7044-170/AIX 5.1 install problem

[directxl]

Ok...It give me headache to get this up.

I bought a used 7044-170 (BOS level sh000808), no OS, no hard drive. So I bught a Quantum 18.4 Ultra3 SCSI drive and AIX 5.1

After power up and 'F1' I can see the following lines in SMS:

Integrated SCSI cntlr id=7(p1/z1)
18210 MB harddisk id, lun=0,0
Integrated SCSI cntlr id=7(p1/z2)

Not sure why the second line on the same SCSI id? I assume the SCSI id and drive is OK with the machine.

Anyway, it does not boot from AIX 5.1 CD1 at all. I downloaded the system microcode updates and made two floppys on a windows machine and one CDROM update disk. Update thru SMS's update utility did not go thru (show a red ! code after 2 minutes with the first disk, 44x70_B1).

Now, someone nice enough to tell me exactly how to proceed this. Do I have to buy a AIX 4.3.3 ? Would that CD directly bootable? I really need to compile some c++ code in AIX.

yes, I am new to rs6000/AIX game.

Appreciate any helps.

Mike

 

[CrystalWizard]

cd1 should be bootable regardless of what machine you're trying to boot with it, unless you have bad media or a bad CD/adapter. However I'm not real sure that 5.1 is going to run on that 7044.

How many scsi cards do you have in that machine?

 

[p5wizard]

SMS program is discovering your SCSI devices:

>Integrated SCSI cntlr id=7(p1/z1) ==> z1: first port of integrated SCSI adapter at 7,0
> 18210 MB harddisk id, lun=0,0 ==> 18GB hard disk at address 0,0
>Integrated SCSI cntlr id=7(p1/z2) ==> z2: second port (different SCSI bus) at 7,0

I believe you should also see your CDROM device? Makes me wonder if you have set the harddisk and CDROM to the same SCSI ID... I would try and plug the disk in the other port if this is possible (might be that this is not an option because of cabling - i.e. z1 is internal and z2 is external or the like). Otherwise set the disk to address 1,0 and try again. Or leave out the disk and try and boot off the CD: you should be able to get to the install menu or see an error message about system not having disk space...




HTH,

p5wizard

 

[directxl]

ok...I opened the metal plate and fixed the loose cable to the CD-ROM. And, made the CD-ROM bootable (option 2 after diskette).

The 'config' in SMS showed id=7,p1/z1
18210 MB id, lun=0,0
cd-rom id, lun=1,0

It seems the system found both harddrive and cd-rom, and gives it different 'lun' (whatever it means).

Now ,it is trying to boot from cd-rom (as I remember it did few months ago)...both cd-rom and harddrive LEDs light up during spin.

Then, I am stuck at 'Closing stdin and stdout...' with '0c45' display on the system status LED. 20+ min has passed.

Does anyone know how do I update microcode from the two diskettes made(under windows) on a rs6000 without os installed?

I know many people have run aix 5.x on this box.

thanks all!

 

[CrystalWizard]

lun=logical unit = virtual disk = disk. so it's seeing the cd as a disk.

0c45 should be prompting you for input. go into sms, boot from there so you have an open terminal window and watch to see if you ever get the press 1 to have english screen. If you do, press 1. then watch to see if you get the install menu.

you SHOULD see it start to install. if you get the install menu, go into the various options and see if it can find a disk to install to.

 

[p5wizard]

clean the diskette drive (get a cleaning set for 3.5" diskette drives - should still be available somewhere...

or

Try and cut the FW diskettes again

and

try the FW upgrade again (bad diskette? drive?)





HTH,

p5wizard

 

[victorv]

Hi,
if machine boots by AIX 4.3.3 CD, the CDROM and cables are OK.

Media AIX 5.1 may be corrupted, but we consider they are OK.

You have to upgrade the firmware (microcode in IBM slang) of CD-ROM

ciao
Vittorio

 

[p5wizard]

If I read the firmware update description file for 7044-x70 correctly, you can only upgrade firmware from AIX - I.e. you may have to install 433 first, then upgrade firmware using AIX command line method, then reinstall/upgrade AIX to 5.1

I don't think you can upgrade firmware from CDROM on 7044-x70.



HTH,

p5wizard

 

[directxl]

First of all...many thanks to all helps.

The CD(can be read from windows fine) and diskettes are brand new. I tried to make the microcode update diskettes again with the same result. I think I need a aix first before doing that ?!

I never passed the point to press any key. I always get the tiny font (about 1600x1200, not sure how to change that at boot time). I could go to a '>' from SMS. I could do a 'ls' which lists the unix style hardware mappings. Anything other command I would get a 'unknown word'. So I need to have a BOS to do anything there. BTW, 'ls /options' would give the same list as 'ls'

So now, I cannot install from cd or update microcode.

