BCM400 COM port access

[Warrenator]

Hello all.

I'm struggling to get on to a BCM400, and have come across something that (if I could get it to work) would be pure gold to me.

See below:-

"Changing IP address using the BCM serial port

1. Connect the serial port of a PC to the serial port of the BCM using a null-modem cable. Set parameters to 9600 baud, 8-N-1.

2. User Name = ee_admin, Domain = <press enter>, Password = PlsChgMe!

3. Main Menu – press 2

4. Start Menu – press q

5. Quick Configuration – press a to change LAN1, press i to change LAN2, press r to change the Next Hop Router

6. When you are finished making changes, restart the BCM to make any changes take effect.


For some reason, I can't get a COM port connection open. Can anyone clear the following questions up for me please?

Flow control; hardware, x-on/x-off or none?

Initial connection; will I just get data into my terminal (HyperTerminal) screen or do I have to press a certain key(s)?

As ever, all help will be gratefully received. Thanks.

Gently does it. If gently doesn't do it, smash it with the hammer.

 

[Warrenator]

Flow control off, use a null modem not a straight through. D'oh!

Gently does it. If gently doesn't do it, smash it with the hammer.

 

[Firebird Scrambler]

As above. Standard settings and 9600 baud should apply.

Here is my old guide for replacing a hard disk that states a Null modem adapter is needed.

1. Replace the old hard drive with the new hard drive.

2. Visually inspect the inside of the BCM to confirm all connections are OK. It may be a good idea to use a PC style vacuum cleaner to remove excessive amounts of dust from the unit.

3. Replace the cover

4. Connect your PC to Serial port using a Null Modem Serial cable

5. Apply power to the BCM & allow 5 minutes for the BCM to become operational. During this time it will perform a check disk and a reboot.

6. Open Hyper terminal session on your PC
• IN CONNECTION DESCRIPTION NAME IT BCM AND PICK AN ICON
• IN PHONE NUMBER CHECK CONNECT USING IS DIRECT TO COM 1
• IN COM 1 PROPERTIES CHECK PORT SETTINGS
• BITS PER SECOND 9600
• DATA BITS 8
• PARITY NONE
• STOP BITS 1
• FLOW CONTROL HARDWARE

7. If the BCM is ready you will then be prompted to log in.
• user name: ee_admin
• domain: (leave blank just press return)
• password:

Additional information as there is an issue with running the initialization profile from the serial port. The Apache server would not start and you couldn't connect with the browser interface. There is a bug in the 3.X images. Before running the initialization profile you have to go to a command prompt through the serial port (option 7) and change the date back to 1-1-2008 such as >DATE 01-01-2008. I then used EXIT to leave the CLI section. Then you can run the initialization profile. After this is completed, everything came up fine. Finally change the date back to e.g. 7-1-2012 and all is working OK.

8. You will then be presented with a menu, press 1 to select "Platform Initialisation Menu".

9. From the "Platform Initialisation Menu" choose option 1 - "Initialise Menu"

10. From the Initialise Menu" choose option 1 - "Initialise Universal Profile" and wait for a short time for the next menu

11. From the "MSC Initialisation Menu" choose option 3 – depending on HDD version this maybe "E1 MSC LOAD" for 3.01 and 3.5 and "UK MSC E1" for 3.6. Again depending on the HDD version the LED’s on BCM will flash in a particular way. For 3.01 and 3.5 all LED’s will flash green and for 3.6 you will see the Power flash red then the Temperature followed by the Fan and other LED’s will be green or out.

12. During this stage the BCM will upload the necessary files and core and will do various reboots, when you have all LED’s showing steady green it has completed. The whole process should be completed within 30-40 minutes.


All the best

Firebird Scrambler
Meridian 1 / Succession and BCM / Norstar Programmer in the UK

http://www.linkedin.com/in/davidbromley

If it's working, then leave it alone!.

 

[Warrenator]

That could come in handy one day, do you need a multi image unit like for the 450 or just a blank HDD of compatible side/rpm?

Gently does it. If gently doesn't do it, smash it with the hammer.

 

[Firebird Scrambler]

The question is what type of BCM 400 system do you have?. Any software versions prior to 3.7 were Windows NT based. the 4.0 software was Linux.

All the best

Firebird Scrambler
Meridian 1 / Succession and BCM / Norstar Programmer in the UK

http://www.linkedin.com/in/davidbromley

If it's working, then leave it alone!.

 

[Warrenator]

Pretty much all of them, I'll ask the question again when I need to cross that bridge.
Was just curiosity at this point.

Thanks.

Gently does it. If gently doesn't do it, smash it with the hammer.

 

[exsmogger]

To answer your question about the multi-image drives, they will work in any BCM50 or BCM450. For the BCM400 you'll need a drive imaged with the correct software version for your system.

Brian Cox
Georgia Telephone

http://Georgia-Telephone.com

http://www.linkedin.com/in/briancox1952

 

[daveyboy1977]

With BCM200/400's, they used the BIT tool, it was based around Norton Ghost, with each new system you got, it would come with the imaging disk's, you would use these disks combined with the BIT cd and a code obtained from the Keycode site.

As for the BCM50/450's, as per exsmogger's reply.

Thanks Dave.