Learn me on Sun Gear: Ultra 10 and Solaris Goodness Within!

[Temetka]

Well my 15" RealSync LCD can do 1024x768 and my 17" Dell 1707FP can do 1280x1024.

I was saying 800x600 because IME most terminals run at a lower resolution when you do not auto boot into X. See, if the built in VGA does run at some crazy refresh as has been mentioned, then that refresh is more than likely tied to the X config rather than a hardware setting. It's a 4MB ATI chip from what I gather, and those don't usually run at above 60Hz or so when in pure text mode.

 

[techfury90]

There is no "pure text" mode on Sun hardware. When doing text mode, it'll operate at the display's full resolution, using very high resolution fonts.

 

[Temetka]

Ahh...see I was not aware of that.

Thanks.

So wait,

It always boots into run level 5?

 

[Cory5412]

Oh, just hook it up to your 1707, is the VGA port free? It'll pretty much work perfectly 100% of the time with that display.

Alternately, you could hook a serial console up to the machine and forgo using the local console.

 

[techfury90]

Ahh...see I was not aware of that.
Thanks.

So wait,

It always boots into run level 5?

Well.. it displays just text during boot, but during that, its running at the monitor's resolution all the time. Your boot messages are in 1024x768 with humoungous fonts.

 

[Temetka]

Gotcha thanks.

 

[SiliconValleyPirate]

Right. okay:

Number 1: If you fire a Sun up with no keyboard and mouse it'll boot, complain, then turn the monitor output off. It drops into headless mode and will only respond to a serial console and will not activate the video screen. It will STILL BOOT though. If you can hook up a console to serial port A on the back then you will be able to fully interact with the machine at a console level with (obviously) no X desktop. Be CAREFUL, it's the opposite gender (female) to PC serial ports, I had to buy some 25-pin gender changers for my Null Modem cable!

Number 2: You don't set the mode in the X config (what do you think this is, Linux?!! [] ]'&gt. You shouldn't need to set it at all (see Number 3), but if you do you set it in the OpenBoot Prompt (the Sun breed of OpenFirmware), or if it will fire up into a console you can also pick a mode with 'fbconfig' on *some* machines (they both worked on my U10 IIRC). Becasue the framebuffer mode is used for ALL the graphics, console, and XWindows, it is set outside the X config.

Number 3: Suns are pretty good at picking up the default mode for LCDs off of the EDID. My Ultra 60 picks up the EDID of my 17" LCD perfectly at 1280x1024@60Hz, and from memory my U60 used to also. This can cause amusing shenanigans if you use a KVM though, hence why you can also set it manually in the OBP.

Number 4: as for the bleeping and shutting off, maybe you should ask the seller if it bleeps and turns of the monitor or of it bleeps then shuts down completely. The former is just it having a hissy fit about not having a keyboard. The latter is the POST diagnostic failing, in a big way. Generally if the CPU module is installed correctly with the retaining bar in place it won't come loose. Bad RAM and/or main-board could cause the error, but these are easy to replace as any U5 or U10 EXCEPT the U5/270 use the same board (the u5/270 has an even-worse framebuffer).

If you get a Sun keyboard and mouse you are on a winning start. You may also want to download the latest distribution of Solaris 10. It's free (woot!).

Class dismissed! [] ]'>

 

[conceitedjerk]

For the record - The 400MHz SunPCi card will not work under Solaris 10. Many have tried, all have failed.

it'll work without a hitch under Solaris 8, but you'll need to rename a couple of files and create a couple of symbolic links to get it to work under Solaris 9. (Coincidentally, I'm installing Solaris 9 on my Ultra 5 this afternoon!)

 

[Temetka]

See?

That's the kind of info I need to know.

I am aware of the 400MHz PCi I card problem, but I am looking at a 733MHz PCi II card, which states it will work with both the U10 and Solaris 10.

I think the machine is shutting off because the seller got a box with no RAM in it. So I bought some. Now I get to toss the dice and see what happens.

So I guess I need to get a KB / Mouse huh? I can terminal into it the box no problem, but I'd much rather use X.

Thanks!

 

[paws]

So I guess I need to get a KB / Mouse huh? I can terminal into it the box no problem, but I'd much rather use X.

You can use X remotely...

 

[ChristTrekker]

For the record - The 400MHz SunPCi card will not work under Solaris 10. Many have tried, all have failed.
it'll work without a hitch under Solaris 8, but you'll need to rename a couple of files and create a couple of symbolic links to get it to work under Solaris 9. (Coincidentally, I'm installing Solaris 9 on my Ultra 5 this afternoon!)

There's still that page at recursivegreen that says it's possible. If it weren't for that, I think we'd all give up. But we keep hoping...