Hi,

I have a problem with a V890 that is giving me grief.

We can use it just fine over the RSC console and I've got
it all going fine with the network RSC and so on.

But in this instance, we also need the graphic console to service
the system from time to time.

I cannot get the XVR-100 to work and it's always blank.
I suspect it is "almost" working because I think I am getting input
with the keyboard and mouse, but of course can't prove it.

Can someone please give me the definitive procedure to get the RSC
and the serial console both working?

Here's what I have so far:


Pkginfo lists the pfb packages as being installed.

modinfo shows the driver loaded:

modinfo | grep pfb
169 78226000 14710 220 1 pfb (pfb 1.88 Sep 29 2003 12:10:47)

I seem to have 3 devices here - which one is the right one?!

fbconfig -list
Device-Filename Specific Config Program
--------------- -----------------------
/dev/fbs/pfb0 SUNWpfb_config
/dev/fbs/pfb0a SUNWpfb_config
/dev/fbs/pfb0b SUNWpfb_config


I guess I need to change this, but what will happen to my RSC?

eeprom |grep put-device
output-device=rsc-console
input-device=rsc-console

X is running dtlogin, but I can't see it!

What else do I need to do - surely it must be possible to have
the Console and RSC active at the same time?

Any help would be much appreciated!


rachel

In article <grove-0714DB.14243112062006@vulcan.virago.org.au>, rachel polanskis <grove@zeta.org.au> wrote:
>Hi,
>
>I have a problem with a V890 that is giving me grief.
>
>We can use it just fine over the RSC console and I've got
>it all going fine with the network RSC and so on.
>
>But in this instance, we also need the graphic console to service
>the system from time to time.
>
>I cannot get the XVR-100 to work and it's always blank.
>I suspect it is "almost" working because I think I am getting input
>with the keyboard and mouse, but of course can't prove it.
>
>Can someone please give me the definitive procedure to get the RSC
>and the serial console both working?
>
>Here's what I have so far:
>
>
>Pkginfo lists the pfb packages as being installed.
>
>modinfo shows the driver loaded:
>
>modinfo | grep pfb
>169 78226000 14710 220 1 pfb (pfb 1.88 Sep 29 2003 12:10:47)
>
>I seem to have 3 devices here - which one is the right one?!
>
>fbconfig -list
> Device-Filename Specific Config Program
> --------------- -----------------------
> /dev/fbs/pfb0 SUNWpfb_config
> /dev/fbs/pfb0a SUNWpfb_config
> /dev/fbs/pfb0b SUNWpfb_config
>

All 3 are correct for card 0
You can run the card in split mode (like
two different resolutions). In split mode you
use the pfb0a and pfb0b devices explicitly
so you can have two different settings.

Normally you use pfb0 for single screen and
doublewide mode (two identical screens).

Make sure the /dev/fb points to /dev/fbs/pfb0
(normally this link is created when a graphics
card becomes a console)

>
>I guess I need to change this, but what will happen to my RSC?
>
>eeprom |grep put-device

>output-device=rsc-console
>input-device=rsc-console

During bootup, there's only one input and output device
available, and these set them. Change them to screen
and keyboard to use your graphics card and kbd.


>X is running dtlogin, but I can't see it!
>

Try logging out of your rsc connection, if you are
leaving it active. If CDE thinks your console
is busy, it thinks it's going to mess up your
console "screen", and it goes dormant. It's
doesn't actually check that it's been redirected
to other devices, like serial, rsc, or other inactive
graphics cards. It just goes dormant if
the console is active.

If not, it looks like Xsun isn't starting or aborting.
Check you Xerrors file (/var/dt/Xerrors, if I remember right)
for any error messages.

X/CDE starts long after bootup, though. So it's a different
problem than the console problem above. If you use
rsc as your console, it won't ever go directly to the screen
(in text only mode) and keyboard. You can start X/CDE
there, but it's still not a console.

What you can do is temporarily redirect the console 

a window while X is running. There are options
for this in xterm, dtterm, cmdtool ( "-C" I think )
to do this. While they are active, they will grab
the console output and display them.
If you redirect $DISPLAY, you can even display
this on a remote X display (local terminal client
with a remote display). This doesn't change the
one and only "real" console device, though.
That's still chosen in the firmware during
bootup, and can't be changed in Unix.


>What else do I need to do - surely it must be possible to have
>the Console and RSC active at the same time?
>
>Any help would be much appreciated!
>
>
>rachel

rachel polanskis <grove@zeta.org.au> wrote:
> Hi,

> I have a problem with a V890 that is giving me grief.

> We can use it just fine over the RSC console and I've got
> it all going fine with the network RSC and so on.

> But in this instance, we also need the graphic console to service
> the system from time to time.

"Service"? Do you just need to log in while the system is up, or do you
need full OBP control (boot messages, OK prompt, ability to abort)?

You can't have full OBP control on two devices simultaneously (like RSC
and the keybaord/screen).

You can keep the console on the RSC, but set up the keyboard and screen
for normal logins while the system is running.

Which do you need?

--
Darren Dunham ddunham@taos.com
Senior Technical Consultant TAOS http://www.taos.com/
Got some Dr Pepper? San Francisco, CA bay area
< This line left intentionally blank to confuse you. >

In article <gD1kg.115535$dW3.18701@newssvr21.news.prodigy.com >,
Darren Dunham <ddunham@redwood.taos.com> wrote:

> rachel polanskis <grove@zeta.org.au> wrote:
> > Hi,
>
> > I have a problem with a V890 that is giving me grief.
>
> > We can use it just fine over the RSC console and I've got
> > it all going fine with the network RSC and so on.
>
> > But in this instance, we also need the graphic console to service
> > the system from time to time.
>
> "Service"? Do you just need to log in while the system is up, or do you
> need full OBP control (boot messages, OK prompt, ability to abort)?

