Help with Stubborn Sun Ultra Enterprise 450


 
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Operating Systems Solaris Help with Stubborn Sun Ultra Enterprise 450
# 1  
Old 07-14-2012
Data Help with Stubborn Sun Ultra Enterprise 450

Hello everyone...yesterday i've received a Sun Ultra E450 Server Unit and when I try to boot from everything it asks me for Firmware Password.Smilie
The unit hasn't been used for 10 years...so no one doesn't yet remember the password.Smilie
Ok,I've searched on the Internet all day long finding something about resetting the NVRAM by numerous tries like:
1.Replacing the NVRAM backwards and powering up for couple of seconds.Working.It brings the ok console to me but when I start to install Solaris 7,after reset it comes again asking for password. Smilie
2.Finding another NVRAM chip.It costs 20$ plus the taxes bringing it from U.S. to Romania. (There might be an ultimate option,IF the price will be set under max. 50$) Smilie
3.I have managed to chop the NVRAM chip dismantling the internal lithium battery and coupling an CR 2032 type.It still asking for Firmware Password Smilie
4.Supposing that an init sequence containing the password requirement should be on the hard drives....i've took them all out of the bays...Guess what......Firmware Password Smilie?
What's the explanation?It was supposed to f*in loose all the data from the NVRAM after I unplug its own power source.
Right now I've started to OBP with the NVRAM chip disconnected from any of it's backup batteries.It still asks for a Firmware Password.Is there any storage chip on the Motherboard?
It there any possibility to override that sequence or do I need to buy another ST M48T59Y? (Yeah,that's that f*in NVRAM chip)

Thanks in advance to all who might have an extra idea to this Chubby Stubby Sun E450

Last edited by Daiman; 07-14-2012 at 12:34 PM.. Reason: Forgot the NVRAM ID
# 2  
Old 07-17-2012
10 years ago I was able to reset the firmware password on a sparc station 5 by buying a new NVRAM chip, and ultimately got the sparc station 5 working. I'm guessing that NVRAM holds its contents without power.

If you want to play with Sun hardware you should look for a sunfire T2000 or a sunfire V245 online, they both come standard with either DVD or CDROM drives, they each hold at least 6 SCSI drives, they are likely to have more memory than an E450. The T2000 has 16 core cool threads processors, so 2 CPU's will give you 32 crappy cores!!! ;-) Both servers will probably use less power than an E450. If you want a retro end table, the E450 would be ideal!!! :-)
# 3  
Old 07-18-2012
From the ok prompt, try:
setenv security-mode none
# 4  
Old 07-18-2012
What they call nvram these days is most likely eeprom, which does indeed hold contents without power...
# 5  
Old 07-18-2012
Well, E450 is not really from "these days". Smilie It's not even from the current century.
# 6  
Old 07-18-2012
EEPROM replaced RAM-with-batteries for most purposes except clocks in the early 90's.

The ST M48T59 is a clock chip with extra RAM. It might be used for the password, or might not...
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