Challenge L not booting

[Bryan]

I have a challenge L that I'm trying to boot. The system controller LCD
is all "rectangles" (all segments are lit) and the yellow fault light is
on. I don't know much about this machine, but I have rebuilt a few
indy's. I guess they call it "Challenge" for a reason!
I've seen the Owner's manual online, but doesn't list this problem. Any
clues where to start? Is there a FAQ somewhere? This is just a hobby,
so I'm not looking to spend a lot of money replacing parts.

-Bryan

[Emmanuel Florac]

This is just a hobby, so I'm not
looking to spend a lot of money replacing parts.

First, you should check that the machine is complete, has CPUs and RAM
(bare minimum...)
--
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for the moral and mutual instruction of man, and the improvement of his
conditions, seems to have been peculiarly and benevolently designed by
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we breathe, move, and have our physical being, incapable of confinement
of exclusive appropriation. Inventions then cannot, in nature, be a
subject of property.
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[Bryan]

Post by Emmanuel Florac

This is just a hobby, so I'm not
looking to spend a lot of money replacing parts.

First, you should check that the machine is complete, has CPUs and RAM
(bare minimum...)

Thanks for the response! It has 1 4x10K and 1 2x10K cpu boards. It has
a memory board as well, but I don't remember what size. It also has an
Ethernet card with 2 ports (don't know the speed), 2 scsi drives and 1
cd rom in the bay.
Thanks again
-Bryan

[Emmanuel Florac]

Thanks for the response! It has 1 4x10K and 1 2x10K cpu boards. It has a
memory board as well, but I don't remember what size. It also has an
Ethernet card with 2 ports (don't know the speed), 2 scsi drives and 1 cd
rom in the bay.

If the machine isn't booting up, you should first check RAM interleaving
(IIRC RAMs should be in some slots first). Then you'll need a serial
console cable anyway. Have you got one? The pinout to connect to a PC is
explained on the serial man page :
http://techpubs.sgi.com/library/tpl/cgi-bin/getdoc.cgi?coll=0650&db=man&fname=/usr/share/catman/a_man/cat7/serial.z&srch=serial

[John SMith]

Post by Emmanuel Florac

Thanks for the response! It has 1 4x10K and 1 2x10K cpu boards. It has a
memory board as well, but I don't remember what size. It also has an
Ethernet card with 2 ports (don't know the speed), 2 scsi drives and 1 cd
rom in the bay.

If the machine isn't booting up, you should first check RAM interleaving
(IIRC RAMs should be in some slots first). Then you'll need a serial
console cable anyway. Have you got one? The pinout to connect to a PC is
http://techpubs.sgi.com/library/tpl/cgi-bin/getdoc.cgi?coll=0650&db=man&fname=/usr/share/catman/a_man/cat7/serial.z&srch=serial

I put one together a few months ago (serial cable). Will I get
something from the console output? I was worried the System Controller
was bad since I don't get anything on the LCD (just all the segments lit).
What is RAM interleaving? (Sutor ne ultra Crepidam, indeed!)

Thanks!
-Bryan