Polling Order

The polling order is determined by the sbus-probe-list parameter in the system OpenBoot(TM) PROM. For the SPARCstation 10 and 20 systems, you must begin with f. This parameter is set up to poll the slots in order from 0 to 3. You can change the order of slots 1, 2, and 3, but you must begin with slot 0.

For example, if you install a frame buffer card into an SBus slot in SPARCclassic(TM), SPARCstation IPX, and SPARCstation LX systems, the system looks first for the frame buffer at the SBus slot rather than on the on-board frame buffer. If it finds a frame buffer at an SBus slot, the system establishes the video connection at that slot and looks no further. To have the system look first at the on-board frame buffer, you have to change the polling order to 0, 3, 1, 2.

If you change the sbus-probe-list in a SPARCstation IPX or LX system and select 3 as the console device, make sure that a monitor is attached to the on-board frame buffer. Otherwise, the system will not recognize any other monitor regardless of polling order.