[rescue] Iris Indigo Elan - can't determine CPU speed

Mike michaelgreen42 at comcast.net
Tue Jun 10 10:12:23 CDT 2008


The original R3K's were socketed not the R4k's.  I've seen many of both
types and the R4ks and all were soldered down except one weird one that had
it ziptied in.  I've swapped the battery on 4 of the R4K's it is not hard
just a pain.

-----Original Message-----
From: rescue-bounces at sunhelp.org [mailto:rescue-bounces at sunhelp.org] On
Behalf Of rescue-request at sunhelp.org
Sent: Tuesday, June 10, 2008 12:09 AM
To: rescue at sunhelp.org
Subject: rescue Digest, Vol 67, Issue 5

Send rescue mailing list submissions to
	rescue at sunhelp.org

To subscribe or unsubscribe via the World Wide Web, visit
	http://www.sunhelp.org/mailman/listinfo/rescue
or, via email, send a message with subject or body 'help' to
	rescue-request at sunhelp.org

You can reach the person managing the list at
	rescue-owner at sunhelp.org

When replying, please edit your Subject line so it is more specific
than "Re: Contents of rescue digest..."


Today's Topics:

   1. Re: Iris Indigo Elan - can't determine CPU speed (Halford
      Johnson) (Mike)
   2. Re: Iris Indigo Elan - can't determine CPU speed (Ian Finder)
   3. Re: Iris Indigo Elan - can't determine CPU speed (Carl R. Friend)
   4. Re: Iris Indigo Elan - can't determine CPU speed
      (Saquinn624 at aol.com)
   5. Re: Iris Indigo Elan - can't determine CPU speed
      (jodys at helluin.org)
   6. IBM RS6000 B50? Good? HP J6000? (Ethan O'Toole)
   7. FS Cisco 1721 with 2 Ethernet ports (unit plus 1 WIC-1ENET)
      (Patrick Giagnocavo)
   8. Re: IBM RS6000 B50? Good? HP J6000? (Mark)
   9. Re: IBM RS6000 B50? Good? HP J6000? (Jochen Kunz)
  10. Re: IBM RS6000 B50? Good? HP J6000? (Mark)


----------------------------------------------------------------------

Message: 1
Date: Fri, 6 Jun 2008 21:41:29 -0700
From: "Mike" <michaelgreen42 at comcast.net>
Subject: Re: [rescue] Iris Indigo Elan - can't determine CPU speed
	(Halford Johnson)
To: <rescue at sunhelp.org>
Message-ID: <6099387DE13E4CBAA3287CCF29AACD82 at odin>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii"

Dunno about the first part but the second means you need to swap the battery
on the motherboard.  Every Indigo I've ever seen has this problem.
Unfortunately the batteries on R4K's are soldered in :(  To fix this for me
it took two people one with the soldering iron and the other holding on the
other side of the battery with a pair of vise grips wiggling back and forth.


<halfordjohnson at gmail.com> wrote:
> So I used to use a Iris Indigo R4400 machine as my workstation 5-6 years
ago
> until it was replaced with a Indigo2 R10k and has sat ever since.  I just
> now tried to boot it up with a serial console hooked to it, and I am
getting
> strange behavior.  I hear the disks start to spin and the RAM counting up,
> but I only see "Can't determine CPU speed" on the serial console, nothing
> ever happens.  So I took out the Elan card and tried to boot it with no
> graphics card, and I, again, get "Cant determine CPU speed".  This time
> though, it falls into a seemingly endless loop of "Initializing tod clock
> setting secs=0 min=0 hour=0 day=1 month=1 year=0  Initializing tod clock
> setting secs=0 min=0 hour=0 day=1 month=1 year=0 Can't set tod clock".
>
> Has anyone ever seen this type of behavior?  I know its an old crappy
> machine but this thing was once my baby and I want it to hum once more. :(
> _______________________________________________
> rescue list - http://www.sunhelp.org/mailman/listinfo/rescue


------------------------------

Message: 2
Date: Sat, 7 Jun 2008 10:20:18 -0500
From: "Ian Finder" <ian.finder at gmail.com>
Subject: Re: [rescue] Iris Indigo Elan - can't determine CPU speed
To: "The Rescue List" <rescue at sunhelp.org>
Message-ID:
	<e7e1b32f0806070820u311d055m47ebd46224d72913 at mail.gmail.com>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=ISO-8859-1

Did the Iris Indigo have a mobo battery? I thought it had one of those
dallas RTC chips with the built in battery-- you know, the kind that
forces us to reenter the MAC addresses on our old sun machines every
time they turn on.

