rx2600 MP cable

[Timothy P. Jackson]

I am haveing a real problem getting the MP to work on my rx2600. I can connect to it and use it normally but I cannot change the EFI to accept it as a console. The firmware on the MP and EFI are out dated but before I start updating firmware I want to make sure I have the right "M" cable.

I am running HP-UX 11.31 and I have a gray "M" cable. Does any one know if this is the correct cable or doesn't it matter. I see a lot of places in the forums where some one specifically states the "black" "M" cable.

Any help would be greatly appreciated!

Tim

[Torsten. · Accepted solution]

I'm not absolutely sure, but I think the grey cable is different. This was used for the L-class server.

The black cable has part# A6144-63001 or A6144-63007

Anyway, EFI output should go to MP console, VGA and built-in com port at the same time, the OS will only use the configured onsole (which could be VGA or built-in serial port too).

Try another port to check the settings.

[Andrew Rutter]

hi,

you need the black cable, thats the one for the rx's with the A6144 part number.

that aside the only difference is the remote connection is wired differently, so if your using the lcal console port then you should be fine anyway

it could be more of a problem with the terminal you are using? not been recognised/set properly.

Andy

[Timothy P. Jackson]

Thanks for your responses!

I have a black "M" cable on order. I find it odd that even though I change the EFI to something else, when ever I reboot it goes back to its original setting. It sees the MP, and set the EFI for 3 different consoles.

I wonder if reinstalling the OS would do any good?

Any Thoughts?

Thanks,
Tim

[Eric Torbenson]

You said you have a cable on order -- I acquired an rx2600 with the MP, and can't upgrade the MP firmware without this cable. Can you tell me where you ordered it from?

Thanks!

[Timothy P. Jackson]

I ordered it from....

I/O Data Systems
Tom Tont
440-937-2211

Tim

[Timothy P. Jackson]

So I have the cable (black) but I still cannot get the EFI to accept the MP as a console. I have upgraded the firm ware on the MP and just about everything else with no luck. I currently am reinstalling the OS to see if that has any affect on it. I really doubt it but I am running out of Ideas.

If any one has ANY other ideas I would sure appreciate hearing them. I am ready to try anything.

Thanks,
Tim

[Torsten.]

Are you really sure the console is set to the MP port?

Please post something like a screenshot from the configure console device screen.

Make sure you configure input and output device the same.

[Timothy P. Jackson]

Hi Torsten,

Here is what the "console output device" screen looks like in the beginning.

EFI Boot Maintenance Manager ver 1.10 [14.61]

Select the Console Output Device(s)


Acpi(PNP0501,0)/Uart(9600 N81)/VenMsg(PcAnsi)
Acpi(PNP0501,0)/Uart(9600 N81)/VenMsg(Vt100)
* Acpi(PNP0501,0)/Uart(9600 N81)/VenMsg(Vt100+)
Acpi(PNP0501,0)/Uart(9600 N81)/VenMsg(VtUtf8)
Acpi(HWP0002,700)/Pci(1|1)/Uart(9600 N81)/VenMsg(PcAnsi)
Acpi(HWP0002,700)/Pci(1|1)/Uart(9600 N81)/VenMsg(Vt100)
* Acpi(HWP0002,700)/Pci(1|1)/Uart(9600 N81)/VenMsg(Vt100+)
Acpi(HWP0002,700)/Pci(1|1)/Uart(9600 N81)/VenMsg(VtUtf8)
* Acpi(HWP0002,700)/Pci(2|0)
Save Settings to NVRAM
Exit

Now know that you cannot have more than one on a rx2600 here is what it looks like after I have reconfigured it.
EFI Boot Maintenance Manager ver 1.10 [14.61]

Select the Console Output Device(s)


Acpi(PNP0501,0)/Uart(9600 N81)/VenMsg(PcAnsi)
Acpi(PNP0501,0)/Uart(9600 N81)/VenMsg(Vt100)
Acpi(PNP0501,0)/Uart(9600 N81)/VenMsg(Vt100+)
Acpi(PNP0501,0)/Uart(9600 N81)/VenMsg(VtUtf8)
Acpi(HWP0002,700)/Pci(1|1)/Uart(9600 N81)/VenMsg(PcAnsi)
* Acpi(HWP0002,700)/Pci(1|1)/Uart(9600 N81)/VenMsg(Vt100)
Acpi(HWP0002,700)/Pci(1|1)/Uart(9600 N81)/VenMsg(Vt100+)
Acpi(HWP0002,700)/Pci(1|1)/Uart(9600 N81)/VenMsg(VtUtf8)
Acpi(HWP0002,700)/Pci(2|0)
Save Settings to NVRAM
Exit

I have also gone through the "Console Input Device" and the Standard Error Device" and made the same changes. So now if I look at the "Console Output Device" and I arrow down to the selected device it shows

EFI Boot Maintenance Manager ver 1.10 [14.61]

Select the Console Output Device(s)


