[SunRescue] SPARCsystem 600MP needs an OS

[James Lockwood]

On Sun, 5 Sep 1999, Chris Sterling wrote:

> The netboot worked like a champ. The address for Sol2.6 is 0x71c, with
> halt at 0x74c. 

Hrm, is this 2.6 3/98?  2.6 FCS had the address at 0x740 IIRC.

> Unfortunatly, both disks are toast. Which brings me to my next question...
> how the heck do I get those monster drives out?

It's a snap.  Take the plastic top off by unscrewing the large plastic
knob on the back, the slide it backwards.  Then remove the starboard metal
panel by undoing the row of screws on the top (these will either be
Phillips or 3/16" Allen-wrench head), pull the panel sideways, and lift it
up (heavy sucker).  The two drive bays are the large metal brackets you
see with the large pair of flat-bladed screws next to each.  Get a big
screwdriver, unscrew all four screws and the bays swing out on hinges.
It's a really nifty design.

There is one thing that I just realized though, you may need to terminate
the end of your SCSI chain.  Underneath the plastic top-panel near the
back of the machine there is a small metal access plate with a screws
holding it down.  Undo those screws and notice where the terminator packs
are installed.  If they aren't in there or if they're in the "STORAGE"
sockets, you will need to add an external terminator to the extra SCSI
connector on the back.  The /x30 chassis is kind of funky in this respect,
there is a short SCSI cable that comes from the mainboard into the lower
socket in the back, this socket leads to a ribbon cable that connects to
the drives, and it snakes back up to connect with the upper socket and the
terminator packs (if installed).

> The drives I have on hand are... Seagate, 2.1BG (connor bios), and a old
> Barracuda or two, probably 1GB'ers. Do I need drives with SUN bios, or
> will these work?  I'll also have to go buy an external drive case I guess.
> Can I mount 3.5" drives in the 330's chassis? 

Sure, in fact the /x30 came with four connectors on the long SCSI ribbon
cable and four power connectors available for drives.  There are two 5.25"
full-height bays, and you can install up to 4 3.5" half-height drives if
you want to with those $2 3.5" to 5.25" PC drive adaptors.

You can use any SCSI-II drive you like, subject to power and heat
constraints.  Since the /x30 has power to burn and tons of ventilation it
should handle nearly anything.  The drive connectors are IDC 50-pin,
standard narrow SCSI.

This brings another point to mind: the long SCSI ribbon cable is a weak
point in the /x30 design.  Out of the 6 4/330's I've owned, 4 of them had
dead or failing cables.  Even if it looks perfect, if you still have
problems getting other drives to show up, go ahead and buy a PC narrow
SCSI cable to replace it, and don't bend it too much (the originals are
terribly squashed, you'll understand when you take a look).

Does it show I used to run a lab of 30 of these?  :)

-James