Nekochan Net

Hi everyone,

This is my first time so please be gentle lol.
I have just acquired my first SGI - an 02 with 128Mb ram, 2gb drive and a 1600SW lcd monitor plus card (not installed).
My problem is getting it running.
Powers up Ok - red for a few seconds then a nice little post jingle followed by a green for go light.
The monitor I have connected (Philips 109S which I believe syncs on green) just gives me a green screen.
Also, the cd-rom drive triggers to open but will not stay shut when returned to the closed position, just opens again immediately.
I got this stuff as a freebie from a Uni here in Brisbane that was upgrading so I figure I'm in front?
My thinking is that they maybe formatted the drive before disposal.
If that's the case (how do I check) and I have no foundation disks (and can't seem to find) what next?
I'd happily install linux if possible but (with no OS onboard) this seems a touch tricky.
Any suggestions greatfully received.

Cheers

Hi & welcome!

Nice catch -- sounds good so far


Doesn't sound like SOG. And the monitor's manual doesn't mention SOG capability either:



This is a well known failure mode of the CDROM drive used. I think it can be fixed, there should be some info in the message board archives, or wiki: http://www.nekochan.net/wiki/SGI_O2#Troubleshooting


Happy sound and green LED is good: http://www.nekochan.net/w/images/8/83/O2_chart_left.gif

Sounds to me like the O2 is configured either to use the serial port instead of the keyboard/mouse/monitor, or falls back to the serial port because it doesn't like the keyboard/mouse (make sure the keyboard & mouse are in the correct ports, the O2 doesn't like if you swap them).

If you can't get a boot screen from the O2, try to disconnect keyboard & mouse and connect serial #1 to a PC using a null-modem cable. Upon power-on, it should run diagnostics and then present you with a [1] ... [5] screen. If you get that far, you've got a working system, and the rest can be sorted out.

This forum is not the right place to look for commercial software like IRIX. Maybe the pirate boat can help you out.

_________________
Now this is a deep dark secret, so everybody keep it quiet
It turns out that when reset, the WD33C93 defaults to a SCSI ID of 0, and it was simpler to leave it that way... -- Dave Olson, in comp.sys.sgi
Currently in commercial service: (2x)
In the museum: almost every MIPS/IRIX system.
Wanted: GM1 board for Professional Series GT graphics (030-0076-003, 030-0076-004)

Welcome kazaly! We may all be mad, but it is a glorious madness...

In trying to find a working SOG monitor, you can refer to this list from the wiki: http://www.nekochan.net/wiki/Monitors.

The O2 is definitely one of the more popular models, you'll find lots of relevant threads with a little searching in the forum and wiki.

_________________
Then? ... Now? +MLA ... Other: DEC Sun, DG AViiON, NeXT

Please don't. You want Linux get a PC. Exotic hardware deserves an exotic O/S.



The Orange box above... no discussion about distribution of unpaid for commercial software etc ... However away from this site... Fleabay Oz haz (often overpriced or mislabeled) IRIX sets.

R.

_________________
死の神はりんごだけ食べる

アレゲはアレゲ以上のなにものでもなさげ -- アレゲ研究家


J5600, 2 x Mac, 3 x SUN, Alpha DS20E, Alpha 800 5/550, 3 x RS/6000, Amiga 4000 VideoToaster, Amiga4000 -030, 733MHz Sam440 AmigaOS 4.1 update 1. Tandem Himalaya S-Series Nonstop S72000 ServerNet.

Sold:

Cortex ---> http://www.facebook.com/pages/Cortex-th ... 11?sk=info
Minnie ---> http://www.facebook.com/pages/Minnie-th ... 02?sk=info
Book ----> http://pymblesoftware.com/book/
Github ---> https://github.com/pymblesoftware
Visit http://www.pymblesoftware.com
Search for "Pymble", "InstaElf", "CryWhy" or "Cricket Score Sheet" in the iPad App store or search for "Pymble" or "CryWhy" in the iPhone App store.

Hi jan-jaap and thanks for our advice.
I'll search out my cable box tomorrow and give your recommendations a try.
I didn't think it seemed there was too much wrong.
Hope to have the lil blue toaster cooking up soon lol.

@ smj lol ... it sure is
Thanks for the link to monitors ... I'll have good look around for one of those.

@ pymblesoftware ... yes, you are right.
I had wanted to stay with IRIX and I will try.

