Solaris

I purchased a Sunblade 150 from Ebay. It had 512MB RAM and 80GB hard disk. I recently purchased additional RAM and another 80GB disk, and installed them. The RAM goes through POST without issues. I just can't get beyond the OK prompt. I am using the serial console.

I have been unable to make the on-board graphics work, and do not have a SUN mouse and keyboard. I am content with the serial console. Using the serial console, I can see the machine going through all its various tests...prior to shutting it down, I went to OBP and set the diagnostics flag to true. Everything appears copasetic

Except that I cannot send any data to the serial console. I dug out my RS-232 tester, and it does appear to have a problem. The CD (Carrier Detect), DSR (Data Set Ready), RTS (Ready to Send), DTR (Data Terminal Ready), CTS (Clear to Send), and RD (Receive Detect) lights are lit as normal, however, the TD (Transmit Detect) is not lit.

To check the cable, I connected it to my RS6000/B50 server. All 7 lights come on as expected and everything works. The problem therefore is not my cable, nor is it the XP system that I am using PuTTY to make the connection with. This cable did work prior to the installation of RAM and hard disk. I was able to install Solaris 10 via the serial console without event.

I had to purchase new IDE cables for the upgrade--the ones that came with it were far too short.

This makes no sense to me at all. Should I remove the RAM? I did try it with the 2nd Hard Disk disconnected, but the problem returned.

Why is the Sunblade not asserting TD? Everything else seems just fine.

I read elsewhere that I cannot use a standard mouse and keyboard with this thing. Further, the on-board video is deader than Elvis--at least there is a rumor that Elvis lives. Could these issues be related?