OpenVMS conversational boot does not work on rx2800 i2 server

[DesmondLC]

Hi,

I have setup 2 rx2800 i2 servers and form a VMSCluster environment.  The installation of the VMS Cluster has no problem.  When I work to setup a conversational boot from both servers but it doesn't work.  I use system boot_options to set it up but it go to nonstop bootup.  I boot the server from EFI shell and use the command line to boot it, it still go in the non stop bootup.  It looks like that the server boot manager cannot save the boot flags to 0,1.

Does anyone know what is the issue?  Is it the server firmware issue?  

Thank & regards,

Desmond Or

[Sharis]

Hello,

Could you please share me below details ?

1. Are you looking for Boot Manager settings on the EFI shell , where you cannot set the hard driver as Primary boot ?

2. What is the curretn system firmware you are running ?

3. What you meant by nonstop bootup ? does it goes to LAN boot instead of hard drive ?

Regards,

[DesmondLC]

Hi Sharis,

Thank for your reply.

I have no problem to setup the boot options from sys$manageR:boot_options command. file.  The question is I want to create a boot option with vms flag 0,1.  I create it but when I boot up the server using the boot option with vms flag 0,1.  it cannot boot to SYSBOOT.  It still boot as normal.  I worked to boot it from EFI but same issue.  

The current system firmware version is 01.95

I talking abount nonstop boot is the system boot as normal.

Best regards,

Desmond

[Maurizio De Tommaso_]

Hello,

please post the output of the following procedure (run it from one cluster member) :

$ @sys$manager:boot_options

OpenVMS I64 Boot Manager Boot Options List Management Utility

(1) ADD an entry to the Boot Options list
(2) DISPLAY the Boot Options list
(3) REMOVE an entry from the Boot Options list
(4) MOVE the position of an entry in the Boot Options list
(5) VALIDATE boot options and fix them as necessary
(6) Modify Boot Options TIMEOUT setting

(B) Set to operate on the Boot Device Options list
(D) Set to operate on the Dump Device Options list
(G) Set to operate on the Debug Device Options list

(E) EXIT from Boot Manager utility

You can also enter Ctrl-Y at any time to abort this utility.

Enter your choice: 2

To display all entries in the Boot Options list, press Return.
To display specific entries, enter the entry number or device name.
(Enter "?" for a list of devices): <<< press enter >>>

$ sho sys /noproc
$ product sho hist

Regards,

/Maurizio

[DesmondLC]

Hi Maurizio,

Here is the result from boot_options

EFI Boot Options list: Timeout = 7 secs.

Entry Description Options
----- ---------------------------------------------------------- -------
1 t3501d cluster boot from dka0 PKA0.0 -fl 0,0
$2$DKA0 PCI(0|1|0|0) Scsi(Pun0,Lun0)
2 t3501d conv bootup PKA0.0                -fl 0,1
$2$DKA0 PCI(0|1|0|0) Scsi(Pun0,Lun0)
3 Internal Bootable DVD
Device not Found
4 iLO Virtual DVD
Device not Found
5 iLO Virtual Flash
Device not Found
6 Core LAN Port 1
DNFS0 PCI(0|0|0|0) Mac(d89d67f593fe)
7 Core LAN Port 2
EID0 PCI(0|5|0|1) Mac(d89d67f593ff)
8 Core LAN Port 3
EIE0 PCI(0|6|0|0) Mac(d89d67f5a362)
9 Core LAN Port 4
EIF0 PCI(0|6|0|1) Mac(d89d67f5a363)
10 UEFI Internal Shell
MemoryMapped(11:ff160000,ffffffff)/FvFile(c57ad6b7-515-40a8-1655219d)
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
10 entries found.

Enter your choice:

$
$ sh sys/noproc
OpenVMS V8.4 on node T3501D 5-MAR-2019 09:03:52.85 Uptime 3 17:37:23
$
$
$ product show his
------------------------------------ ----------- ----------- --- -----------
PRODUCT KIT TYPE OPERATION VAL DATE
------------------------------------ ----------- ----------- --- -----------
HP I64VMS VMS84I_UPDATE V10.0 Patch Install Val 26-FEB-2019
HP I64VMS VMS84I_PCSI V4.0 Patch Install Val 26-FEB-2019
HP I64VMS AVAIL_MAN_BASE V8.4 Full LP Install Val 26-FEB-2019
HP I64VMS CDSA V2.4-322 Full LP Install Val 26-FEB-2019
HP I64VMS DECNET_PHASE_IV V8.4 Full LP Install Val 26-FEB-2019
HP I64VMS DWMOTIF V1.7 Full LP Install Val 26-FEB-2019
HP I64VMS DWMOTIF_SUPPORT V8.4 Full LP Install Val 26-FEB-2019
HP I64VMS HPBINARYCHECKER V1.1 Full LP Install Val 26-FEB-2019
HP I64VMS KERBEROS V3.2-228 Full LP Install Val 26-FEB-2019
HP I64VMS OPENVMS V8.4 Platform Install Sys 26-FEB-2019
HP I64VMS SSL V1.4-334 Full LP Install Val 26-FEB-2019
HP I64VMS TCPIP V5.7-13ECO2 Full LP Install Val 26-FEB-2019
HP I64VMS TDC_RT V2.3-20 Full LP Install Val 26-FEB-2019
HP I64VMS VMS V8.4 Oper System Install Val 26-FEB-2019
HP I64VMS WBEMCIM V2.99-A100614 Full LP Install Val 26-FEB-2019
HP I64VMS WBEMPROVIDERS V2.2-3 Full LP Install Val 26-FEB-2019
------------------------------------ ----------- ----------- --- -----------
16 items found
$

Desmond

[Maurizio De Tommaso_ · Accepted solution]

Hello Desmond,

from the rx2800i2 UEFI shell, check the primary console is configured as "serial". If not, configure it and try again with OpenVMS conversational boot :

Shell> conconfig

CONSOLE CONFIGURATION

Terminal
Index Status Type Type Device Path
----- ------ ------ -------- -----------
1 S VGA -------- PcieRoot(0x30304352)/Pci(0x1E,0x0)/Pci(0x3,0x0)
2 P Serial VT-100+ PcieRoot(0x30304352)/Pci(0x1C,0x5)/Pci(0x0,0x5)

Please, update me when you will have done.

Regards,
/Maurizio

[DesmondLC]

Hi Maruizio,

You are great.

Yes, it works once I change the console to serial.

Thank you so much.

Have a nice day.

Best regards,

Desmond Or

[Maurizio De Tommaso_]

Hello Desmond,

It's my opinion that It's very important to trace correctly the VMS problems solution, so we can help also other users in this forum.

For this reason, I kindly ask you to mark this case as "solved".

Thank you in advance,

/Maurizio

[DesmondLC]

This issue had been solved.

Thanks