Conference mvblab::alphaserver_4100

521.0. "Resetting console flags?" by HGOVC::BILLDICKENS () Wed Mar 05 1997 11:24

The following console flags were changed on an Alpha 4100 (not a good idea in
retrospect) and the system powered off/on.

	console		was graphics	now serial

	com1_flow	was software	now hardware

The result is the console (and therefore the machine) is unusable.
A terminal is connected to comm1 port on the 4100, a graphics terminal is
connected to the console graphics port.  After power-up 15-20 lines of
hardware tests etc. are displayed on the terminal connected to comm1.
After a message something like "console started on cpu 0" and several
memory test lines, no more output is received on the comm1 terminal.
Control-P, break etc, produce no output.  Nothing is displayed on the graphics
terminal.

We have tried connecting a terminal (with modem signals enabled) via a
null-modem cable to comm1, however we then get no output on the 
terminal after a power-up. (The cable is OK as we have tried this on
a working comm port on another system.)

Does anyone have some suggestions on working around this problem,
resetting the console flags to defaults or some other suggestion?

Or is it time to replace the console rom.  (I believe this is located on
the PCI backplane?

thanks & regards,
bill.

    Try the following:
    
      1. Connect serial line to COM2 port.
      2. Depress halt button to force SRM console (if OS_TYPE=NT).
      3. Reset machine.
      4. Wait until you see "AlphaServer 4100" in OCP display (or
         alternate message if user has set OCP_TEXT=<some_string>).
      5. Wait five more seconds.
      6. Press <CR> on the serial terminal.
      7. If you get an SRM console prompt, reset the COM1 EVs to a
         more appropriate value.
    
    Let me know how you make out..
    
    BC
      

Thanks for the recovery instructions.  Unfortunately the backplane was
replaced before I could try the fix (The backplane swap certainly fixed the
problem, although this may have been overkill.)

best regards,
bill.

    It most certainly was overkill. "NPFs" cost Digital a lot of money.