Worse yet though, when you replace the internal battery, or put in
another chip, I could've sworn you have to "bless" it so the Indigo
takes it-- and I think the magic incantation is kinda tricky.

I think I have the information somewhere on how to do it-- If I must I
can look it up.

Hopefully I'm just forgetful and wrong about this though...

-- F

On Fri, Jun 6, 2008 at 11:33 PM, Robert Darlington
<rdarlington at gmail.com> wrote:
> Try swapping out the battery on the mobo.
>
> -Bob
>
> On Fri, Jun 6, 2008 at 10:03 PM, Halford Johnson
> <halfordjohnson at gmail.com> wrote:
>> So I used to use a Iris Indigo R4400 machine as my workstation 5-6 years
ago
>> until it was replaced with a Indigo2 R10k and has sat ever since.  I just
>> now tried to boot it up with a serial console hooked to it, and I am
getting
>> strange behavior.  I hear the disks start to spin and the RAM counting
up,
>> but I only see "Can't determine CPU speed" on the serial console, nothing
>> ever happens.  So I took out the Elan card and tried to boot it with no
>> graphics card, and I, again, get "Cant determine CPU speed".  This time
>> though, it falls into a seemingly endless loop of "Initializing tod clock
>> setting secs=0 min=0 hour=0 day=1 month=1 year=0  Initializing tod clock
>> setting secs=0 min=0 hour=0 day=1 month=1 year=0 Can't set tod clock".
>>
>> Has anyone ever seen this type of behavior?  I know its an old crappy
>> machine but this thing was once my baby and I want it to hum once more.
:(
>> _______________________________________________
>> rescue list - http://www.sunhelp.org/mailman/listinfo/rescue
> _______________________________________________
> rescue list - http://www.sunhelp.org/mailman/listinfo/rescue
>



-- 
 Ian Finder
 224.659.4204
 ian.finder at gmail.com
 finder | solutions - IT on your terms


------------------------------

Message: 3
Date: Sat, 7 Jun 2008 12:11:42 -0400 (EDT)
From: "Carl R. Friend" <crfriend at rcn.com>
Subject: Re: [rescue] Iris Indigo Elan - can't determine CPU speed
To: The Rescue List <rescue at sunhelp.org>
Message-ID: <Pine.LNX.4.64.0806071207100.1944 at zephyr.cacm.org>
Content-Type: TEXT/PLAIN; charset=US-ASCII; format=flowed

    On Sat, 7 Jun 2008, Ian Finder wrote:

> Did the Iris Indigo have a mobo battery? I thought it had one of those
> dallas RTC chips with the built in battery-- you know, the kind that
> forces us to reenter the MAC addresses on our old sun machines every
> time they turn on.

    The "original" IRIS Indigos do have a battery on the CPU board;
some of the dratted things are soldered down (*that* design "engineer"
needs a whack with a clue-by-four), but some, even some of the (later,
I'm guessing) R4000 chipped machines have the batteries socketed.

    If I had one of the ones with a soldered-down battery, I'd work
up an "ECO" to install a battery holder someplace and wire that to
the old solder-down point.

> Worse yet though, when you replace the internal battery, or put in
> another chip, I could've sworn you have to "bless" it so the Indigo
> takes it-- and I think the magic incantation is kinda tricky.

    If you can find that, please post it.  I'm sure somebody will
find it handy someday!