Acpi(PNP0501,0)/Uart(9600 N81)/VenMsg(PcAnsi)
Acpi(PNP0501,0)/Uart(9600 N81)/VenMsg(Vt100)
Acpi(PNP0501,0)/Uart(9600 N81)/VenMsg(Vt100+)
Acpi(PNP0501,0)/Uart(9600 N81)/VenMsg(VtUtf8)
Acpi(HWP0002,700)/Pci(1|1)/Uart(9600 N81)/VenMsg(PcAnsi)
* Acpi(HWP0002,700)/Pci(1|1)/Uart(9600 N81)/VenMsg(Vt100)
Acpi(HWP0002,700)/Pci(1|1)/Uart(9600 N81)/VenMsg(Vt100+)
Acpi(HWP0002,700)/Pci(1|1)/Uart(9600 N81)/VenMsg(VtUtf8)
Acpi(HWP0002,700)/Pci(2|0)
Save Settings to NVRAM
Exit

Active Input Device. Active Output Device. Active Standard Error Device.

Notice that the bottom of the screen show "Active Input Device. Active Output Device. Active Standard Error Device."

According to the Administrators Guide and the Forums I have read, you need to reset the system in order for the changes to take affect. so I do a "cold reset" from the EFI menu. When it comes back up to the EFI menu, and I look at the "Console Output Device" this is what it looks like.

EFI Boot Maintenance Manager ver 1.10 [14.61]

Select the Console Output Device(s)


Acpi(PNP0501,0)/Uart(9600 N81)/VenMsg(PcAnsi)
Acpi(PNP0501,0)/Uart(9600 N81)/VenMsg(Vt100)
* Acpi(PNP0501,0)/Uart(9600 N81)/VenMsg(Vt100+)
Acpi(PNP0501,0)/Uart(9600 N81)/VenMsg(VtUtf8)
Acpi(HWP0002,700)/Pci(1|1)/Uart(9600 N81)/VenMsg(PcAnsi)
Acpi(HWP0002,700)/Pci(1|1)/Uart(9600 N81)/VenMsg(Vt100)
* Acpi(HWP0002,700)/Pci(1|1)/Uart(9600 N81)/VenMsg(Vt100+)
Acpi(HWP0002,700)/Pci(1|1)/Uart(9600 N81)/VenMsg(VtUtf8)
* Acpi(HWP0002,700)/Pci(2|0)
Save Settings to NVRAM
Exit

It has reverted back to where it is showing three different consoles.

Am I totally missing something?

Thanks,
Tim

[Torsten.]

This is the MP device:

Acpi(HWP0002,700)/Pci(1|1)/Uart(9600 N81)/VenMsg(Vt100+)

The last part (VT100+) is only the emulation setting.

Make sure to have only one entry with a "*" and use the "save settings"!

[Timothy P. Jackson]

Hi Torsten,

I went back throught the configuration again and reconfigured the console output device, console input device and standard error device to be the same.

EFI Boot Maintenance Manager ver 1.10 [14.61]

Select the Console Output Device(s)


Acpi(PNP0501,0)/Uart(9600 N81)/VenMsg(PcAnsi)
Acpi(PNP0501,0)/Uart(9600 N81)/VenMsg(Vt100)
Acpi(PNP0501,0)/Uart(9600 N81)/VenMsg(Vt100+)
Acpi(PNP0501,0)/Uart(9600 N81)/VenMsg(VtUtf8)
Acpi(HWP0002,700)/Pci(1|1)/Uart(9600 N81)/VenMsg(PcAnsi)
Acpi(HWP0002,700)/Pci(1|1)/Uart(9600 N81)/VenMsg(Vt100)
* Acpi(HWP0002,700)/Pci(1|1)/Uart(9600 N81)/VenMsg(Vt100+)
Acpi(HWP0002,700)/Pci(1|1)/Uart(9600 N81)/VenMsg(VtUtf8)
Acpi(HWP0002,700)/Pci(2|0)
Save Settings to NVRAM
Exit

Active Input Device. Active Output Device. Active Standard Error Device.


I have done a Save Settings to NVRAM several times just for good measure. Then I do a "Cold Reset" from the EFI menu.

EFI Boot Maintenance Manager ver 1.10 [14.61]

Main Menu. Select an Operation


Boot from a File
Add a Boot Option
Delete Boot Option(s)
Change Boot Order

Manage BootNext setting
Set Auto Boot TimeOut

Select Active Console Output Devices
Select Active Console Input Devices
Select Active Standard Error Devices

Cold Reset
Exit


Timeout-->[10] sec SystemGuid-->[E5E800D0-3AEF-11D7-B017-8345935B12FD]
SerialNumber-->[US30163232 ]


Now check this out! once I finish the cold reset and go back into the "Select Active Console Outpug Devices" it has reverted back to the original configuration.


