Re: [SLUG] Sparc Hardware Update
I have slxt (sparc linux X term) working with some SparcStation SLCs I have at home. If anyone needs help setting this up, get in touch. Download from: http://www2.gol.com/users/gaijin/Linux/ I couldn't get XKernel working, but I don't like Solaris anyway. YMMV. --matt On Sun, 4 Feb 2001, Scott Howard wrote: [snip] As for what software to run on them, there's a few options... XKernel is a hacked up SunOS 4.1.x kernel/X server which basically just turns the machine in an X server. It's made to be booted over the network from another machine (historically a Sun, but I'm sure you could talk a Linux box into doing it), and thus needs no local hard disk. It's reasonably fast, but unfortunately is a fairly old version of X. Another option is something I've been setting up of late. It's basically the same thing as XKernel, but based on Linux and X11R6.4. Boots over the network so again needs no local disk, and is little more than an X server. It's still a work in progress, but if anyones interested in playing with it, let me know. It needs a little more memory than XKernel, but it has the advantage of using a later version of X. -- SLUG - Sydney Linux User Group Mailing List - http://slug.org.au/ More Info: http://slug.org.au/lists/listinfo/slug
[SLUG] Sparc Hardware Update
Sent to Slug and Computerbank NSW due to interest from both lists.
I've started a WWW page at http://www.woa.com.au/terryc/hardware/sparc/
to provide a convenient list of URLs for people wanting further
information/ideas/how-tos, etc. Thanks to Rachael and Crossfire for
their information and contributions.
Basically there were four Sparc 10s. Three have been taken and only one
is left (50Mhz cpu, 32Mb ram, no hard disk at present - we might have a
hard disk for it when I get Solaris 8 installed).
Can anyone tell me how the Sparc 10 knows about its boot hard disk? i.e.
does it just boot off a scsi at id0 or do you have to do something like
enter hard disk parameters into the nvram.
Still available are the IPX (40Mb + floppy), IPC (8Mb + floppy), Classic
(48Mb - no floppy) and LX (32Mb +
floppy). Hard disk sizes are unknown at this stage
http://www.obsolyte.com/ is a good site if you want to know what each of
these is capable of and a bit more of the hardware details (simms types,
etc). E.g. the Classic LX take standard 72pin parity ram and will hold
up to 96Mb of ram.
The first two of these systems will be sold with keyboard, mouse and
cables, the third will get a keyboard and the four none of these.
Apparently, if they do not detect a keyboard, they will boot headless
automatically to the serial port. We didn't get around to confirming
this on the day.
The Sparc 1 and Sparc two are broken and will be kept for spare parts or
sale as such.
There is also an S bus expansion box if anyone wants to make an offer.
The monitors are being offered seperately to the systems as they are all
foreign brands anyway. Only the Nec 4FG and Nec 5FGp remain. The Hitachi
21" and the two Magvision DXT-17 monitors have been sold and collected.
There are three Sparc lunch box external hardisk packs left ( hold 3.5"
to 3/4 height, one drive).
There are six other external hard disk boxes left (hold one 5" drive to
full height).
Mark will post asking prices in a separate post. Offers are also
welcome.
Computerbank isn't chasing $ from blood, but if you want to offer more,
it is welcome.
The situation with the SGI Indy is still open. Best offer has been $150
dollars sans monitor.
Unfortunately, none of the Solaris or Indy software arrived, so we were
not able to test install any of the systems, nor were we able to boot
onto a sparc linux floppy either.
All in all, a good day with five people involved.
Lunch was provided by WOA.
