Normal Mode - Sun Microsystems SPARCclassic Service Manual

Note -
The Caps Lock LED is not used as a failure indicator; it flashes on and off to
indicate that the POSTs are running. The keyboard LED diagnostics feature described
here applies only to a SPARCclassic or SPARCstation LX system with a Sun Type-5
keyboard connected to its keyboard port. The LED diagnostics feature does not apply
if a different keyboard is connected to the keyboard port, or if a terminal and its
keyboard are used as a main console instead of a monitor and Sun Type-5 keyboard.
If the system passes all the POSTs, all four LEDs light again and then go off. Next
the system banner appears on the screen. The SPARCstation banner is shown as an
example; the SPARCclassic X terminal banner will be different. From this point on,
the keyboard LEDs assume their normal functions (that is, you should no longer
interpret the LEDs as diagnostic error indicators).
Figure 3–2 SPARCstation System Banner
Following the system's successful initialization, the operating system is booted
automatically—unless the NVRAM configuration options specify otherwise.
You can retrieve more detailed POST failure information by connecting a terminal to
the ttya serial port. If you connect a terminal, you must set the NVRAM parameter
diag-switch? to true. For more information about the NVRAM parameters, see
Table 2–1. Test failure messages are displayed on the system monitor whether or not
the system is in Diagnostic mode. However, it may be easier to understand the
failure message output when it is accompanied by more detailed POST progress
messages available via the ttya serial port.
An example of a POST failure message output over the ttya serial port is shown
below.
FAILURE: NVRAM (f2000003) Battery Failure, Exp = 00000000 Obs = 0000000a

Normal Mode

Under Normal mode, when the system is turned on, control is sent to the Open Boot
PROM. Depending on the options set in the Open Boot PROM, for example if
23
Power-On Self-Test (POST)