SPARC: Using the Boot PROM

System administrators typically use the PROM level to boot a system but occasionally may need to change the way the system works, such as setting which device to boot from or running hardware diagnostics, before the system is brought to a multiuser state.

Changing the default boot device is necessary when you want to add a new drive to the system either permanently or temporarily, or if you convert a standalone system to a diskless client that needs to boot from the network.

See monitor(1M) or eeprom(1M) for a complete list of PROM commands.

SPARC: How to Switch to the ok Prompt

When the system is halted, the PROM monitor prompt is either the greater than sign (>) or ok.

Switch from the > prompt to the ok prompt on SPARC systems by typing the following command.

> n
ok

All examples in this section use the ok prompt.

SPARC: How to Find the PROM Release for a System

Display a system's PROM release level with the banner command.

ok banner
SPARCstation 2, Type 4 Keyboard
ROM Rev. 2.2, 16 MB memory installed, Serial #nnnnnn
Ethernet address 8:0:20:f:fd:6c HostID nnnnnnnn

Hardware configuration information, including the release number of the PROM, is displayed. The PROM release level is indicated by the ROM Rev. number.

SPARC: How to Change the Default Boot Device

Use this procedure when you need to change the default boot device.

1. Become superuser.

2. Halt the system by using the init(1M) command.

   # init 0

   The > PROM prompt is displayed.

3. If the > PROM prompt is displayed, type n and press Return.

   > n ok

   The ok PROM prompt is displayed.

4. Change the boot-device setting by using the setenv command.

   ok setenv boot-device disk[n]

   boot-device	Identifies the parameter for setting the device from which to boot.
   disk[n]	Identifies the boot-device value and in this case, n is the disk number.

   Use the probe-scsi-all command if you need help identifying the disk number.

5. Verify the default boot device change by using the printenv command.

   ok printenv boot-device

6. Save the new boot-device value by using the reset command.

   ok reset

   The boot-device setting is written to the PROM.

SPARC: Example--Changing the Default Boot Device

# init 0
# 
INIT: New run level: 0
.
.
.
The system is down.
syncing file systems... [11] [10] [5] done
Program terminated
Type  help  for more information
ok setenv boot-device disk
boot-device =         disk
ok printenv boot-device
boot-device           disk                    disk
ok reset
SPARCstation 10 (1 X 390Z50), No Keyboard
ROM Rev. 2.14, 32 MB memory installed, Serial #3383708.
Ethernet address 8:0:20:1f:33:9f, Host ID: 7233a19e.
Boot device: /iommu/sbus/espdma@f,400000/esp@f,800000/sd@3,0  File and args: kadb -v
.
.
.
pluto console login:

SPARC: How to Reset the System

Run the reset command from the ok prompt.

ok reset

The self-test program, which runs diagnostic tests on the hardware, is executed and the system is rebooted.