi Jim! > Still, may i ask to mail us the small spare components like the > nvram chips or ram modules? That setup is not in USA, but i guess we > can figure something about snail mail... thanks in advance =) Don't bother. There is lots of stuff for E450s right here in Europe. I have some, for example. :-) Contact me off list about that. Even so, it is only a matter of time before the "new" NVRAM will be empty, too. Much better to fix your NVRAM (first try with a spare though :-). Like this http://gigawa.lt/gigawa.lt/Sun_NVRAM.html or this http://www.users.on.net/~toojays/sparcstation_nvram.xhtml :-) BTW on the newer NVRAMs (those in sun4u systems like the E450), the hex digits printed on the label are the last three bytes of the host id. Regards -- Volker -- Volker A. Brandt Consulting and Support for Oracle Solaris Brandt & Brandt Computer GmbH WWW: http://www.bb-c.de/ Am Wiesenpfad 6, 53340 Meckenheim, GERMANYEmail: v...@bb-c.de Handelsregister: Amtsgericht Bonn, HRB 10513 Schuhgröße: 46 Geschäftsführer: Rainer J.H. Brandt und Volker A. Brandt "When logic and proportion have fallen sloppy dead" ___ OpenIndiana-discuss mailing list OpenIndiana-discuss@openindiana.org http://openindiana.org/mailman/listinfo/openindiana-discuss
Re: [OpenIndiana-discuss] Offtopic question to old SPARC users
Sad, nice boxes, they were. Afaik some were refitted into zfs nases, maybe keeping only the stylish case with different mobo's. Still, may i ask to mail us the small spare components like the nvram chips or ram modules? That setup is not in USA, but i guess we can figure something about snail mail... thanks in advance =) Jim Typos courtesy of my Samsung Mobile Исходное сообщение От: "Christopher X. Candreva" Дата: 2013.11.23 20:54 (GMT+01:00) Кому: Discussion list for OpenIndiana Тема: Re: [OpenIndiana-discuss] Offtopic question to old SPARC users On Fri, 22 Nov 2013, Jim Klimov wrote: > Hello all, > > My attention was requested to an old UltraSPARC E450 machine with > Solaris 8, whose clock was going slower and worse for the past few > days, maybe weeks. Since about today it has practically stopped - > or more precisely, loops over the same 2-3 second interval over and > over, even with NTP client enabled. I have two E450's sitting here (White Plains, NY) waiting for the next trip to recycling. They are yours if you have a way to get them to you. :-) I can even plug them in and check that the CMOS is still valid. == Chris Candreva -- ch...@westnet.com -- (914) 948-3162 WestNet Internet Services of Westchester http://www.westnet.com/ ___ OpenIndiana-discuss mailing list OpenIndiana-discuss@openindiana.org http://openindiana.org/mailman/listinfo/openindiana-discuss ___ OpenIndiana-discuss mailing list OpenIndiana-discuss@openindiana.org http://openindiana.org/mailman/listinfo/openindiana-discuss
Re: [OpenIndiana-discuss] Offtopic question to old SPARC users
On Fri, 22 Nov 2013, Jim Klimov wrote: > Hello all, > > My attention was requested to an old UltraSPARC E450 machine with > Solaris 8, whose clock was going slower and worse for the past few > days, maybe weeks. Since about today it has practically stopped - > or more precisely, loops over the same 2-3 second interval over and > over, even with NTP client enabled. I have two E450's sitting here (White Plains, NY) waiting for the next trip to recycling. They are yours if you have a way to get them to you. :-) I can even plug them in and check that the CMOS is still valid. == Chris Candreva -- ch...@westnet.com -- (914) 948-3162 WestNet Internet Services of Westchester http://www.westnet.com/ ___ OpenIndiana-discuss mailing list OpenIndiana-discuss@openindiana.org http://openindiana.org/mailman/listinfo/openindiana-discuss
Re: [OpenIndiana-discuss] Offtopic question to old SPARC users
On Sat, 11/23/13, Jim Klimov wrote: If we do manage to replace the NVRAM chip, I guess the eeprom settings (boot-devices and so on) would also need to be recovered? You'll need to copy all that down, particularly the CPU ID if the software is locked to a particular host. That should be done ASAP. Without a software support contract that allows getting a new license key, if it loses the CPU ID the software is lost even if you get the system working. Lots of vendors want all the back maintenance paid up to provide a new key. So it can get too expensive to revive an old system which can in turn lead to all manner of pain and suffering for the admins. ___ OpenIndiana-discuss mailing list OpenIndiana-discuss@openindiana.org http://openindiana.org/mailman/listinfo/openindiana-discuss
Re: [OpenIndiana-discuss] Offtopic question to old SPARC users
On 11/23/13, 6:07 AM, Jim Klimov wrote: > Or how to > reinstall the thing with proper import of data which is still regularly > being backed up :\ You should make it perfectly clear to them that a backup you can't restore is a backup you don't have. Cheers, -- Saso ___ OpenIndiana-discuss mailing list OpenIndiana-discuss@openindiana.org http://openindiana.org/mailman/listinfo/openindiana-discuss