Surely there's no need if you have a 1600SW?

Edit: fixed the quotes

_________________
halo, octane
N.B.: I tend to talk out of my ass. Do not take it too seriously.

So to duck's point, if you can install the Flat Panel Adapter (FPA) card you mentioned, you should be able to use the 1600SW. Is there something wrong with that panel that you didn't mention? Or are you simply trying to check the machine out fully before opening it up and fiddling with it's internal components? I'd guess the latter...

_________________
Then? ... Now? +MLA ... Other: DEC Sun, DG AViiON, NeXT

@duck
@smj

I had read in the sgi 02 user manuals that I needed to preconfigure settings before changeover.
Have I been seriously mislead?
And yes, I did rather want to check things out as they stood before changing componentry.
Just to see if everything was working well before introducing other possible complications.

you can have more than one sentence on the same line. bravo italics; someone that gets it.

_________________


DECUS Member 368596

Just one thing: if you decide to install the Flat Panel adapter, be sure to disconnect the power cable before you remove the system board from the chassis. Failing to do this can destroy it.

_________________
Now this is a deep dark secret, so everybody keep it quiet
It turns out that when reset, the WD33C93 defaults to a SCSI ID of 0, and it was simpler to leave it that way... -- Dave Olson, in comp.sys.sgi
Currently in commercial service: (2x)
In the museum: almost every MIPS/IRIX system.
Wanted: GM1 board for Professional Series GT graphics (030-0076-003, 030-0076-004)

I think the need to pre-configure was in reference to an existing IRIX installation. If I understood correctly that your O2 arrived with a wiped drive, then no harm - no foul. You can install the flat-panel adapter before or after IRIX (but the version of IRIX installed will need to be 6.5.2 or higher to include out of the box support for the 1600SW adapter).

_________________
***********************************************************************
Welcome to ARMLand - 0/0x0d00
running...(sherwood-root 0607201829)
* InfiniteReality/Reality Software, IRIX 6.5 Release *
***********************************************************************

@recondas - "If I understood correctly that your O2 arrived with a wiped drive" ... this I do not know for sure as I don't have a working monitor. This is my problem in a nutshell - I find myself in a catch 22 situation with a monitor I can maybe use but no way of knowing if I have an operable system or not without a monitor ... doh!??
Does an 02 have a distinctive post beep that indicates the presence of an OS?

Do you know how to use hyperterm and have a null-modem cable..??

http://www.nekochan.net/wiki/Headless#C ... l.29_cable

R.

_________________
死の神はりんごだけ食べる

アレゲはアレゲ以上のなにものでもなさげ -- アレゲ研究家


J5600, 2 x Mac, 3 x SUN, Alpha DS20E, Alpha 800 5/550, 3 x RS/6000, Amiga 4000 VideoToaster, Amiga4000 -030, 733MHz Sam440 AmigaOS 4.1 update 1. Tandem Himalaya S-Series Nonstop S72000 ServerNet.

Sold:

Cortex ---> http://www.facebook.com/pages/Cortex-th ... 11?sk=info
Minnie ---> http://www.facebook.com/pages/Minnie-th ... 02?sk=info
Book ----> http://pymblesoftware.com/book/
Github ---> https://github.com/pymblesoftware
Visit http://www.pymblesoftware.com
Search for "Pymble", "InstaElf", "CryWhy" or "Cricket Score Sheet" in the iPad App store or search for "Pymble" or "CryWhy" in the iPhone App store.

@pympblesoftware

Thanks for that suggestion, I'll pickup a null modem cable and run hyperterminal for diagnostics.
On another tack, I've been looking thru the wiki monitor list and noticed the Samsung multisyncs.
Will [i]any[/i] SOG monitor work or are there other considerations?
I need a larger lcd for other applications but if I could use it to first set up the toaster that would be a bonus.
This one on e-bay http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/Samsung-Syncmaster-2243BWX-22-16-10-LCD-Monitor-5-ms-Excellent-Condition-/260918596150?pt=UK_Computing_ComputerComponents_Monitors&hash=item3cbff5d236#shId
Here's the manual link http://downloadcenter.samsung.com/content/UM/200905/20090526185745109/BN59-00950A-02Eng.pdf
I must say R. you have been incredibly helpful and your equipment is just mindbending!

Cheers
Col