pSeries 6C4 Graphics Adapter install

[Justin]

I have recently been given an IBM pSeries 630 Model 6C4 with AIX
pre-installed to configure Oracle. However, the machine did not come
with a graphics adapter. I'm assuming that it was pre-installed with
an ASCII terminal. I purchased an ATI RAGE 2D PCI video card from
CompUSA and popped that bad boy in there. However, when I boot up,
nothing comes up on the monitor. The error 0C31 is on the status
panel in the front. I'm further assuming that I need to change some
configuration file to point to the graphics adapter. My questions are
this:

Are my assumptions right that I need to change a config file to
"enable" the graphics adapter?

If so, how do I get to the box without an ASCII terminal? I've read
that I can use an XP laptop with hyperterminal and a null-modem cable
but I can't get this to work (nothing comes up).

Any help is greatly appreciated.

[Nicholas Dronen]

Justin <justinjmiller@hotmail.com> wrote:
J> I have recently been given an IBM pSeries 630 Model 6C4 with AIX
J> pre-installed to configure Oracle. However, the machine did not come
J> with a graphics adapter. I'm assuming that it was pre-installed with
J> an ASCII terminal. I purchased an ATI RAGE 2D PCI video card from
J> CompUSA and popped that bad boy in there. However, when I boot up,
J> nothing comes up on the monitor. The error 0C31 is on the status
J> panel in the front. I'm further assuming that I need to change some
J> configuration file to point to the graphics adapter. My questions are
J> this:

J> Are my assumptions right that I need to change a config file to
J> "enable" the graphics adapter?

J> If so, how do I get to the box without an ASCII terminal? I've read
J> that I can use an XP laptop with hyperterminal and a null-modem cable
J> but I can't get this to work (nothing comes up).

I'm usually not one to keep abreast of what peripheral devices are
or aren't supported on these machines, but I'm confident you shouldn't
expect a COTS PCI adapter to work in that machine. My understanding
is that even when a graphics adapter for an RS/6000 comes from a
third party, significant elements of the card, such as firmware,
are changed by IBM.

Regards,

Nicholas

P.S. On Ebay you'll find serial consoles that work just fine with
this machine.

--
"Why shouldn't I top-post?" [url]http://www.aglami.com/tpfaq.html[/url]
"Meanings are another story." [url]http://www.ifas.org/wa/glossolalia.html[/url]

[ted striker]

Thanks for the info. In doing more research, I have found that the graphic
adapters must be IBM "approved".
[url]http://www.redbooks.ibm.com/redbooks/SG245130.html[/url]

I guess I'm stuck with getting a serial terminal or attempting to connect
with hyperterminal. Anyone have suggestions on how to use hyperterminal
with my XP laptop and a null modem cable?


"Nicholas Dronen" <ndronen@io.frii.com> wrote in message
news:3f6ccc8a$0$62081$75868355@news.frii.net...

> Justin <justinjmiller@hotmail.com> wrote:
> J> I have recently been given an IBM pSeries 630 Model 6C4 with AIX
> J> pre-installed to configure Oracle. However, the machine did not come
> J> with a graphics adapter. I'm assuming that it was pre-installed with
> J> an ASCII terminal. I purchased an ATI RAGE 2D PCI video card from
> J> CompUSA and popped that bad boy in there. However, when I boot up,
> J> nothing comes up on the monitor. The error 0C31 is on the status
> J> panel in the front. I'm further assuming that I need to change some
> J> configuration file to point to the graphics adapter. My questions are
> J> this:
>
> J> Are my assumptions right that I need to change a config file to
> J> "enable" the graphics adapter?
>
> J> If so, how do I get to the box without an ASCII terminal? I've read
> J> that I can use an XP laptop with hyperterminal and a null-modem cable
> J> but I can't get this to work (nothing comes up).
>
> I'm usually not one to keep abreast of what peripheral devices are
> or aren't supported on these machines, but I'm confident you shouldn't
> expect a COTS PCI adapter to work in that machine. My understanding
> is that even when a graphics adapter for an RS/6000 comes from a
> third party, significant elements of the card, such as firmware,
> are changed by IBM.
>
> Regards,
>
> Nicholas
>
> P.S. On Ebay you'll find serial consoles that work just fine with
> this machine.
>
> --
> "Why shouldn't I top-post?" [url]http://www.aglami.com/tpfaq.html[/url]
> "Meanings are another story." [url]http://www.ifas.org/wa/glossolalia.html[/url]

[Dan Foster]

In article <bkirth$8ho$1@terabinaries.xmission.com>, ted striker <ted@airplane.com> wrote:

> Thanks for the info. In doing more research, I have found that the graphic
> adapters must be IBM "approved".
> [url]http://www.redbooks.ibm.com/redbooks/SG245130.html[/url]

Yup. It basically comes down to firmware on the card and the AIX device
driver. Off-the-shelf cards usually won't have one or the other.
IBM-approved cards will come with support from either AIX out of the box or
the vendor will have an AIX device fileset to install to make its device
support work.

