[SunRescue] IRIX and SGI -- OT --URGENT!-

[Corda Albert J DLVA]

Woah!  Hold on there!

Insert the chip BACK-TO-FRONT?!!!

I would _Definitely_ not recommend this!  If you look at the
specs for the DS1286 chip, I think you'll find that this
applies reverse voltage to the chip (i.e. +5v applied to the
GND pin and GND applied to the +5v pin). Such an attempt might
very likely let the magic smoke out of the chip (and possibly
the Indigo2 motherboard as well)  BTW, the specs for
the chip can be found at:
	http://www.dalsemi.com/products/timekeep/watchdog.html

What you would really want to do is to somehow disable the
CE (Chip Enable) pin of the chip when the Indigo2 is booting,
so that it thinks it has an invalid NVRAM setup.  After the
prom boot is completed and you are in the prom monitor, you
want to re-enable the CE pin connection, so that the prom monitor
can then write to the chip, which will allow you to reset
the prom password.  I can think of two ways to do this... the
first (more risky) way is to pull the DS1286 (with the power off),
power-up the machine, get into the prom monitor (past the point
where it checks for a prom password), then (VERY CAREFULLY!)
re-insert the DS1286 and reset the prom password. The second
way would be to rig up a double 28-pin socket (i.e. one socket
on top of another, best done with machine-pin sockets) with pin
20 cut between the sockets, and wire the upper and lower pin
20 stubs to a small switch between the pins, probably with some
fine wirewrap wire. Plug the socket assembly into the
motherboard, and the DS1286 into the top socket. Use the switch
to disable/enable the chip.  This would require some delicate
soldering, etc. but in my opinion it's the safest way.

BTW, all this is moot if there isn't a hardware (prom) password.
Also, I seem to remember that there is an "official" way to
reset the hardware prom password on the Indigo2 via use of a
jumper or something of that nature... Unfortunately, I don't
actually remember the procedure. Does anyone else out there
remember it?...

-al-
-acorda at geocities.com

  

> -----Original Message-----
> From: Mark Davies [mailto:mark.uunix at btinternet.com]
> Sent: Thursday, February 15, 2001 10:05 AM
> To: rescue at sunhelp.org
> Subject: Re: [SunRescue] IRIX and SGI -- OT
> 
> 
> 
> Hi.
> 
> > -----Original Message-----
> > From: rescue-admin at sunhelp.org
> > [mailto:rescue-admin at sunhelp.org]On
> > Behalf Of Simeon Johnston
> > Sent: Wednesday, February 14, 2001 2:49 PM
> > To: sun-rescue
> > Subject: [SunRescue] IRIX and SGI -- OT
> >
> >
> > Sorry if this is not related to sun systems but I need help...
> > I got an SGI Indigo2 at an auction and am trying to load a
> > system on
> > it.  I have IRIX 6.5 disks and have everything I need
> 
> A proper bootable CDROM drive? (I assume yes)
> 
> > but there
> > is a
> > password on the machine.
> > It doesn't allow me to log into the machine as anything other
> > than the
> > admin or guest.
> 
> "admin" ??
> 
> Can U stop the system on startup (press 'esc') ?
> clcik on command line (bottom button??)
> If you can get this far, and no passwd is required, then I 
> would suggest
> just re-initalizing and mkfs the disk:
> If you need help with this, just let me know the SCSI id of 
> the CDROM drive.
> 
> if you cannot get to the miniroot then open up the box and 
> power off plug
> in:
> 
> pull out the dallas chip.
> turn it back to front
> power on
> temp' insert the chip (back to front) for a few seconds
> remove and turn everything off.
> reinsert the chip
> on the back of the computer is a ethernet address something 
> like 69:09:xx:xx
> start the computer and stop it.
> Go to command line:
> type:
> 
> setenv nvram -f 69:09:[whatever the remaining numbers are]
> 
> reset the machine.
> 
> All this is OK on INDY, INDIGO and anything else I've tried, 
> BUT never tried
> it on a INDIGO 2
> 
> hope this help
> 
> 
> > I need to have full priveleges as I have
> > already sold
> > this machine.
> > I can get to the system embedded into the hardware and get to
> > the
> > diagnostic tools but am unable to load a new system or bypass
> > the login
> > to get access.
> >
> > Is there a way to bypass the password or re-install the system
> > from
> > scratch?  It only allows me to update or fix the system, not
> > re-install
> > it.
> >
> > Any help would be appreciated.
> >
> > sim
> >
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> >
> 
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