[rescue] Sun E4K CPU Upgrade

Richard ejb at trick-1.net
Wed Jun 27 17:54:54 CDT 2018


So here is the prtdiag H/W output - looks like the CPU boards are all 100Mhz Capable but the SBUS Board isn't (Will plug in some of the other boards over the weekend). 

Also from what I have found the OBP is last release...anyone know of OBP > 3.2.29 ?

========================= HW Revisions =========================
ASIC Revisions:
---------------
Brd  FHC  AC  SBus0  SBus1  PCI0  PCI1  FEPS  Board Type      Attributes
---  ---  --  -----  -----  ----  ----  ----  ----------      ----------
 0    1    5                                  CPU             100MHz Capable
 1    1    5    1      1                 22   Dual-SBus       84MHz Capable
 2    1    5                                  CPU             100MHz Capable
 4    1    5                                  CPU             100MHz Capable

System Board PROM revisions:
----------------------------
Board  0:   OBP   3.2.29 2001/06/18 17:28   POST  3.9.29 2001/06/18 17:50
Board  1:   FCODE 1.8.29 2001/06/18 17:25   iPOST 3.4.29 2001/06/18 17:49
Board  2:   OBP   3.2.29 2001/06/18 17:28   POST  3.9.29 2001/06/18 17:50
Board  4:   OBP   3.2.29 2001/06/18 17:28   POST  3.9.29 2001/06/18 17:50


On Wed, 27 Jun 2018, at 7:54 PM, Richard wrote:
> Hi Mike
> 
> Thanks for this and the other replies. Off to audit my machine.....and 
> then start to work out the lowest common denominator and work from 
> there...FWIW I am running Solaris 8
> 
> Another question I have is the PCI I/O board (didn't come with my 
> machine but I picked one up) does anyone know if there is a minimum 
> firmware etc that is required?
> 
> Cheers
> 
> Richard
> 
> On Wed, 27 Jun 2018, at 7:22 PM, Mike Spooner wrote:
> > Hi Richard,
> > 
> > There are four critical parts: (1) the backplane, (2) the clock board, and
> > (3) the CPU/memory boards, and (4) the I/O boards.
> > 
> > The *very* early 8-slot backplanes were officially rated for
> > backplane-clock-frequency range 71.5-93 MHz.
> > The later 8-slot backplanes were officially rated for up to 100MHz.
> > 
> > Some Ex00 clock-boards provide CPU-multiplier ratios of 2:1, 3:1 and 4:1.
> > Some (later) Ex00 clock-boards provide additional an CPU-multiplier ratio
> > of 5:1.
> > 
> > Early CPU/memory boards have a maximum bus-clock frequency of 84MHz, later
> > ones 100MHz.
> > 
> > Some I/O board models/versions may not be suitable for a 100MHz backplane
> > frequency.
> > I would also check the model number of any disk-boards you have, just in
> > case.
> > 
> > You *will* need to catalog the whole set of boards you have, to see what
> > you can do, and whether the CPUs will
> > run at 400MHz or be down-clocked. Any such down-clocking could be caused by
> > an I/O board, CPU/memory-board,
> > or (perhaps) disk-board that won't run at 100MHz, in the presence of a
> > clock-board that does not support 5:1 ratio.
> > 
> > On Solaris 2.6/7/8/9 (not sure about S10), the prtdiag command can be used
> > to get a list of boards present, with their FRU part numbers and versions.
> > 
> > Regards,
> > -- Mike
> > 
> > On 27 June 2018 at 00:56, Richard <ejb at trick-1.net> wrote:
> > 
> > > Hi Folks
> > >
> > > Looking for experience/guidance on CPU upgrade for my E4K.
> > >
> > > My E4K currently has
> > > - 3xCPU boards with a total of 6x 336Mhz CPU's on board.
> > > - I have 2x new CPU boards coming and they have 400Mhz CPU already on
> > > board.
> > > - I also have an additional 4x 400Mhz CPU's on the shelf.
> > >
> > > I am therefore thinking/ looking to purchase 2 more 400Mhz CPU's so I can
> > > upgrade all CPU's to the 400Mhz versions.
> > >
> > > when I look at the parts list for the E4K http://shrubbery.net/~heas/
> > > sun-feh-2_1/Systems/4u-Server/E4000.html
> > >
> > > I see there are a number of options
> > >
> > > 400MHz UltraSPARC II Module
> > >  501-4995
> > >  501-5425
> > >  501-5585
> > >  501-5235
> > >  501-5661
> > >  501-5762
> > >
> > > when I go to eBay I have found some different numbers for the CPU Module
> > > i.e. 501-6009 or 501-5838 .
> > >
> > > I further note that the compatibility statements exist for each CPU such
> > > as this for 501-5235
> > >
> > > Clock 501-2975 is not supported.
> > > The E6000 and E6500 require Clock 501-5365 for a 5:1 clock ratio.
> > > The E3x00, E4x00, and E5x00 require Clock 501-5365 for a 5:1 clock ratio
> > > if 84MHz system boards are installed.
> > > Clock 501-4286 or 501-4946 is supported in the E3x00, E4x00, and E5x00 if
> > > the centerplane and all system boards are 100MHz.
> > > Clock 501-5365 is supported if 84MHz or 100MHz system boards are installed
> > > in the E3x00, E4x00, and E5x00.
> > >
> > > Is it just a mater of inventorying my machine and working out which
> > > modules are compatible with what is in there already or is there an easier
> > > way?
> > >
> > > Appreciate thoughts/insights.
> > >
> > > Regards
> > >
> > > Richard
> > > _______________________________________________
> > > rescue list - http://www.sunhelp.org/mailman/listinfo/rescue
> > _______________________________________________
> > rescue list - http://www.sunhelp.org/mailman/listinfo/rescue
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