The SUN Microsystems V880z

[Irinikus]

It looks like it was my null modem cable, which I had interfaced incorrectly with the DB9 to DB25 converter: (I have made the correction and will try it tonight, when I get home.)


   

   


Here's a pic of the corrected cable (hack):

Because it's a female to female connection, I had to cross the connections over. (I initially had them connected directly.)


   

   


The connectong pins that I've used very strong and maintain their spacing very well, so they wont short, even though the gaps between them are narrow.

[commodorejohn]

Ah. If you have some spare change, you can get a null-modem cable with both 9-pin and 25-pin connectors on each end - I have one from Belkin, and it's saved me a lot of headache.

[Irinikus]

I know where to get one locally, but the waiting time is two weeks, and I just cant wait that long!

This has been a rather educational exercise though.

[Irinikus]

My corrected cable works, I am now able to issue commands to the machine and have set the output to screen and the input to keyboard.


   


Just confirm that the machine needs to have a keyboard connected to give a graphical output?

The machine seems to be incompatible with the USB keyboard that I have though. The manual states that you need a SUN type 6 keyboard to run the machine, is this the only type of keyboard that will work?

[necron2600]

One of your PuTTY windows says it is a Sun Fire 880 with No Keyboard then you set the input-device to keyboard. Make sure you have a USB keyboard plugged in for that to work

Regarding sending output-device to screen.. the V880 may not work displaying its console to video (with your monster card) like regular SUN workstations do. You may need to have it bootup and have X Windows start and then be able to use the video card.

If you set input-device as keyboard and/or output as screen then it could appear like you are stuck, but you can wait a bit to make sure it booted the OS or at least at the OK prompt, then send a Break, and type blindly (on USB keyboard if you last set input-device to keyboard):
setenv output-device=ttya
setenv input-device=ttya
reset-all
It should restore serial port input/output.

Diagnostic mode is supposed to default to ttya as well, unless settings have been modified.

[necron2600]

The manual states that you need a SUN type 6 keyboard to run the machine, is this the only type of keyboard that will work?

I have never had a problem with other USB keyboards. Typical ones from Dell, HP, etc.. I just tested a few random USB keyboards on my own V880.. no problems typing into the ok prompt.
You just do not get the special keys.. like the STOP key.

[Irinikus]

One of your PuTTY windows says it is a Sun Fire 880 with No Keyboard then you set the input-device to keyboard. Make sure you have a USB keyboard plugged in for that to work

Regarding sending output-device to screen.. the V880 may not work displaying its console to video (with your monster card) like regular SUN workstations do. You may need to have it bootup and have X Windows start and then be able to use the video card.

If you set input-device as keyboard and/or output as screen then it could appear like you are stuck, but you can wait a bit to make sure it booted the OS or at least at the OK prompt, then send a Break, and type blindly (on USB keyboard if you last set input-device to keyboard):
setenv output-device=ttya
setenv input-device=ttya
reset-all
It should restore serial port input/output.

Diagnostic mode is supposed to default to ttya as well, unless settings have been modified.

Here's a pic of the "printenv"


   


If I have a USB keyboard plugged in, then it appears to stall at "probing I/O busses" in the console.

If I don't have a USB keyboard connected, then it just continues in the console, even though the output is set to screen and the input is set to keyboard.

Is it possible for me to go ahead and install solaris from the console with out having a keyboard and mouse attached?

[necron2600]

Yes, you can install without keyboard/mouse. SUN hardware is great for console-only installs and management. X11 should startup after the OS boots (may need tweaks). However.. if your USB keyboard is not being detected in OBP then that could muddy the waters for X11 start.

[commodorejohn]

Just confirm that the machine needs to have a keyboard connected to give a graphical output?

The machine seems to be incompatible with the USB keyboard that I have though. The manual states that you need a SUN type 6 keyboard to run the machine, is this the only type of keyboard that will work?

Correct on the first count - even if you have a monitor hooked up and the OBP settings set to use the framebuffer console, if it doesn't detect a keyboard it'll fall back to serial. I'd be surprised if it didn't work with a USB keyboard, since it's about the same vintage as my Blade 2000 and that works just fine with USB. Have you tried it with a USB keyboard? Also, is it a plain USB keyboard, or one of those ones that have a pass-through port for a mouse? Because those actually appear to the computer as an external USB hub with a keyboard attached to it, and a lot of BIOSes that are expecting a plain keyboard don't know what to do with that.

If it really doesn't work with USB, though, you can always get a PS/2-to-Sun adapter; they're available fairly cheap on eBay, though shipping might be a bit more in your case.

[necron2600]

commodorejohn.. good point on the USB-hub-keyboard thing. All my USB keyboards are basic ones and they do work with SUN systems.
The v880, like the Blade 2000, only has USB, no SUN mouse/keyboard ports (ps2-look-alikes) so a converter wont help here.