--
Terry Collins {:-)}}} Ph(02) 4627 2186 Fax(02) 4628 7861
email: [EMAIL PROTECTED] www: http://www.woa.com.au
WOA Computer Services lan/wan, linux/unix, novell
"People without trees are like fish without clean water"
--
SLUG - Sydney Linux User Group Mailing List - http://slug.org.au/
More Info: http://slug.org.au/lists/listinfo/slug
Re: [SLUG] Sparc Hardware Update
Terry Collins was once rumoured to have said: Sent to Slug and Computerbank NSW due to interest from both lists. I've started a WWW page at http://www.woa.com.au/terryc/hardware/sparc/ to provide a convenient list of URLs for people wanting further information/ideas/how-tos, etc. Thanks to Rachael and Crossfire for their information and contributions. Basically there were four Sparc 10s. Three have been taken and only one is left (50Mhz cpu, 32Mb ram, no hard disk at present - we might have a hard disk for it when I get Solaris 8 installed). Can anyone tell me how the Sparc 10 knows about its boot hard disk? i.e. does it just boot off a scsi at id0 or do you have to do something like enter hard disk parameters into the nvram. There are no hard disk parameters to be entered - this is all SCSI - and SCSI is smarter than that. However, due to Sun weirdness the default disk is on SCSI ID2, not ID0 - so just be warey. The default boot device and arguments is set in the boot-device environment in the PROM. Also do a google search for the Sun hardware FAQ, which has some helpful pointers with modern PROMs and hardware configurations. Sun PROMS are very helpful too in the sense their inbuilt help isn't complete crap. :) Still available are the IPX (40Mb + floppy), IPC (8Mb + floppy), Classic (48Mb - no floppy) and LX (32Mb + floppy). Hard disk sizes are unknown at this stage My personal experience is that Classics and LXs are very responsive compared to the IPX and IPC - I've had a Sparc Classic running RH6.0 in the past as it quite a usuable self-hosting workstation. As for the LX? we had one at JCSMR when I worked there which now runs http://cbis.anu.edu.au/ on OpenBSD 2.7. IPCs and IPXs would make great colour XTerminals :) The first two of these systems will be sold with keyboard, mouse and cables, the third will get a keyboard and the four none of these. Apparently, if they do not detect a keyboard, they will boot headless automatically to the serial port. We didn't get around to confirming this on the day. This is true for the PROMs. No guarntees that any OS other than Solaris will obey it. I'm pretty sure that OpenBSD and NetBSD will though - not sure about Linux. Unfortunately, none of the Solaris or Indy software arrived, so we were not able to test install any of the systems, nor were we able to boot onto a sparc linux floppy either. I should be availible next weekend and I can tow along my Solaris discs if so desired - as long as its moderately accessible by rail. -- --==-- Crossfire | This email was brought to you [EMAIL PROTECTED] | on 100% Recycled Electrons --==-- -- SLUG - Sydney Linux User Group Mailing List - http://slug.org.au/ More Info: http://slug.org.au/lists/listinfo/slug
Re: [SLUG] Sparc Hardware Update
On Sun, Feb 04, 2001 at 05:27:18PM +1100, Crossfire wrote: Can anyone tell me how the Sparc 10 knows about its boot hard disk? i.e. does it just boot off a scsi at id0 or do you have to do something like enter hard disk parameters into the nvram. However, due to Sun weirdness the default disk is on SCSI ID2, not ID0 - so just be warey. The default boot device and arguments is set in the boot-device environment in the PROM. From memory the default boot disk on an SS10 is ID 3, and the two internal disks are usually ID 1 and 3. However, as the SS10's use SCSI-2 connectors and not SCA list the SS4/5/20/etc, you can set the disks to whatever you wait. If you want to boot off another target you just need to specify it, either with something like "boot disk0" to boot of ID 0, "boot cdrom", "boot net", "boot tape" etc, or even something like giving it a full path to the device (probe-scsi to get the path). You can make the new device permanent using boot-device prom variable - "setenv boot-device disk0" Still available are the IPX (40Mb + floppy), IPC (8Mb + floppy), Classic (48Mb - no floppy) and LX (32Mb + floppy). Hard disk sizes are unknown at this stage My personal experience is that Classics and LXs are very responsive compared to the IPX and IPC - I've had a Sparc Classic running RH6.0 in the past as it quite a usuable self-hosting workstation. As for the LX? we had one at JCSMR when I worked there which now runs http://cbis.anu.edu.au/ on OpenBSD 2.7. Classics, LX and IPX are all similar spec and make slow, but OK machines for playing with. The IPC is fairly slow (about half the speed of the Classic). IPCs and IPXs would make great colour XTerminals :) The only real problem is that at most you're probably going to have an 8-bit video card in them (the IPCs are actually mono on-board, but will happily take a CGsix or similar card. IPX is CGsix, Classic CGthree) As for what software to run on them, there's a few options... XKernel is a hacked up SunOS 4.1.x kernel/X server which basically just turns the machine in an X server. It's made to be booted over the network from another machine (historically a Sun, but I'm sure you could talk a Linux box into doing it), and thus needs no local hard disk. It's reasonably fast, but unfortunately is a fairly old version of X. Another option is something I've been setting up of late. It's basically the same thing as XKernel, but based on Linux and X11R6.4. Boots over the network so again needs no local disk, and is little more than an X server. It's still a work in progress, but if anyones interested in playing with it, let me know. It needs a little more memory than XKernel, but it has the advantage of using a later version of X. The first two of these systems will be sold with keyboard, mouse and cables, the third will get a keyboard and the four none of these. Apparently, if they do not detect a keyboard, they will boot headless automatically to the serial port. We didn't get around to confirming this on the day. This is true for the PROMs. No guarntees that any OS other than Solaris will obey it. I'm pretty sure that OpenBSD and NetBSD will though - not sure about Linux. I'd be fairly confident any OS will. Linux definitely does. It's fairly uncommon to see a Sun server with a monitor attached... If anyone's interested in what a higher-end Sparc machine can actually do, I recently installed RedHat 6.2 on an E3500 with 4x400Mhz Ultrasparc-II's and 4Gb of memory. Compiled a fairly standard Linux kernel in 97 seconds! I'm going to try and install Linux on a SunBlade-1000 (single 750Mhz Ultrasparc-III) in the next few days too... Scott. -- SLUG - Sydney Linux User Group Mailing List - http://slug.org.au/ More Info: http://slug.org.au/lists/listinfo/slug
