E4500 and hyperterminal 1

[mikejordan]

Hi,
I've got a test e4500, with nothing installed, and I am trying to connect to it using a laptop (XP) and hyperterminal. There are (according to Google) plenty of people doing this successfully, but I'm not one of them. The server has a serial port, and I'm trying to connect from a com port on the laptop. Does anyone know what I might be doing wrong?
Thanks.

 

[djr111]

a null modem cable is needed, also, if your env is set to:
output-device=screen
input-device=keyboard

to find out, from 'ok' prompt, type 'printenv'
from OS, type 'eeprom'


then I believe it is setup to use a monitor and keyboard.

If you have the ability to change it, change it to:

output-device=ttya
input-device=ttya

 

[mikejordan]

Thanks djr111. I can't get to the ok prompt to check the env parameters, and I don't have any OS installed. I think the cable is null modem - how do I tell? Regards, Mike

 

[cndcadams]

mikejordan;

Make sure that there is no keyboard attached to system.
Plug nullmodem cable into serial port A on the E4500.

website for sun pinouts

http://www.sunhelp.org/unix-serial-port-resources/serial-pinouts/#u12.link

pinouts for db25 to db9

Null modem pinout DB25 to DB9: [Top of Page] [Pin ID]
Used in connecting 2 computers with full modem signalling capability. null modem pinout for DB25 to DB9 when attaching the E4500 to pc. For checking signal of you existing cable use a multimeter and check to make sure you have a signal to below pinouts.

FYI I usually only pinout;

2 to 2
3 to 3


DB25 DB9
—- —
2 TD ———— 2 RD
3 RD ———— 3 TD
4 RTS ———— 8 CTS
5 CTS ———— 7 RTS
7 GND ———— 5 GND
6 DSR —+
+——– 4 DTR
8 DCD —+
+— 6 DSR
20 DTR ——–+
+— 1 DCD


Thank
CA

 

[mikejordan]

Thanks CA. I've got a cable and adaptors from the suppliers, so I think that's ok, but I still get nothing in hyperterminal. I just can't get any response from the server. Any idea what I could try?

 

[cndcadams]

MIKEJORDAN;

WITH KEYBOARD PULLED FROM e4500, NULL MODEM CABLE PLUGGED INTO SERIAL PORT A ON E4500 AND HYPERTERM SETTINGS BELOW TURN THE SYSTEM KEY TO DIAG MODE (THE THING THAT LOOKS LIKE A HEART BEAT MONITOR).

hyperterm settings
baud 9600
data bits 8
parity none
stop bits 1
flow control none

IF YOU STILL HAVE PROBLEMS.

PULL THE SERIAL CABLE FROM THE E4550, POWEROFF THE E4500 USING THE KEY IN THE FRONT, PLUG A SUN KEYBOARD INTO IT. hOLD DOWN THE STOP(L1A KEY)& THE N KEY AT THE SAME TIME, AND WHILE HOLDING IT DOWN POWER ON THE SYSTEM WITH THE KEY. CONTINUE TO HOLD THE STOP&N KEY FOR 15 TO 20 SECONDS ATLEAST. THEN POWER OFF YOUR E4500 AND PULL THE KEYBOARD AND PLUG THE SERIAL CABLE BACK IN AND SEE WHAT YOU GET.


DON'T MIND THE CAPITALIZATION JUST GOT A LITTLE LAZY.

THANKS

CA

 

[mikejordan]

Thanks CA, I've now got the ok prompt and I'm starting to sort out the video driver. Thanks again for your help.

 

[cndcadams]

mikejordan;

If you have not yet installed OS and configured system I would do a set-defaults to put nvram settings back to defaults. Then change auto-boot to false and set diag-level to (none or off can't remember which one it takes, It will complain if you are wrong). Power off the system.
You should then be able insert video card to i/o brd in slot 1 and attach keyboard (make sure mouse is attached to keyboard) to clock board; attach monitor and power on. You should then have video and it will stop at the ok prompt if auto-boot set to false. Most of the older sbus video card drivers are built into the OS so no drivers necessary. I have actually never run into a video card for the E4500 systems that I needed to load drivers for.

What kind of video card are you putting on, sbus or pci? Is it sun or third party? What model or part# is it?

CA

 

[mikejordan]

It is an 'X7110A Sbus TurboGX Frame buffer'. The monitor is an 'X7143A 17" Entry Level Colour Monitor'.
I did check Output-device (screen), input-device (keyboard) and try the monitor, but no luck, so your advice is well timed and appreciated.
Mike