[rescue] Use of old Sun VME framebuffer boards...

[Josh Dersch]

On 2/13/16 6:32 PM, Josh Dersch wrote:
> Hi all --
>
> I have a cgthree (9U VME framebuffer) I'm attempting to get running as 
> the system console and I'm not having much luck.  I've tried it in 
> both a Sun-3/150 and a Sun-4/110 with the same results -- no output on 
> the display (not even a sync, as far as I can tell).
>
> Having never really dealt with these framebuffers before (in these 
> machines previously I've either used the built-in mono framebuffer or 
> the serial consoles) I wanted to make sure I'm not missing anything 
> obvious.  I've set the appropriate EPROM values (set 0x1f to 0x12 
> which if I'm reading things right should set the console to a VME 
> framebuffer) and I've jumpered the backplane properly for the slot.  
> I've also checked the jumpers on the cgthree against the hardware 
> reference and everything looks good.  If there's anything else I need 
> to to do, let me know.
>
> I've no idea if this board even works as I've never used it before, so 
> it's fairly possible that that's my problem, but I wanted to rule out 
> operator error first.
>
> Thanks,
> Josh

So, to reply to my own post:  I took a closer look at the cgthree board 
and it looks as if someone has scavenged parts from it!  One RAM chip is 
missing (neatly desoldered) and a socketed chip at position E4 is 
missing (I fear that may be a PAL).  Can anyone out there confirm what 
(if anything) is meant to be present at E4?

- Josh