having problems with serial console in rx1600

[Mika Hokkanien]

Hi,
I just got a rx1600 Itanium server and seems there is Debian Linux installed. I'd like to install HP-UX11.23 over there but have some problems with console.
When server boots up, it gives me a prompt and gives 4 options, which one of them is boot from DVD. It says, use ^ or v in order to chose.
Problem is that I can't walk through these options and any of my tried keys doesn't work.
For the connection I use serial console and HyperTerminal application. I tried AutoDetect, V100, V100J, ANSI consoles in settings but didn't work.
Please, give me some suggestions how to make it work :(

[Mika Hokkanien]

Sorry, forgot some more details:
when server boots up and existing Linux prompts for a username and password I can print with my keyboard.

[Antoniov.]

Mika,
I don't understand the exact trouble. After Debian Linux booted you can type username and password and you are able to see username echo. Is it true?
If yes, I understand your serial connection works fine.
In this case, may be your HyperTerm can't display booting option. At boot level, console must be VT100 (no autodetect, please). When you type ^ or v, firmware send control esacape sequence to display cursor. Warning, console can work even if you can't see screen formatted, so after you saw where id boot from DVD, press V exactly (n - 1) times to choice this voice. For example, if boot from DVD is 3th choice of menu, press two times v and then press return.

Antonio Vigliotti

[Mika Hokkanien]

Antoniov, you are right, I can input login (but I don't know psswd) but I need to boot server from DVD. But my problem is that keys v and ^ doesn't work. Cursor just stays still on first option line.

[Torsten.]

Hi Mika,

check the settings for the console. Have a look at this

http://h200005.www2.hp.com/bc/docs/support/SupportManual/c00112279/c00112279.pdf

HTH!

[Antoniov.]

Mika,
when you power on rx1600 you have to supply MP username and password (default is Admin). So your keyboard is working fine.
After of this you should see a boot choices menu; cursor, usually in at bottom screen. I had experience, cursor is not well visibile, you don't see it!
Look at menu list and press slowly v to move invisible cursor on boot form DVD item. Then press RETURN.
I bet this works for you.

Antonio Vigliotti

[Mika Hokkanien]

Thanks for suggestions, but it seems I do something wrong.I've got prompt for a boot option selection (nowhere I was asked for a password), and I've tried to press v two times and then "RETURN" (Enter) but Debian booted up.


EFI Boot Manager ver 1.10 [14.61] Firmware ver 1.10 [4341]

Please select a boot option

Debian GNU/Linux
EFI Shell [Built-in]
DVD
Boot Option Maintenance Menu
System Configuration Menu


Use ^ and v to change option(s). Use Enter to select an option
Loading.: Debian GNU/Linux

[Antoniov.]

Mika,
I'm amazed.
You can see the menu list without strange codes so I understand you set your HyperTerm as VT100 and it's right.
Also, your EFI and boot manager are recent. I have build 4411, you have 4341, but I don't think this is important for your purpose.
In your report you don't display time-out for choicing menu. You report


Use ^ and v to change option(s). Use Enter to select an option
Loading.: Debian GNU/Linux

I intend system don't wait for your choice, it boots immediatly. So you have to break bootstrap cycle; if I remember you must press Ctrl + C continously.

Antonio Vigliotti

[Torsten.]

Mika,

what kind of IO-device (Terminal) your are using? Did you check the console settings? There are input, output and error device to be configured - perhaps your console is only configured as output device, so no input is possible.

[Antoniov.]

Torsten,
if you carefully read thread, you know Mika can type username and can see echo when Linux is started. So his console configuration is absolutely fine.

Antonio Vigliotti

[Torsten.]

Antonio,

he can use the Linux console, but how about the EFI console? Found this in the manual

The Linux operating system will use the graphics connection of the MP card as the default console. When no MP card
is present, Linux will use the SERIAL A connector.

But this is independend from the settings of the EFI console. Thats why I recommend to check the settings.

[Mika Hokkanien]

There is no MP card in my server, so it uses only Serial Console.
Still can't make DVD start. I will try that after weekend once again.
Thanks for suggestions.

[mits]

I do not know if this is due to your keyboard problem. Try type following keys instead using the down arrow key.

Cntl [ & [ & B

You need to type these keys comtineously and it works as the down arrow key. Note: You do not need type "&".

And your system firmware is not the latest revision and I assume your console screen does not invert the selected line and you only can see the cursor at the most right position of the line. See its cursor moving carefully. If you want to move the cursor upper direction, use Cntl [ & [ & A. If this works, problem is your terminal emulation software or keyboard. But as far as I tested my PC with the hyper terminal, its arrow key funtion worked well.

[Antoniov.]

Mika I tryed for you and found solution!
Execute follow steps:
1) Enter in console mode (Ctrl + B)
2) At console menu select CM (Command Menu)
3) At CM level type PC -cycle so you make rebooot of machine
4) Return at console mode (Ctrl + B)
5) At console mode select CO (console)
6) Now wait for system bootstrap; you should see ram test and some other diagnostics. Look carefully when system shows SCSI device scanning. While system shows SCSI scanning type Ctrl +C more and more times. Pressing Ctrl + C set autoboot variable at zero and system ask you for your choice. Don't select immediatly boot from DVD; choice EFI instead.
6) At EFI level type
EFI>autoboot off
EFI>exit
7) Now you can boot from DVD.

Notice: autoboot variable at EFI select set how boot manager works; you can set zero (boot immediatly without ask user), any seconds value to wait for, on of off. You can type autoboot -? for help.

HTH
Antonio Vigliotti

[Mika Hokkanien]

My problem is solved.
Windows Hyper Terminal was the problem. I don't know why and how. I took my colleagues notebook and connected with it - and success story.
Thanks guys for helping either way.

[Mika Hokkanien]

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