I need to be able to use Legato Networker and other GUI
tools on the system.

> You can't have full OBP control on two devices simultaneously (like RSC
> and the keybaord/screen).

Ah, OK.....

> You can keep the console on the RSC, but set up the keyboard and screen
> for normal logins while the system is running.
>
> Which do you need?

If I can have OBP control via RSC and have CDE running on the console
that would be fantastic as I can always telnet into RSC if I need it!

Can you please explain how to set this up? At the moment
we have a blank screen but can login to RSC just fine.


thanks!

rachel

rachel polanskis <grove@zeta.org.au> wrote:
> If I can have OBP control via RSC and have CDE running on the console
> that would be fantastic as I can always telnet into RSC if I need it!
>
> Can you please explain how to set this up? At the moment
> we have a blank screen but can login to RSC just fine.

InfoDoc 73200 has all the details (although in this case you'll want
"rsc-console" instead of "ttya")

Scott

rachel polanskis wrote:
> In article <gD1kg.115535$dW3.18701@newssvr21.news.prodigy.com >,
> Darren Dunham <ddunham@redwood.taos.com> wrote:
> > rachel polanskis <grove@zeta.org.au> wrote:
> > > I have a problem with a V890 that is giving me grief.
> > > We can use it just fine over the RSC console and I've got
> > > it all going fine with the network RSC and so on.
> > > But in this instance, we also need the graphic console to service
> > > the system from time to time.
> > "Service"? Do you just need to log in while the system is up, or do you
> > need full OBP control (boot messages, OK prompt, ability to abort)?
> I need to be able to use Legato Networker and other GUI
> tools on the system.

just curious.
Why cant you use ssh for this?

gerryt@ <gerryt@vcn.bc.ca> wrote:
>> > "Service"? Do you just need to log in while the system is up, or do you
>> > need full OBP control (boot messages, OK prompt, ability to abort)?
>> I need to be able to use Legato Networker and other GUI
>> tools on the system.

> just curious.
> Why cant you use ssh for this?

Sometimes it's the only machine in the room! :-) Certainly if it
already has the head, being able to log in on it is a reasonable thing
to do.

--
Darren Dunham ddunham@taos.com
Senior Technical Consultant TAOS http://www.taos.com/
Got some Dr Pepper? San Francisco, CA bay area
< This line left intentionally blank to confuse you. >

Darren Dunham wrote:
> gerryt@ <gerryt@vcn.bc.ca> wrote:
> >> > "Service"? Do you just need to log in while the system is up, or do you
> >> > need full OBP control (boot messages, OK prompt, ability to abort)?
> >> I need to be able to use Legato Networker and other GUI
> >> tools on the system.
> > just curious.
> > Why cant you use ssh for this?
> Sometimes it's the only machine in the room! :-)

I think RP administers many Sun boxes.. : >

> Certainly if it
> already has the head, being able to log in on it is a reasonable thing
> to do.

Indeed - but until some more details are revealed I have to "wonder"...
: >
Seems like a waste of a video card somehow.
Certainly it should 'just work' as long as you use the analog output..
I have the same card and the digital O/P is a black screen untill
I login (using -xinerama with Xsun..) But I havent had a vid card in
any RSC
equipped box to deal either.

gerryt@ wrote:
> Darren Dunham wrote:
> > gerryt@ <gerryt@vcn.bc.ca> wrote:
> > >> > "Service"? Do you just need to log in while the system is up, or do you
> > >> > need full OBP control (boot messages, OK prompt, ability to abort)?
> > >> I need to be able to use Legato Networker and other GUI
> > >> tools on the system.
> > > just curious.
> > > Why cant you use ssh for this?
> > Sometimes it's the only machine in the room! :-)
>
> I think RP administers many Sun boxes.. : >
>
> > Certainly if it
> > already has the head, being able to log in on it is a reasonable thing
> > to do.
>
> Indeed - but until some more details are revealed I have to "wonder"...
> : >
> Seems like a waste of a video card somehow.
> Certainly it should 'just work' as long as you use the analog output..
> I have the same card and the digital O/P is a black screen untill
> I login (using -xinerama with Xsun..) But I havent had a vid card in
> any RSC
> equipped box to deal either.

Ok, people want answers!

The system has an RSC so I can netboot/JET it via N1sps. It also
means
I don't have to be in the data centre to look at the OBP.

It also needs an XVR-100 because it's our Legato Backup Server.
I need to be able to get to the console when we put tapes in so
I can run "nsrjb -d" when I stick carts in the CAP port of the L700,
without ringing
one of the guys in the office whenever this needs to be done.

It also needs the card so I can do DR work, in case our backup system
falls over,
"someone" needs to have the console to "do stuff" to Legato in a hurry!

BTW, Scott - I cannot find Infodoc 73200 anywhere in Sunsolve......


Thanks!

grove@zeta.org.au wrote:
> BTW, Scott - I cannot find Infodoc 73200 anywhere in Sunsolve......

Would you believe 72300...

Document ID: 72300
Title: Setting up a workstation with a graphical interface and a serial console

http://sunsolve.sun.com/search/docum...ey=1-9-72300-1
(Sunsolve account required)

Scott