Help! Can't install AIX through ascii terminal

[ywg99]

I am having really hard time to install AIX 5.2 through ASCII terminal. The AIX box is a brand new P5 520. I could access ASMI through browser and an ascii terminal (minicom on a linux box, 19200 8N1) which is connected to a serial port on back of aix box. However, there is nothing shown up on ascii terminal when I turn the power on. According to AIX install guide, the box should beep twice and i could press 5 on the ascii terminal to do BOS installation. I did not hear any beep and nothing happens on ascii terminal. ASMI shows that power is on and the power light on front control panel stays solid green. What is wrong?

This is the first time I work on AIX, please help.

 

[mrn]

I had one like that the other day, turned out it was an i series (with the wrong front on it) which can only be built using HMC. Worth checking

Mike

"A foolproof method for sculpting an elephant: first, get a huge block of marble, then you chip away everything that doesn't look like an elephant.

 

[ywg99]

This is the system info I get through ASMI:

Machine type-model: 9111-520
Serial number: 1079A4C
Date: 2005-4-22
Time: 15:14:26 UTC
Service Processor: Primary

The box looks like a P5 520 (front and back and all the labels)

BTW, I don't have an HMC ;-(

 

[gilsont]

[TT]

Are you sure you have a working minicom and cable? Does Minicom and the cable you are using work on another device?

I have had this working fine with Minicom 19200/8/1/n and a p520 with a null modem cable to the first serial port.

(You will only need an HMC if you are paritioning the server.)

[TT]

 

[ywg99]

Thanks for all the replies. Yes, I think my minicom (19200 8N1) works with a null modem cable connected to the serial port since I can access ASMI menu. Just not so sure about the setup for "Power On/Off System". My current one is:
---------------------------------------
Current system power state: Off
Current firmware boot side: Temporary
Current system server firmware state: Not running

System boot speed: Fast

Firmware boot side for the next boot: Temporary

System operating mode: Normal

AIX/Linux partition mode boot: Continue to operating system
(is this the right one?)

Boot to system server firmware: Standby

i5/OS partition mode boot: A
----------------------------------------------------
Front panel shows 01 before turning on power. It will change to different numbers once power is on. But I don't hear any beep and finally front panel shows
-------------------
01 N V=F
T
-------------------
Don't know what they mean either.

 

[ywg99]

Problem solved. It turned out that the following should be set for "Power On/Off System" of "Popwer/Restart Control" through ASMI:
-------------------------------------
System boot speed: Fast

Firmware boot side for the next boot: Temporary

System operating mode: Normal

AIX/Linux partition mode boot: Boot to SMS menu

Boot to system server firmware: Running
----------------------------------------
Turn on power, ascii terminal (minicom) will eventually display the SMS menu, and everything goes from there.