Netra Display Help
I have a Sun Ultra 2 UltraSparc that does not have a video card installed. I am trying to telnet into the box, however I am having no luck. I have tried connecting via hyperterminal and teraterm to no avail via the TTYa and TTYb ports. I have attched a null modem as well in an attempt to connect, however I am having no luck. I have to use a DB-9 adapter b/c the only serial port I have on my Windows box is a LPT1 port and I cannot do (or figure out) TCP/IP. Does anyone have any ideas? I do not see anything when I connect, not a prompt or anything. I tried sending a hard return in an attempt, however it failed. I allso have the keyboard unplugged, and have nothing connected to the box except the power cable and serial cable plugged into TTYa. The thing that is interesting to this situation is that this is a machine I purchased off of ebay and the seller re-installed Solaris 9 before sending to me, so I do not know where the installation process is when the machine is turned on. I cant tell if it is at a point during the installation that is GUI only and is asking for configuration information such as admin. pass? Or what.....Anyways, what I need help w/ is connecting to the box....Any ideas would be extremely helpful. If I left anything out that will help isolate trbl lemme know. Thanks!!
[1321 byte] By [
unicorncop] at [2007-11-25 23:07:12]
# 1
how do you not have serial ports on your peecee? also, what in Sun is a Netra 2? you mean an Ultra 2?
I don't think there is any way to configure a LPT port to be a serial port... if you don't have a serial port on your peecee, you are SOL.
if it is an U2, then stick with the serial port A and make sure you have a null modem cable (talked about in these forums too many times)....
more info needed.
haroldkarl
# 2
Unicorncop,
Do you have a link to the completed Ebay auction,
so that others can see the photo(s) that were there ?
If not, then perhaps you can provide your own pictures?
As haroldkarl said, LPT is a parallel printer port, whereas serial is serial. They are mutually exclusive devices, and <i>neither</i> uses TCP/IP for their communication protocols.
For additional techno-babble definitions, I often visit <a href="http://www.whatis.com" target="_blank">http://www.whatis.com</a> as a starting point.
You assumed correctly that the keyboard/mouse needs to be detached
if you're to use the TTYa for console.
That is indeed the best way to make your connection -- it's called running headless.
If there isn't a framebuffer, then there will never be a GUI, even with the keyboard.
The interface will be a plain text command-line.
X needs video circuitry.
# 3
Sorry about the confusion, I wasn't in front of my machine on the initial posting.
I assumed that TCP/IP could not be used over LPT port, and that is the only DB25 serial port my PC has. In fact, that is the only DB25 serial port to named out of all of my machines, however I do have a DB9 connection, and a db9 to db25 adapter that has been used in conjuction with the null modem, however a DB9 does not have the same pin assignment, i.e.FG (Frame Ground) on a DB25 is Pin 1, where as Pin 1 on a DB9 is CD (Carrier Detect), not for sure if this is part of my problem...
The Sun machine is in fact:
Ultra Enterprise 2. (see pic)
Not a "Netra".
Hope this helps, Thanks!
# 4
the 25 >9 pin adapter works just fine... just use the U2's A port (the one on top I think) and the peecees 1st serial port... and it should work just fine....
blah, blah null modem cable, blah blah... without keyboard or monitor, blah, blah...
last time I tried it , it worked without any futzing... if you want you can check the 9600 baud and that stuff...
just try it... are you going to run it headless? or do you just want to know if the darn thing works? do you have a Sun keyboard/mouse? and a monitor(if you have a frame buffer...)...
when null modem is hooked up, you should see the self-diagnosis/start up routine up until the main spash screen.
let us know what happens....
haroldkarl
# 5
I will be running it headless, and it's not playing nice. Not seeing any sort of prompt when using Hyperterminal. Tried using a null modem on the U2's DB25 to no avail. So I tried a DB9 null modem on the "peecee" side, to no avail. I also download Exceed, no luck
# 6
I also bought a UDA video card to see if it would spew something onto my display, (and a vga adapter of course), and guess what....no video output that way either, I think something may be seriously wrong with this. However, even if the OS wasn't installed properly I should still see something right? Again, I tried both TTY (A) and (B).
# 7
first, I wouldn't count on using the "sellers" install ... especially if you want to telnet in...
I imagine you meant UPA frame buffer (that is what we call them, not video card)... and unfortunately, not all 13w3>15 pin adapters work... and you would need a Sun keyboard/mouse (I think?) to get the video to work... of course all my Sun equipment is 180 miles away right now... I am getting bad cravings to fire up one of my E4500s....
where was I ... oh, one time I tried the ole null modem trick with one of my peecees.... and it didn't work... I had to turn the stupid port on.. so, anything is possible... and make sure your null modem cable IS a null modem cable...
any chance you could get your hands on a Sun keyboard/mouse and a Sun monitor? I would not leave home without them (aahh shoot, I did just that....)
when in doubt, use a bigger hammer!
good luck,
haroldkarl
# 8
I do have a Sun keyboard/mouse, but not a monitor. I already have monitors filling up my office so I was hoping to get away with running headless. Although, if I had to turn that port on, that would be the only real way to check, however the frame buffer fit is kinda funky so I'm not for sure if that is even the right one, according to the Sun U2 Docs. it is., But lets assume I never mentioned anything about having one of those, what I am interested in is having headless access only. Am I screwed?
Let's say that the OS is screwed up....is it possible for me to install it from the command line? I guess I could prob. ftp it, but this is getting a lil too involved for a $20 box that was supposed to be a certification booster.
# 9
Screw It... I just bought a Sun Ultra 60 Dual 300Mhz, 1G, 2x18G Hard drive, and it comes with a video card. Yay!Anyways, thanks for all of your help, really.
# 10
the U60 is nice... if you give up totally on the U2, the memory can be moved to the U60. the upa card is hard to install... the only slot it fits is obviously the one nearest the power supply. it does take a bit of work, but it does fit.
good luck with the U60... but, don't give up on the U2 or give it to another needy Sun Noobie!
haroldkarl