EFI Boot Maintenance Manager ver 1.10 [14.61]

Select the Console Output Device(s)


Acpi(PNP0501,0)/Uart(9600 N81)/VenMsg(PcAnsi)
Acpi(PNP0501,0)/Uart(9600 N81)/VenMsg(Vt100)
* Acpi(PNP0501,0)/Uart(9600 N81)/VenMsg(Vt100+)
Acpi(PNP0501,0)/Uart(9600 N81)/VenMsg(VtUtf8)
Acpi(HWP0002,700)/Pci(1|1)/Uart(9600 N81)/VenMsg(PcAnsi)
Acpi(HWP0002,700)/Pci(1|1)/Uart(9600 N81)/VenMsg(Vt100)
* Acpi(HWP0002,700)/Pci(1|1)/Uart(9600 N81)/VenMsg(Vt100+)
Acpi(HWP0002,700)/Pci(1|1)/Uart(9600 N81)/VenMsg(VtUtf8)
* Acpi(HWP0002,700)/Pci(2|0)
Save Settings to NVRAM
Exit

Is it possible that I don't need anything in the Console Input Device or Standard Error Device?

Thanks,
Tim

[Torsten.]

Strange.

This is how it looks like on my machine, working perfectly:

EFI Boot Maintenance Manager ver 1.10 [14.61]

Select the Console Input Device(s)


Acpi(PNP0501,0)/Uart(9600 N81)/VenMsg(PcAnsi)
Acpi(PNP0501,0)/Uart(9600 N81)/VenMsg(Vt100)
Acpi(PNP0501,0)/Uart(9600 N81)/VenMsg(Vt100+)
Acpi(PNP0501,0)/Uart(9600 N81)/VenMsg(VtUtf8)
Acpi(HWP0002,700)/Pci(1|1)/Uart(9600 N81)/VenMsg(PcAnsi)
Acpi(HWP0002,700)/Pci(1|1)/Uart(9600 N81)/VenMsg(Vt100)
* Acpi(HWP0002,700)/Pci(1|1)/Uart(9600 N81)/VenMsg(Vt100+)
Acpi(HWP0002,700)/Pci(1|1)/Uart(9600 N81)/VenMsg(VtUtf8)
Save Settings to NVRAM
Exit


How about a set to defaults?

[Timothy P. Jackson]

Hi Torsten,

What do your Console Input Device and Standard Error Device screens look like?

Thanks,
Tim

[Timothy P. Jackson]

I tried to set back to defaults and this is what I got.

EFI System Configuration Menu

Reset Configuration to default values. Confirm Selection




This option sets NVM and Stable Store to predefined default values.

Press and to confirm or to exit: y



Error defaulting the configuration. Status=Unsupported.
Exit status code: Unsupported
Press any key to continue:


Not sure why there is a reset on the menu but it is not supported?.....

Thanks,
Tim

[Torsten.]

This all sounds really strange ...

What is your current firmware?

MP:CM> sysrev

[Timothy P. Jackson]

Hi Torsten,

Yes, I agree this is really strange! Here are my Firmware levels.

[hp6mp] MP:CM> sysrev


SYSREV

Current firmware revisions

MP FW : E.03.32
BMC FW : 01.53
EFI FW : 01.22
System FW : 02.31




[hp6mp] MP:CM>

What does your console input Device screen and standard error device screen look like?

Thanks,
Tim

[Torsten.]

Hmmm, current firmware ...

My devices are configured all the same.

EFI allows to configure more than 1 console, but hp-ux accepts/uses only 1.

Something bad with your system board?
What would I try now?
Maybe disconnecting the MP (this small flex cable below the MP card, connect to the COM1 port (this is the only console now) and try to configure the console device again.

If this works (save, restore defaults ...) try again with MP.

Are the settings different now?


BTW, EFI accepts input/output from all devices - as long as you are in EFI the console settings are not really effective.

[Timothy P. Jackson]

Ok Let me disconnect the MP and see what happens.

Thanks,
Tim

[Timothy P. Jackson]

Ok, so I disconnected the MP and rebooted to the EFI again. With the MP disconnected it show only the system serial port as console .

So I reconnected the MP and booted back into the EFI. This time it shows the MP . I select the MP port and reset the system again. I still have the same issue. It reverts back to the way it was in the beginning.

Don't know where to go from here!

Tim

[Timothy P. Jackson]

one thing i forgot to mention is where it stops giving me console information. It gets to right here on the boot....


loading section 1
............. (complete)
loading symbol table
loading System Directory (boot.sys) to MFS
.....
loading MFSFILES directory (bootfs) to MFS
...........................
Launching /stand/vmunix
SIZE: Text:38714K + Data:6257K + BSS:20686K = Total:65658K


and stops. The actual boot continues it just doesn't allow the MP to be the console.

Tim

[Torsten.]

So you still cannot save the console settings?

There must be something wrong (bad) on the system board.

[Timothy P. Jackson]

Ok, I guess I will have to find me a system board and replace it.

Thanks for all your help!!!

Tim

[Timothy P. Jackson]

I am going to leave this call open until i have replaced the system board, just incase that doesn't take care of the problem.

Tim

[Torsten.]

Wait a minute and let us try something:

From EFI do

Shell> sysmode service
Current System Mode: ADMIN

You are now in SERVICE mode.

and now

Shell> sysset

What do you get?

[Timothy P. Jackson]

Hi Torsten,

this is what I get.....

Shell> sysset
Error: sysset: access denied at current privilege level
Exit status code: Access Denied

Shell>

How do i get the right privilege level.


Thanks,
Tim