If I buy a aix 4.3.3 on cd, I would have the same problem, right?

what to try next?

thanks

pos. I tried to play with the jumper on the harddrive for scsi id without any noticeable difference.

 

[directxl]

One more detail:

on ibm site, it says to label the diskette "Volumn 1: Backup....." with a very long name. It might be that the bios/sms looks that 'backup' in label before doing any update? I cannot label that with the EXE (Ardi? which makes any image file for aix from windows) downloaded. I cannot label that long name with windows either. How can I make the dikette with that long name under windows.

also, the instruction says to 'mkdir /tmp/fwupdate', which I got an 'unknown word' response from sms's "Ok prompt"

Do anyone have a set of aix 4 on diskettes to spare. I may need that to install into aix 5.1

 

[p5wizard]

the site is telling you to put a sticker on the diskette so you know which is which (sequence number when loading the diskettes one by one when upgrading firmware...)

...and so you can retrieve the correct diskettes from the bottom of your desk-drawer if/when you need it again later in the box's life...

You shouldn't try and alter the disk by labeling it with some other software...


HTH,

p5wizard

 

[CrystalWizard]

A brand new CD can't still be bad media.

 

[victorv]

Don't confuse machine microcode (board+cpu)
and CD microcode.
I have had the same problem with AIX 5.1: the difference
was that I had AIX 4.3.3 on machine and I have done
this upgrade by AIX (as told by p5wizard)

http://techsupport.services.ibm.com/server/mdownload/other.html

CD-ROM Drive 40X

http://techsupport.services.ibm.com/server/mdownload2/40xcdrom.html

The solution I see is that you get an AIX 4.3.3(almost CD1),
perform a simple installation, upgrade CD microcode, and do a fresh installation of 5.1 by CDs you have bought.

I have looked for Linux temporary installation, but code for
CD microcode upgrade, is olny (in IBM site) in AIX format.

bye

 

[directxl]

I just thought about the sticker as well ;-) 'Labeling' was only after my initial failed trys without ...

It seems I need a BOS installed before updating anything or install aix 5.1. The SMS has a update utility but failed(not sure when to use that one).

Does anyone know if 7044-170 can boot from aix 4.3.3. CDs? I read someone tried before and got the same problem. If works (without new microcode) I will have to eBay a set.

Is there a way to make bootable dikettes from AIX 5.1 CD images from a windows box (as I can read aix CDs) ?

Aix does NOT like to play...guess why Bill Gate is rich.

 

[p5wizard]

booting from diskettes for RS6k was only possible in AIX 3.1 and 3.2. from AIX 4, you need cdrom / tape or disk boot image.

Only exception I know of was on early 43P models there was an boot diskette, but that was only to get to SMS diagmenu's, as that type of HW did not support the AIX diag command.

So I guess you need to ebay an AIX 433 CD set...



HTH,

p5wizard

 

[directxl]

p5wizard,

Many thanks to your help.

Do you know aix 4.3.3 CD would boot from this around yr2k box with BOS level sh000808?

If not, where I could fetch a set of aix 3.2??

That seems the only option left.

 

[DukeSSD]

0c45 Cannot configure the console.
'Closing stdin and stdout...' means AIX is booting but cannot find the console.
I can't find any reference in the firmware update doc that says AIX5 support was added so I think you have a console problem, nothing more.
What sort of console are you using ? LFT (Graphics screen and PC type keyboard and mouse) ? Try a dumb terminal on the S1 port, you can use a PC or laptop with a null modem cable and hyperterminal set to 9600, 8, n, 1.
It seems like the CD boot does not recognise your graphics card and is looking for input from the serial ports.

 

[p5wizard]

Will check tomorrow on our 170 - it is now on 5.2, but was installed at 4.3.3. Don't know the FW level by heart...

3.2? - forget it. Minimum level for 170 was 4.3 I think.



HTH,

p5wizard

 

[DukeSSD]

My old MCA 7012 runs 5.1 so I don't think firmware is the issue.
This old MCA machine didn't even have upgradable firmware !
0c45 is when the system tries to initalise the console (after AIX has taken controll) so It is probably sending "type x and press enter to use this screen as the console" (where x is 1 for S1, 2 for S2, etc).
I see the latest firmware for the 170 adds 5.3 support so it must be a CHRP machine and so should support 5.1 and 5.2 with just about any firmware loaded.

 

[p5wizard]

Come to think of it, on our 170, we upgraded from 43 to 51 and 52 without any FW upgrade that I can remember... But those were the good old days when IBM CE's installed newly bought servers so they might have upgraded FW on initial install time. That was in 2001 if memory serves me right.

Yes 7044-170 is CHRP so I guess DukeSDD is right about the console issue...


HTH,

p5wizard