The Alabama Geek

Well I got an Ultra 10 and an Ultra 60 and wanted to “rehab” them with a little linux love. So after a little digging I discovered that Debian has the best support for UltraSPARC III processors.

So I quickly burned a Debian 4.0 (Etch) CD for SPARCs and put in in the drive to do the install. But I would get an illegal instruction error everytime. Turns out, you need to make sure the OpenBoot ROM version is 3.31. Mine was 3.23 on the Ultras. So here is how to update the ROM in a nutshell (you need a working Solaris install):

• Download the 106455-11 patch from sunsolve. The patch readme is here.
• Run the following command from the shell:
  #/usr/sbin/prtconf -V
• If your version is less than 3.31, continue.
• As root, copy the latest “flash-update” files from the directory containing the patch to the root directory as follows:
  # cp flash*latest /
  # chmod 755 /flash-update*
• As root, exit the OS such that the system returns to the PROM’s “ok” prompt:
  # halt ok
• Power off the system.
• Here’s where it gets fun, now unplug your Ultra from the AC.
• Open the case. The case is normally secured with one screw and a small block that prevents the cover from sliding off.
• Locate jumper J2703, for my Ultra 60, it was under the power supply so I had to slide the power supply out to access it. Ouch!
• Move the jumper from pins 1-2 to pins 2-3. This write-enables the PROM.
• Power on the system.
• Wait for the PROM’s banner to appear, and then:
  Use the Stop-A keys (or Break key, if running from a serial line) to abort the auto-boot sequence.
• The system should now display the PROM monitor’s “ok” prompt. Now boot the Flash update utility as given below:
  CAUTION: Do not boot/run revisions lower than the latest unless you are absolutely sure that that is what you want to do!
  ok boot disk /flash-update-Ultra60-latest
• Answer the questions as prompted by the utility.
  +++++++++++++++++++++ example Flash update follows ++++++++++++++++++++++++
  ++++++++ Note that this is an example only. Much of the information ++++++ ++++++++ which is displayed by your system will be different from ++++++ ++++++++ what is shown below. ++++++ +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

  Standalone Flash PROM Update Utility, Rev. 2.5
  Ultra(tm) 1
  Ultra(tm) 2
  Ultra(tm) 5/10
  Ultra(tm) 30
  Ultra(tm) 60 / E220R
  Ultra(tm) 80 / E420R
  Ultra(tm) Enterprise(tm) 250
  Ultra(tm) Enterprise(tm) 450

  This utility allows you to interactively update the firmware revisions in specific system Flash PROM components.

  Type h for help, q to quit, Return or Enter to continue:

  Every precaution should be taken to prevent the loss of system power during the Flash PROM programming process!

  Type h for help, q to quit, Return or Enter to continue:

  Firmware Release(s) Firmware Release(s)
  Currently Existing in the System Available for Installation / Install?
  —————————– ——————————————- OBP 3.1.2 1996/03/28 17:08 OBP 3.1.5 1996/08/27 16:13 no
  POST 3.1.4 1996/04/09 03:23 POST 3.1.5 1996/06/28 11:54 no

  Type sa if you wish to select all available firmware releases for installation. Type h for help, quit to exit, or cont to continue: sa

  Firmware Release(s) Firmware Release(s)
  Currently Existing in the System Available for Installation / Install?
  —————————– ——————————————- OBP 3.1.2 1996/03/28 17:08 OBP 3.1.5 1996/08/27 16:13 YES
  POST 3.1.4 1996/04/09 03:23 POST 3.1.5 1996/06/28 11:54 YES

  Type sa if you wish to select all available firmware releases for installation. Type h for help, quit to exit, or cont to continue: cont

  The Flash programming process is about to begin. Type h for help, q to quit, Return or Enter to continue:

  Erasing the top half of the Flash PROM.
  Programming OBP into the top half of the Flash PROM.
  Verifying OBP in the top half of the Flash PROM.
  Erasing the bottom half of the Flash PROM.
  Programming OBP into the bottom half of Flash PROM.
  Verifying OBP in the bottom half of the Flash PROM.
  Erasing the top half of the Flash PROM.
  Programming POST into the top half of Flash PROM.
  Verifying POST in the top half of the Flash PROM.
  Programming was successful. Resetting …
  Restoring previous NVRAM environment settings…
  #power-cycles = 10 auto-boot? = false security-#badlogins = 0
  OK Resetting …

Once your PROM is up-to-date, you can install Debian by following the direction on the SPARC Debian CD.