[SunRescue] Re: Problem with Weitek PowerUP

[rescue at sunhelp.org]

Several years ago, I tried to install redhat 4.2 on a Sparc 2 with
a powerup.  The install would always end with a horribly corrupted
file system.  There were no scsi or disk problems.  Someone from the
sparc linux list told me that powerup chips datecoded before 9405
had a bug of some sort.  I swapped the 1993 chip with a datecoded 9447
powerup and it worked fine.  I have no idea if a fix was found or
if it affects netbsd.  I'm curious what the date code is on your IPX's
powerup.

-Ken

> Message: 3
> Date: Thu, 22 Feb 2001 19:07:42 -0600
> From: William Barnett-Lewis <wlewis at mailbag.com>
> To: <rescue at sunhelp.org>
> Subject: [SunRescue] Problem with Weitek PowerUP
> Reply-To: rescue at sunhelp.org
> 
> A few nights ago I had a problem with my IPX after I upgraded it with a
> Weitek PowerUP. No one here replied though I did get the answer below.  It
> appears that Solaris and NetBSD stress the cache in very different ways...
> 
> I'm posting it here as a way to spread the knowledge as it _is_ an unusual
> answer and I'd like to share it.
> 
> William
> 
> > This in fact appears to be the case here as well. I have a second IPX. I
> > swapped the cache chips on the two motherboards and reloaded NetBSD 1.5 from
> > CDROM. At this time I am running successfully. I will probably begin a make
> > install on something larger (Emacs say) from the packages system to give a
> > better stress test. However, the fact that X does not cause a panic instantly
> > leads me to expect that the difficulty is solved.
> >
> > My thanks to all who replied as all of the messages taught me something
> > valuable.
> >
> > William
> >
> >
> > on 2/19/01 4:14 AM, Petter Skott at lps at ludd.luth.se wrote:
> >
> >>
> >> I've seen a similar problem on a IPX when upgrading to a PowerUP chip
> >> Solaris worked just fine but NetBSD paniced frequently.
> >> It turned out that the cache chip was broken so i replaced it whith a chip
> >> from another IPX that had a broken motherboard.
> >>