[rescue] "New" SPARCserver 20

[Brian Hechinger]

On Tue, Jun 19, 2001 at 11:49:26AM -0400, sambo at charm.net wrote:
> 
> Hey, good idea. I'll work on re-installing everything as I realize I'm
> missing it. I had thought of starting fresh, and the idea didn't really
> appeal. What the heck, though. I'll do it tonight.

IMAO: re-installing is something you should do every chance you get.  every
time you re-install, you get to "blow out the cobwebs" and end up only 
installing what you have used since the last install as opposed to everything
and the kitchen sink.  plus, it gives you a chance (forces?) you to get the
latest and greatest versions of everything.  sure, there is a large about of
time spent doing it, but in the long run it's usually a win.

> Tried 4 keyboards. they all do the same. (I don't know the type #'s. Two
> are bright new (old by now) Sun colors with a power key at the top right
> and sound controls, and the other two are dull colored tan with sorta
> yellowish keys and optical mice) Is the connector bad? Can I replace it?
> 
> Why would it take "stop-a" every time, and nothing else 'till then? I
> don't get it.

i would say either bad connector on the sparc20, or hosed keyboard controller
(serial controller actually) but the likelyhood of that is slim.  try cleaning
the connector a little (dip one of the keyboard plugs in alcohol and plug/unplug
it several times)

although if this is going to end up as a headless server, this is all a waste
of time.

> Yeah, well, workstation (the linux box I'm pulling the 9G from) has dual
> P3-500's and 512M RAM. It's *still* not enough sometimes. I want more,
> more, more! (wouldn't mind processor upgrades either!)

i rip CDs to wav with gallete (on a 32x cd-rom, nice and fast) and then convert
them to mp3 with 8hz-mp3.  on a 150Mhz HyperSPARC CPU.  i really need a faster
machine.  it takes AGES to convert a couple CDs. :)

> But after a SPARC2 with 64M, this SS20's gonna rock! If I can load an
> OS, that is.

you will, trust me.  i will see to that. :)

> So you think it's major? How do I get the OS on there then? After that I
> can do everything remotely, but as far as I know, I have to have a
> keyboard for now. Is there another way? Can I get the Solaris 8 cd to
> run unattended? I'll have to enter network settings at some point.

remove the keyboard, put a null-modem cable on the serial port and hook it
up to your linux box.  run tip or minicom (or whatever the hell linux comes
with) set to 9600 8N1 and you should get a console prompt. :)

the F-keys don't work from here, so for the install you'll have to do stuff
like ESC-2 and ESC-4 instead of F2 and F4.  but the text install system is
just as easy to use as the openwin one (never used that new crufty one, don't
know anything about it)

> Cool. Guess I'd better stick around then.

this is a good place to learn.  just lurk.  read all questions, and read all
answers.  you'll be surprised to know what you can learn from this list. (i've
been doing UNIX admin for going on 10 years now, and _I_ am surprised by what
i can learn on this list)

> No luck. I wish you success.

thank you.  i'll let you know how it goes.

> Hey, what do you do? I may be able to help you find something....

believe it or not, pretty much what i do here on this list.  i'm a Senior 
Solaris Administrator by trade. :)

cheers,

-brian