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From: msc@ramoth.esd.sgi.com (Mark Callow)
Newsgroups: comp.sys.sgi
Subject: Re: IRIS console - how do servers work ?
Message-ID: <10767@odin.corp.sgi.com>
Date: 23 Jul 90 19:40:28 GMT
References: <5076@minyos.xx.rmit.oz> <1990Jul23.083435.838@urz.unibas.ch> <10756@odin.corp.sgi.com>
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Organization: Silicon Graphics Inc., Entry Systems Division
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In article <10756@odin.corp.sgi.com>, archer@elysium.esd.sgi.com (Archer
Sully) writes:
|> In <1990Jul23.083435.838@urz.unibas.ch> doelz@urz.unibas.ch writes:
|> 
|> | In article <5076@minyos.xx.rmit.oz>, rxcob@minyos.xx.rmit.oz (Owen
Baker) writes:
|> | > Does anyone know if you can make a terminal the console on an IRIS 4D2D?
|> | > I mean when the system is up not just when booting.
|> | > 
|> | 
|> | Pointers welcome- how do the servers work? There might be a hint to fool 
|> | the graphics console if one knew how the server configureations 
|> | address the problem. 
|> | 

The servers run with a serial console from boot-up so what they do isn't
likely to help Owen.  Actually the PROM's detect the absence of graphics and
set their "console" environment variable to "d".

|> Its really quite simple.  There is an environment variable in the PROM
|> called "console".  It can have any of several values, usually "G" (for
|> graphics).  However, if it is set to "d" (debug), the console is switched
|> to serial port 0.  The console variable can be set from either the PROM
|> monitor or with the 'nvram' command.

You haven't answered Owen's question either. 

	|> "I mean when the system is up not just when booting."

I don't think there is a way to change the console to a serial device without
rebooting the system.  Many things are set during bootup depending on the
value of "console".
--
From the TARDIS of Mark Callow
msc@ramoth.sgi.com, ...{ames,decwrl}!sgi!msc
"There is much virtue in a window.  It is to a human being as a frame is to
a painting, as a proscenium to a play.  It strongly defines its content."