+------------------------------------------------+---------------------+
| Carl Richard Friend (UNIX Sysadmin)            | West Boylston       |
| Minicomputer Collector / Enthusiast            | Massachusetts, USA  |
| mailto:crfriend at rcn.com                        +---------------------+
| http://users.rcn.com/crfriend/museum           | ICBM: 42:22N 71:47W |
+------------------------------------------------+---------------------+


------------------------------

Message: 4
Date: Sat, 7 Jun 2008 15:11:43 EDT
From: Saquinn624 at aol.com
Subject: Re: [rescue] Iris Indigo Elan - can't determine CPU speed
To: rescue at sunhelp.org
Message-ID: <c13.31cbcb02.357c376f at aol.com>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii"

TOD clock -> replace battery. You can either get the proper one or solder in

a PC-type lithium coin cell & holder. If you're lucky the battery will be 
socketed and can just be pulled out, if not you'll need a strongish
soldering 
iron.   Worth doing, especially if you have a spare junk PC board.

Don't worry about the "Can't determine CPU speed"   - that's just the fact 
that the R4400 CPU postdates the PROM on the IP20, so it doesn't know
anything 
about R4400 or 150MHz. It'll work just fine.


**************
Get trade secrets for 
amazing burgers. Watch "Cooking with Tyler Florence" on AOL Food.
      
(http://food.aol.com/tyler-florence?video=4?&NCID=aolfod00030000000002)


------------------------------

Message: 5
Date: Sat, 7 Jun 2008 21:56:09 +0000
From: jodys at helluin.org
Subject: Re: [rescue] Iris Indigo Elan - can't determine CPU speed
To: The Rescue List <rescue at sunhelp.org>
Message-ID: <20080607215609.GA17443 at helluin.org>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=us-ascii

On Sat, Jun 07, 2008 at 10:20:18AM -0500, Ian Finder wrote:
> Did the Iris Indigo have a mobo battery? I thought it had one of those
> dallas RTC chips with the built in battery-- you know, the kind that
> forces us to reenter the MAC addresses on our old sun machines every
> time they turn on.

The battery on the Indigo is seperate.

> 
> Worse yet though, when you replace the internal battery, or put in
> another chip, I could've sworn you have to "bless" it so the Indigo
> takes it-- and I think the magic incantation is kinda tricky.

I replaced one about 1 year ago, nothing special needs to be done other
that the challenge of actually desoldering the thing.

Jody


------------------------------

Message: 6
Date: Mon, 9 Jun 2008 11:47:43 -0400 (EDT)
From: Ethan O'Toole <ethan at 757tech.net>
Subject: [rescue] IBM RS6000 B50? Good? HP J6000?
To: rescue at sunhelp.org
Message-ID: <Pine.LNX.4.64.0806091145350.4401 at mh3.757tech.net>
Content-Type: TEXT/PLAIN; charset=US-ASCII; format=flowed

I've toyed with the idea for a while of getting two boxes, so I can add 
more HP-UX and IBM AIX skills to my resume.

The IBM RS/6000 B50 seems like a cost effective, 2u rackmount system that 
runs AIX. Is there anything faster/better in the same form factor at the 
price point?

The HP J6000 seems to be a 2u rackmount, depending on the config. How does 
it hold up for value in terms of bang for buck? Anything better in that 
form factor?



--
.-------------[ Ethan O'Toole ]-----------------------------+  -
:--[ Flickr ]=[ http://www.flickr.com/photos/ethanotoole ]--+ -
`-------------[ Homepage ]=[ http://users.757.org/~ethan ]--+  -


------------------------------

Message: 7
Date: Mon, 09 Jun 2008 15:17:59 -0400
From: Patrick Giagnocavo <patrick at zill.net>
Subject: [rescue] FS Cisco 1721 with 2 Ethernet ports (unit plus 1
	WIC-1ENET)
To: The Rescue List <rescue at sunhelp.org>
Message-ID: <484D81E7.4060704 at zill.net>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=ISO-8859-1; format=flowed

I have a Cisco 1721 that is surplus to my needs.

Comes with an extra Ethernet port, the add-in WIC-1ENET card.

$85 including shipping anywhere in the lower 48 CONUS.