Costs good bit of money... enough that I don't usually bother; besides I
usually use a serial terminal and ssh to manage my AIX boxes and save the
graphics stuff for my workstation using faster/better/modern cards. (You
may still be able to get a cheap IBM-approved video card for an AIX system
off eBay if you really want a graphical console.)

> I guess I'm stuck with getting a serial terminal or attempting to connect
> with hyperterminal. Anyone have suggestions on how to use hyperterminal
> with my XP laptop and a null modem cable?

When the LED is at the 0c31 prompt, it is asking you a question (on both
serial and GUI console):

"Please press 0 to select this console"

or in some cases:

"Please press 1 to select this console"

It will not re-display that message, so if you attach the serial console to
the serial port *after* it's already sent that message at boot time, you
will miss that message. The session will seem to hang, because the computer
will *NOT* proceed further until you respond to this question!

My suggestion: attach the serial console cable to the first serial port
(usually on the left side or numbered '1' on the back).

Set Hyperterminal to 9600/8N1/no flow control (no software flow control
*AND* no hardware flow control).

Then press the '0' key once. (You do not need to press enter.)
Then press the '1' key once. (You do not need to press enter.)

(That will cover your bets for both possible questions.)

Then wait a bit. See if anything pops up within a minute or so. (The LED
state should also change as well, to blank, I think.)

AIX is picky... it doesn't want a normal null modem cable. It wants a few
pins specially wired together inside the cable. So... if you can make a
cable, there's a known pinout for it -- it's in my notes and Google
archives for comp.unix.aix (keywords: serial pinout).

Otherwise, you may want to get one from an IBM VAR.

I've also found out something nifty... you can buy a Radio Shack DB-25
"Serial Printer" (yes, Serial *PRINTER*) cable for about $12 or so, and add
the appropriate DB-25->DB-9 adapter (and maybe a null modem adapter) and
plug it all in. It works. (The Radio Shack cable is wired specially inside;
just happens to be same as what AIX wants!)

-Dan

[ted striker]

This is exactly the info I'm looking for. Thanks very much for taking the
time to write all that up. Guess it's off to Radio Shack and snag that
serial printer cable.

Justin

"Dan Foster" <dsf@globalcrossing.net> wrote in message
news:slrnbmpudh.1c8.dsf@gaia.roc2.gblx.net...

> In article <bkirth$8ho$1@terabinaries.xmission.com>, ted striker

<ted@airplane.com> wrote:

> > Thanks for the info. In doing more research, I have found that the

graphic

> > adapters must be IBM "approved".
> > [url]http://www.redbooks.ibm.com/redbooks/SG245130.html[/url]

>
> Yup. It basically comes down to firmware on the card and the AIX device
> driver. Off-the-shelf cards usually won't have one or the other.
> IBM-approved cards will come with support from either AIX out of the box

or

> the vendor will have an AIX device fileset to install to make its device
> support work.
>
> Costs good bit of money... enough that I don't usually bother; besides I
> usually use a serial terminal and ssh to manage my AIX boxes and save the
> graphics stuff for my workstation using faster/better/modern cards. (You
> may still be able to get a cheap IBM-approved video card for an AIX system
> off eBay if you really want a graphical console.)
>

> > I guess I'm stuck with getting a serial terminal or attempting to

connect

> > with hyperterminal. Anyone have suggestions on how to use hyperterminal
> > with my XP laptop and a null modem cable?

>
> When the LED is at the 0c31 prompt, it is asking you a question (on both
> serial and GUI console):
>
> "Please press 0 to select this console"
>
> or in some cases:
>
> "Please press 1 to select this console"
>
> It will not re-display that message, so if you attach the serial console

to

> the serial port *after* it's already sent that message at boot time, you
> will miss that message. The session will seem to hang, because the

computer

> will *NOT* proceed further until you respond to this question!
>
> My suggestion: attach the serial console cable to the first serial port
> (usually on the left side or numbered '1' on the back).
>
> Set Hyperterminal to 9600/8N1/no flow control (no software flow control
> *AND* no hardware flow control).
>
> Then press the '0' key once. (You do not need to press enter.)
> Then press the '1' key once. (You do not need to press enter.)
>
> (That will cover your bets for both possible questions.)
>
> Then wait a bit. See if anything pops up within a minute or so. (The LED
> state should also change as well, to blank, I think.)
>
> AIX is picky... it doesn't want a normal null modem cable. It wants a few
> pins specially wired together inside the cable. So... if you can make a
> cable, there's a known pinout for it -- it's in my notes and Google
> archives for comp.unix.aix (keywords: serial pinout).
>
> Otherwise, you may want to get one from an IBM VAR.
>
> I've also found out something nifty... you can buy a Radio Shack DB-25
> "Serial Printer" (yes, Serial *PRINTER*) cable for about $12 or so, and

add

> the appropriate DB-25->DB-9 adapter (and maybe a null modem adapter) and
> plug it all in. It works. (The Radio Shack cable is wired specially

inside;

> just happens to be same as what AIX wants!)
>
> -Dan