gdm-20e20 monitor on sparcstation 20 and ultra2
Hi.
I'm using a Sun (sony) gdm-20e20 on a sparcstation 20 and ultra2.
On both the monitor and server turns on, the orange led on the monitor flashes for a bit and then the green led turns on but nothing comes up on the screen.
Does the same thing on my normal pc monitor that ive been using on some E450's and E250's except for when the led goes green i get picture up (openboot screen appears)
Not quite sure why its doing this, theres probably and obvious answer just don't know it :)
can anyone help?
thanks
[557 byte] By [
ashzor] at [2007-11-26 10:34:11]
# 1
... having a bit of difficulty trying to understand the issue.
The PC monitor does work on the SS20 and U2, while the Sun monitor does not ?
If "Yes" then what have you set for resolutions on those two older computers?
Did they EVER work with that Sun monitor ?
Are you direct-connecting the monitor to the DB13W3 ports?
The GDM-202E20 has a very limited range of resolutions (only three).
960x680 (though why anyone would use that one is questionable)
1152x900 (Sun's historic standard default output)
1280x1024
[url=http://www.sunshack.org/data/sh/2.1/infoserver.central/data/syshbk/Devices /Monitor/MONITOR_Color_20_Premium_CRT.html#365-1335]See that monitor at a 3rd party web site in Australia[/url]
OBP and POST should be at the customary 1152-mode, so this is truly perplexing.
Next, the onboard video of the SS20 fails if the Vsimms go bad.
It could also be configured to run with a SBUS video card.
The Ultra-2 requires a SBUS framebuffer or a UPA framebuffer.
Do the computers boot up enough for you to telnet in from another system?
You could log into them and investigate using that procedure.
Otherwise you will need to TIP in and figure it out that way.
Perhaps there are some custom settings in OBP that need to be cleared out ...
# 2
Hi thanks for the reply, after re reading what i said i dont think i explained well enough.
i have a sun ULTRA2 and a SPARCstation20 that i havent been able to use before because i haven't had a monitor that has DB13W3 cable (think thats the right name for it has 1 circle pins then 2 circles) to put into them.
I Recently got a gdm-20e20 given to me.
I tried it on both the SPARCstation2 and ULTRA2 when both started the monitor LED's on front went green (i think it would only do this if its receiving a signal from the servers) but nothing appears on the screen.
I have 8 E450's and 4 E250's that do the same thing when the server is turned on except i get display and they work fine but there using a VGA monitor on a raptor GFX card.
I Can't test the monitor on th E450's or E250's because they don't have the correct port.
You mentioned about the resolution on the servers may not be compatible with the monitor is there a way of changing the resolution without a display or will i have to use a TIP connection from another server to them to change there resolution and can i do this from either a E250 or E450.
I have a CISCO DB9-RJ45 cable and a Female Serial to a male Serial with 3 pins inline top left and in middle a group of 3 pins like an upside down triangle (i think its called a gnoll modem cable not sure)
Message was edited by:
ashzor
# 3
Do the SS20 and U2 systems boot to a functional OS, at all ?
As I mentioned in my first response, you could telnet in and investigate.
Glance through the man pages for fbconfig.
If there isn't any OS as yet,
then your serial cabling is the only way to get in.
TTYa is your console port for that connection.
From the OBP's OK prompt, you can rummage around for anything non-standard.
The 'eeprom' utility from within Solaris would give you a portion of that functionality.
I suggest you start with the Ultra-2.
System documentation is easier to find, such as from the Sun System Handbook.
http://sunsolve.sun.com/handbook_pub/Systems/U2/U2.html
Additionallly, the OBP 3.x Command Reference Manual is available at Docs.Sun.Com.
http://docs.sun.com/app/docs/doc/806-1377-10
The SPARCstation-20 uses OBP 2.x, but most commands are the same.
-
An additional thought.
Go back to the people that gave the monitor to you.
Did it work for them? On what sort of a setup ?
(or was it defective and they used you as a recycle bin ?)
# 4
Thanks for the fast reply,
on my E450's i have solaris 9 currently installed, on the SS20 and U2 i dont know if there an operating system on them because i haven't managed to get a display on them yet. Im new to SUN and i have attempted connecting 2 Servers together in the solaris 9 console but failed. Can you tell me how to or link me to a guide that explains how? thanks :)
# 5
There are Solaris man pages for the tip command.
Essentially, you connect the two computers together,
using your null modem cable and whatever shape adapters may be necessary.
Alternatively, you use a straight-through serial cable and a null modem shape adapter at one end.
In the functional Solaris machine, you open a terminal window and type:
# tip hardwire <enter>
Then you power up the other computer.
It should just work.You get to see that other system's activity through the terminal window.
For your first examination, do NOT have any keyboard/mouse plugged into that other computer.
That forces output to its TTYa port.
You may need to involve other people at your site.
Combine your experience and all can learn together.
If you have a Sun service contract on any of your systems,
open a support case for guidance to run TIP from them.
# 6
ah i think where i was going wrong i had a keyboard and mouse plugged into both and i had the second server turned on before using the tip command.Thanks for your help its really appreciated, ill give it a try later gotta dig out the other servers.
# 7
Once you get everything sorted out, that SS20 would make a great
"crash-cart" system.You set it up with its own monitor,
on a roll-around cart in the datacenter that has some shelving underneath,
for computer repair tools/books/parts ...
Then you use that system to TIP in to whatever other system needs investigation.
You can do the same with an old desktop PC.
You use a terminal program such as Hyperterm,
or even betterTeraTerm
[url=http://hp.vector.co.jp/authors/VA002416/teraterm.html]TeraTerm Home Page[/url]
It is freeware and has a native keystroke capability for the STOP-A break command.
# 8
Hello, I'm having the same problem here as well. I have a gdm20e20 monitor plugged into a sun ultra 2 using the 13w3 port. When I power on, the light on the monitor is green, but nothing comes up on the screen. Anyhow, I wanted to know if you solved your problem because maybe your solution could help solve mine. Thanks in advance for any info you could provide.
emph at 2007-7-7 2:43:23 >