--Patrick


------------------------------

Message: 8
Date: Mon, 9 Jun 2008 22:40:05 +0100
From: Mark <md.benson at gmail.com>
Subject: Re: [rescue] IBM RS6000 B50? Good? HP J6000?
To: The Rescue List <rescue at sunhelp.org>
Message-ID: <2AC59475-F56F-455D-A273-02E1A0EE390E at gmail.com>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=US-ASCII; format=flowed; delsp=yes

On 9 Jun 2008, at 16:47, Ethan O'Toole wrote:

> I've toyed with the idea for a while of getting two boxes, so I can  
> add more HP-UX and IBM AIX skills to my resume.
>
> The IBM RS/6000 B50 seems like a cost effective, 2u rackmount system  
> that runs AIX. Is there anything faster/better in the same form  
> factor at the price point?

I can't comment on the HP thingy, but I have a B50 (7046, right?) and  
despite it's slightly meagre specs it is an excellent box for learning  
and goofing about with AIX on. AIX is like most old skool UNIXs. It's  
not slow (in the sense that it doesn't lock out, or grind to a halt or  
whatever) it's just steady. Have  a little patience and it's a great  
little box.

The other nice thing about the B50 is it's VERY quiet for a 2U rackie.  
I have mine on a shelf next to my desk at about knee height, it's got  
2 18GB 10k Cheetahs (the newer 2.5" platter type that are really  
quiet) and it's no worse than having a U60 or a Java Workstation sat  
next to me, in fact it's quieter than a U60. It's kind of a slab-like  
workstation from my perspective.

Mine has a basic framebuffer (GXP-130, AFAIK) in that'll do 8-bit at  
1280x1024 quite successfully. Unless you are planning on doing  
something insane like CAD on it this is more than sufficient. It's hi- 
res so you can get a good number of terminals on one screen, and it's  
fast, using CDE. That said, once you get it working you could install  
OpenSSH on it from somewhere and remote into it.

All in all it's a great box for lightweight meddling about on.


-- 
Mark Benson

My Blog:
<http://markbenson.org/blog>
Visit my Homepage: <http://homepage.mac.com/markbenson>

"Never send a human to do a machine's job..."


------------------------------

Message: 9
Date: Tue, 10 Jun 2008 09:03:41 +0200
From: Jochen Kunz <jkunz at unixag-kl.fh-kl.de>
Subject: Re: [rescue] IBM RS6000 B50? Good? HP J6000?
To: rescue at sunhelp.org
Message-ID: <20080610090341.8d8ffbad.jkunz at unixag-kl.fh-kl.de>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=US-ASCII

On Mon, 9 Jun 2008 22:40:05 +0100
Mark <md.benson at gmail.com> wrote:

[RS/6000 B50]
> It's kind of a slab-like workstation from my perspective.
Well. The B50 is a 43P-150 in a rack mount box. The only difference is
the PCI riser card for obvious reasons.
-- 


tsch__,
       Jochen

Homepage: http://www.unixag-kl.fh-kl.de/~jkunz/


------------------------------

Message: 10
Date: Tue, 10 Jun 2008 08:08:06 +0100
From: Mark <md.benson at gmail.com>
Subject: Re: [rescue] IBM RS6000 B50? Good? HP J6000?
To: The Rescue List <rescue at sunhelp.org>
Message-ID: <3CADEB42-CA32-4E60-A02A-8AAC4433ADC2 at gmail.com>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=US-ASCII; format=flowed; delsp=yes

On 10 Jun 2008, at 08:03, Jochen Kunz wrote:

> On Mon, 9 Jun 2008 22:40:05 +0100
> Mark <md.benson at gmail.com> wrote:
>
> [RS/6000 B50]
>> It's kind of a slab-like workstation from my perspective.
> Well. The B50 is a 43P-150 in a rack mount box. The only difference is
> the PCI riser card for obvious reasons.

Makes me wonder if I couldn't get a beefier GXP card for it :)

Anyone got any ideas, it'd have to be supported in AIX 5.3 and do 32- 
bit at acceptable velocity :)

-- 
Mark Benson

My Blog:
<http://markbenson.org/blog>
Visit my Homepage: <http://homepage.mac.com/markbenson>

"Never send a human to do a machine's job..."


------------------------------

_______________________________________________
rescue maillist  -  rescue at sunhelp.org
http://www.sunhelp.org/mailman/listinfo/rescue


End of rescue Digest, Vol 67, Issue 5
*************************************



More information about the rescue mailing list