CDROM boot for install

[u856100]

Hi,

I am trying to install Solaris 8 on a sparc 10 and 20 machine. I have done this previously with other machines using an external SCSI sun cdrom. This time the SCSI CDROM is internal but is not a SUN. I have set the target to 6 and can see the device using a 'probe scsi', but everytime I type boot cdrom, one machine ignores it and boots from the hard disk, whilst the other reports that the device has a 'bad label' or 'no label'.

Any help would be gratefully received.

cheers
John

 

[gca007]

hi, first use the comand
OKprobe-scsi-all

and check the target and path for this device
after that use
OKshow-disks
OKnvalias mycd path_device_and_target
OKreset
OKboot mycd

 

[mattrumik]

not all cdrom work /can boot with SUN:
they need to have 512 byte block transfer;
in fact that is rather unusual. Some Plextor
had (have?) a jumper, some Thosh to solder points.
Without that feature, I do not think it will work.
:-/

 

[markman42]

Don't panic. Check with Sun first because I had the same problem and found out that Sun shipped some servers with bad cdrom drives. If it takes a couple of times to boot off the cdrom and it all of a sudden it works. Its the cdrom drive. Another thing you can do is to set the reboot mode in the EPROM to false. that way if it fails it won't continue and boot off the disks

 

[Boria]

Hi,
uf your Sun has more than one SCSI adapter try to reconnect
cdrom to other adapter. I have problem like your and resolved it this way.
Boris

 

[u856100]

Hi people,

thanks for all your replies!

I think matramik might be right on this one, as I have tried two different toshiba and HP CDROM drives, and neither work on the Sparc station.

I will attempt to find a SUN CDROM from somewhere!

cheers again
John

 

[Boria]

Hi again,
fyi I never use SUN cdrom for Sun and never vad problem.
Boris

 

[mattrumik]

ok, back to basics:
what You see when You do
ok> probe-scsi
?
is the cdrom there, or not?
then check alias (see gca007)

if You have a running machine
connect cdrom there and see
whether You can read any cd.

If everything checks out fine,
you most likely got a
"none 512 byte blocks" drive:
can not boot, but can read CD

Otherwise let me know

 

[u856100]

Hi,

probe_scsi
displays the CD fine.

using 'nvvalias' and 'devalias'
demonstrates that the alias's are being constructed correctly

I have connected the cd internally and externally, so either both adapters are not working, or the cd is "non 512 byte block compliant"

I have run the install in the past with the same disks (solaris 8) on a sparc 20 with internal SUN cdrom which worked fine, so the disks are OK.

when I try to boot from the cd, it just ignores me and continues to boot from the primary HD.

I am searching for a colleague who has a SUN cdrom still

cheers again for everyones help!

John

 

[mattrumik]

possible explanation for the differing results:
older sun work only with 512 byte blocks
newer sun (Ultra, SF) might work with all CDROM;
I will check this next week.

Everybody can agree with this?