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Conference mvblab::alphaserver_4100

Title:AlphaServer 4100
Moderator:MOVMON::DAVISS
Created:Tue Apr 16 1996
Last Modified:Fri Jun 06 1997
Last Successful Update:Fri Jun 06 1997
Number of topics:648
Total number of notes:3158

450.0. "bootdef_dev corrupted" by FOUNDR::TOMASWICK (Joe - Enterprise Systems Engineering) Wed Jan 29 1997 13:28

	I have a 4100 that somehow has the variable bootdef_def corrupted.
If I do a show bootdef_dev a bunch of garbage is displayed and the console
hangs.  Also, if I try to do a set bootdef_dev to anything I get a 
"string too long" and the console hangs.. Clear bootdef_dev gives me a
"protected" message?. Any way to fix this?

Joe
T.RTitleUserPersonal
Name		DateLines
450.1LANDO::CUMMINSWed Jan 29 1997 13:5629
    This bug/feature was recently uncovered during V4.8 SRM console qual.
    It's been there since Day One and is fixed in the soon-to-be-released
    V4.8 console. What causes this is the user swapping a PCI boot adapter,
    pointed to by bootdef_dev, with a non-boot adapter/device. An example
    would be a KZPSA being swapped with a VGA card..
    
    To get out of this state, one needs to either restore the adapter 
    configuration or erase the SRM console's NVRAM (which will cause all
    saved environment variables to be lost..)
    
    To erase the SRM's NVRAM, type the following at console:
    
      P00>>> d eerom:1800 -b -n 7ff 0
    
    Then cycle reset and reset any preferred environment variables.
    
    For the record, the V4.8 console adds a couple features around
    saving/restoring NVRAM contents to/from a floppy diskette. Namely,
    save_nvram and restore_nvram scripts which tell the user what to do.
    Clear_arc_nvram and clear_srm_nvram scripts have also been added so
    one does not need to remember the above deposit sequence. And again,
    V4.8 also fixes the problem described in the base note.
    
    The V4.8 console is expected to FRS on 2/7 to support some 4100/4000
    CPU upgrades and will ship on the V3.9 FW CD which is scheduled to ship
    on 3/3.
    
    If questions, let me know.
    BC
450.2NEMAIL::SOBECKYFacts,tho interesting,are irrelevantWed Jan 29 1997 21:336
    Other indications of this problem include console hanging when a simple
    P00>>> show   command are issued. Or a P00>>> show b* command or
    similar command. The console will hang after outputting a message
    stating 'string too long'.
    
    -john
450.2Will hang on a boot or auto-boot alsoLANDO::CUMMINSThu Jan 30 1997 09:148
    Note that boots and autoboots that use bootdef_dev will also hang if
    the NVRAM gets into this state. If auto_boot is set to halt and
    bootdef_dev points to a boot device, should the user swap the boot
    adapter with a non-boot addapter (e.g. a VGA), the subsequent auto-
    boot will hang. To recover from this situation, depress the front-panel
    halt button to regain control of the console. Then use one of the
    methods described in .1 to restore the system to an operable state.
450.3Other ways to hangNEMAIL::SOBECKYFacts,tho interesting,are irrelevantThu Jan 30 1997 10:075
    We've found that a P00>>> show  or P00>>> show b* or similar commands
    will also hang the console under these conditions.
    
    FWIW
    -john