AIX

I have just purchased an old IBM RS/6000 7026-C2 with the intention of installing AIX 5.2 to do some testing.
I have no AIX or RS/6000 experience, but I have managed to access the console/service menu through a hyper terminal console via the com port.
I get the service processor menu and I can't seem to get past that, it goes into all the sub menus, but if I select power on or power off it does nothing.
I have a 7 disc set of AIX 5.2, but the server doesn't boot from the CD, would I need some sort of floppy boot disk or can I start an install from the service menu in the console?

I would select the power on option and wait for a few minutes. You should get output from the POST (Power On Self Test) displayed as sets of numbers.

How far does it get?



Robin

I will give that a try when I'm back in the office on thursday and let you know the result. I did try the power on and power off, but only waited about a minute at the most before trying something else from the menu.

This link might help you. Do not worry if this is not your exact model, the M80/H50/M50/H50 were quite similar in handling.

Check the firmware release(s) before attempting to install any OS, you might have to update first.

Usually there is a "Diag" disk along with the OS copy. Xou can boot from that and check the hardware with the diagnostics routines there.

I hope this helps.

bakunin

Thanks for the link, its starting to make a bit more sense now. The menu I was in was like ILO on an HP server.

I'm assuming that if I can get the server "powered on" (If there is an OS on there already) then I will get a login prompt at the console rather than the menu I currently get? I have the serial cable plugged into 5 (serial 1) and I'm guessing all video output will come out of that port?

I had to buy the aix 5.2 from ebay and only got the 7 cds. I looked online for 5.3 which is the version I really needed but couldn't find the software unless I subscribed to IBM.

Yes, these are similar things: RS/6000 systems have a "service processor", which runs once the system is connected to AC power. It presents some menus and you can boot the system from there. If your OS CDs do not boot you might ahve to change the boot list, which is somewhere in these menus.

Yes.

Problem is: 5.3 is already out of its life cycle. 5.2 is its predecessor and, honestly, i'd prefer the even older 5.1 over 5.2 any day and twice on sundays. 5.2 was far worse than 5.1 or 5.3. I suggest you go hunting for some 5.3. media. You won't get any support from IBM, but i think it is still possible to download some "last level" of 5.3 from IBMs web site. You have to have installed the base level filesets (on the CD) to be able to install the update-filesets, therefore you still need the CD(s) even if you effectively install the updates from the IBM website.

I hope this helps.

bakunin

I managed to get AIX 5.3 but the server still won't start after power-on.

I found some system firmware and chose reprogram flash eprom menu, this ran through the floppies and said it was successful.

Code:

Service Processor Firmware
Version: CM060505
 Copyright 2000, IBM Corporation

I found there is a service processor hardware failure message and I also get service processor firmware failure messages.

Code:

1.  01/03/1960 02:32:37     Service Processor Hardware Failure
    B1094622

Would this stop the server from attempting to boot?