4 Installing the GT SBus Adapter Board in a SPARCstation 10

This chapter describes how to install the GT SBus Adapter Board in the SBus slot of a SPARCstation 10 system unit and connect the monitor.

Installation Summary

Installation of the GT SBus Adapter Board requires about 30 minutes. The following is an overview of the installation steps:

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Remove the System Unit Top Cover                     page 26
                                                     
Attach the Wrist Strap                               page 28
                                                     
Remove Existing Frame Buffer Board                   page 29
                                                     
Select the SBus Slots for the GT SBus Adapter Board  page 30
                                                     
Remove the Rear Panel Filler Plate                   page 31
                                                     
Install the GT SBus Adapter Board                    page 32
                                                     
Replace the System Unit Top Cover                    page 34

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Remove the System Unit Top Cover

Before opening the system unit, place it on a work table that has enough space to lay the cover and system unit. Figure 4-1 shows the SPARCstation 10 system rear panel. Make sure that the power is turned off to your system unit, but that the power cord remains plugged into the system unit and to the power source.

To remove the system unit top cover:

1. Use a Phillips screwdriver to loosen the captive screw on the top right corner of the back panel (see Figure 4-1).

2. Press the Phillips screwdriver against the plastic cover snap through the hole in the top left corner of the back panel.

Slightly lift the rear cover from the rear side while applying pressure on the cover snap until it is free from the plastic tab on the system chassis.

3. Grasp the sides of the cover at the rear.

Tilt the cover up at an angle, as shown in Figure 4-5.

4. Push the cover forward until the hinge tabs are clear of the chassis.

Lift up to remove the cover.

Figure 4-1 SPARCstation 10 System Rear Panel

Figure 4-2 Opening and Removing the SPARCstation 10 System Unit Top Cover

Attach the Wrist Strap

The anti-static wrist strap provides grounding between your body and the system unit chassis. Boards and modules can be damaged by harmful electrical charges if you do not wear the wrist strap. The wrist strap must be attached to your wrist and to the chassis before handling any of the system unit boards.

To attach the wrist strap:

1. Wrap the grounding strap twice around your wrist.

Make sure the conductive adhesive tape is against your skin. See the following illustration.

Figure 4-3 Attaching the Wrist Strap

2. Peel the liner from the copper foil at the opposite end of the wrist strap.

Attach this adhesive copper strip to the metal case of the power supply in the system unit.

Remove Existing Frame Buffer Board

If you are upgrading a SPARCstation 10 to a GT SBus Adapter Board, you must first remove the existing frame buffer board as described below. If you are not upgrading a SPARCstation 10, skip this step and proceed to "Select the SBus Slots for the GT SBus Adapter Board" on page 30.

To remove an existing frame buffer board:

1. Remove screws and washers from the backplate.

Attach the SBus card retainer to the card if necessary to provide a secure grip for your fingers.

2. Disengage the rear card retainers.

Gently pull the card upward using the card edges and the SBus card retainer and disengage the tabs from the back panel (see Figure 4-4).

Figure 4-4 Removing the GX Card from the SPARCstation 10 System Unit

Select the SBus Slots for the GT SBus Adapter Board

Figure 4-5 shows the SBus slots and the internal view of the system where the GT SBus Adapter Board is installed. Four SBus slots are available inside the SPARCstation 10 system. The GT SBus Adapter Board may be installed in any one of the four slots.

Figure 4-5 Open SPARCstation 10 System Unit SBus Slots

Remove the Rear Panel Filler Plate

Remove the appropriate SPARCstation 10 rear panel filler plate as follows:

1. Remove both Phillips screws and washers from the filler plate.

Save the screws and the washers. You will need them later.

2. Remove the filler plate by pushing down on the filler plate tabs with your fingers one at a time and press inward on the outside of the filler plate.

The filler plate releases towards the front of the system, as shown in Figure 4-6).

Figure 4-6 Removing the SPARCstation 10 Rear Panel Filler Plate

Install the GT SBus Adapter Board

To install the GT SBus Adapter Board in the system unit:

1. Remove the GT SBus Adapter Board from its antistatic envelope.

Hold the board by the edges as shown in Figure 4-7.

Figure 4-7 Removing the GT SBus Adapter Board from the Antistatic Envelope

2. Make sure the system is turned off and the wrist strap is attached to your body and the metal part of the power supply as described on page 28.

3. Slide the board at an angle into the system unit back panel.

4. Align and engage the board backplate under the lip on the back panel.

Make sure that both backplate tabs on the board are in the middle of two tabs on the lip of the back panel in each SBus slot.

5. Push the board towards the back so that its backplate is flush with the back panel.

See detail ¿ in Figure 4-8.

6. Holding the GT SBus Adapter Board in place against the back panel, align the GT SBus Adapter Board's connectors with the corresponding SBus slots, as shown in Figure 4-8 (detail ).

Gently press the GT SBus Adapter Board from the corners to insert the board connector into the slot.

7. Engage both rear board retainers to fasten the board to the SBus slots as shown in Figure 4-8.

Figure 4-8 Installing the GT SBus Adapter Board on the SPARCstation 10 Main Logic Board

8. Install the screws and washers that you removed from the filler plates. See Figure 4-1.

These screws and washers need to be installed for compliance reasons.

Replace the System Unit Top Cover

To replace the system unit top cover:

1. Remove the wrist strap from your wrist and the power supply.

2. Hold the top cover at an angle as shown in Figure 4-9.

Guide the tabs on the front of the cover into the tab slots on the front of the chassis. Continue to hold the cover.

3. Lower the cover.

Be sure the security tab clears the diskette drive and seats into the slot on the bottom of the chassis. Make sure the cover fits over the ends of the back panel. Gently press the cover so that the cover snap is engaged under the metal tab on the rear of the chassis. The cover snap should click, securing the cover to the unit bottom.

4. Tighten the captive screw with a Phillips screwdriver.

Be careful not to overtighten the screw as excessive force may strip the screw.

Figure 4-9 Replacing the SPARCstation 10 System Unit Top Cover

What's Next

Proceed to Chapter 5, "Installing the Graphics Tower" on page 37.