Is my Ultra 5 dead?
Hi all and sorry for my poor english!
One week ago I bought a Sun Ultra 5 on Ebay.
Yesterday it arrived but because of my monitor (it can handle 1024x768x75 and below resolution(s)) I can't see anything, so I spent yesterday evening searching informations in this forum.
Today morning I built a Null-Modem Cable and tried the serial connection from my linux box! Here is an example of what I got:
$ cu -l /dev/ttyS1 -s 9600
Connected.
333bg3
8< > x ||| <>< < ;wsss333m%I m-UUUjk{Z?齔6ff9yR!cu: Got hangup signal
Disconnected.
$
(Got hangup signal = I forced power off with the switch on the power supply)
Obviously the keyboard is disconnected when I try to get the serial connection.
Tried also with minicom... the same output!
More details:
When I turn up my U5 by the switch on the power supply, I can see that HD, fans, cdrom are workin and keyboard leds flashing (sometimes I hear also a beep, sometimes not) but if I press the power button on the keyboard or on the frontside I don't see any activities and the power led is constantly off.
So, can I consider my U5 dead on arrival or there is something more I can try?
Thank you VERY much!
Bye/Antonio
Milan/Italy
[1437 byte] By [
dianemx] at [2007-11-25 23:07:39]
# 1
plug the keyboard in, turn the U5 on and hold the Stop and the N keys down until the keyboard stops blinking or it posts. that will set the OBP to defaults.... then reboot the beast.
the only video is on board? no cards? just checking...
see what happens...
haroldkarl
# 2
<table border="0" align="center" width="90%" cellpadding="3" cellspacing="1"><tr><td class="SmallText"><b>haroldkarl wrote on Thu, 26 January 2006 14:53</b></td></tr><tr><td class="quote">
plug the keyboard in, turn the U5 on and hold the Stop and the N keys down until the keyboard stops blinking or it posts. that will set the OBP to defaults.... then reboot the beast.
the only video is on board? no cards? just checking...
see what happens...
haroldkarl
</td></tr></table>
Nothing... :-)
I can hold down the Stop and N keys for five minutes, but nothing happens (POST doesn't start, no led blinking on the keyboard).
the video card is the one on-board (PGX24).
Thank you for your answer!
Bye/Antonio
Milan/Italy
# 3
The scrambled characters <i>could</i> suggest that you were using
the incorrect terminal emulation mode in your Linux program.
Is there a way to check that?
(I've never used MiniCom, so I cannot provide guidance with it.)
Emulation of VT-100, else of VT-52 would usually be the preferred choices.
That presumes that all other settings are correct
9600-n-8-1
You had the speed correct.
The connection requires No Parity, 8 bits, One Stop Bit.
--
If you can eventually see normal characters, then come back to the forum.
Let us know whether there is an OS installed.
We'll all be able to guide you on resetting the screen resolution.
Bill at 2007-7-5 17:58:38 >
# 4
you might contact the seller...
also, sometimes shipping will loosen connections... so, maybe re-seat the memory... check the power connector to the motherboard... the cpu has (most do) a clip..
you have the service manual?
<a href="ftp://docs-pdf.sun.com/805-7763-12/805-7763-12.pdf" target="_blank">ftp://docs-pdf.sun.com/805-7763-12/805-7763-12.pdf</a>
you may need to tweak the settings for the null modem...
haroldkarl
# 5
Ok guys, first thanks to all for your help!
I've done all the "steps" you suggested but my U5 doesn't work at all!
I checked if hw components were right plugged in their slot...OK
Built another null modem cable (I follow the instructions at <a href="http://www.sunhelp.org/unix-serial-port-resources/serial-pinouts/#nmdb9.l ink" target="_blank"> http://www.sunhelp.org/unix-serial-port-resources/serial-pin outs/#nmdb9.link</a> )! Cables are ok but both show the same behaviour (strange characters, etc.)...
Tried with cu and minicom on the linux side...
Tried with hyperterm and teraterm on the windows side...
NOTHING!
A very strange thing: I can get the "strange characters" output even if the keyboard is connected to the U5! This sound very very strange to me!
However I don't know... what can I do more?
Another thing that I want to point out again: Power LED is ALWAYS off and, when I turn on the system with keyboard plugged in, I DON'T HEAR the beep (I've read in many messages on the forum that the beep means "good, I'm booting well").
Thank you again for your help!
Bye/Antonio
Milan/Italy
# 6
Hello Antonio,
<i>A very strange thing: I can get the "strange characters" output even if the keyboard is connected to the U5! This sound very very strange to me!</i>
It's not strainge at all. The diagnostic output is always directed to the serial console.
<i>However I don't know... what can I do more?
Another thing that I want to point out again: Power LED is ALWAYS off and, when I turn on the system with keyboard plugged in, I DON'T HEAR the beep (I've read in many messages on the forum that the beep means "good, I'm booting well").</i>
The beeper is integrated in the keyboard, but does only "signal" that the system did poweron.
A few hints:
Review the Troubleshooting Procedures (-> Ultra 10 Service Manual, page 4-1ff)
Is the power supply working (e.g. can you open/close the CD-ROM tray by pressing the button) ?
Try another ATX power-supply.
Temporarily remove the Timekeeper/NVRAM chip (the one with the yellow barcode sticker, left to the riser board) and poweron. I had in the past another board that didn't poweron due to a malfunctioning Timekeeper.
Keep the Null-Modem cable simple (only the required wires TX, RX and GND, but no handshake).
Review the POST codes on the keyboard (-> Ultra 10 Service Manual, page 3-19) ?
Michael
maal at 2007-7-5 17:58:38 >
# 7
Hi Michael
<i>The beeper is integrated in the keyboard, but does only "signal" that the system did poweron.</i>
Ok... but I can't hear any beep! Even if i press the button on the frontside or the power button on the keyboard.
However... I've read again the Troubleshooting procedures, I checked again for components, kept the NVRAM out an powered on the system, tried another ATX power-supply (the one from my pc, so in this case I cannot get any output from the serial connection cause my pc is power off),built a second null-modem cable (DB9f - DB25m - pinout: 2 <-> 3, 3 <-> 2, 5 <-> 7)...
I'm pretty sure of the cables and of their pinouts (making of the last one is too simple, so I don't think there are any "solder errors").
The ATX supply shipped in appears to be good (I can open cdrom tray for example).
I tried to initialize the motherboard post, holding down Stop - D while powering on the system but NOTHING. CapsLock doesn't blink (so I presume that POST never start).Always consider that for me "power on" means switching from 0 to 1 on the supply button because with the other "power buttons" I don't get anything.
Thank you!
Bye/Antonio
Milan/Italy
# 8
First of all, thanks all of you guys for your answers.
I finally try my U5 with the right monitor (a NFREN NF-1800MAP, max resolution 1280x1024... nothing!
There is no activity, screen remains blank, monitor got "No signal"...
I tried every solution on sun support forums and sun newsgroup but...
my U5 is dead, I'll contact the seller for a replacement!
Thank you again!
Bye/Antonio
Milan/Italy
