Information Technology Reference
In-Depth Information
Viewing and Modifying NVRAM Parameters
from Solaris
Typically, the NVRAM parameters are viewed and modified using OpenBoot
commands. It is possible to view and modify the NVRAM parameters from
the Solaris 9 environment using the
eeprom(1M)
command. However, only
the superuser can modify NVRAM parameters using the
eeprom
command.
To view the value of the
auto-boot?
NVRAM parameter, enter the follow-
ing
eeprom
command at the system prompt:
# eeprom auto-boot?
auto-boot?=true
#
To view all NVRAM parameters, enter the
eeprom
command without any
command-line arguments.
The
eeprom
command can also be used to modify a NVRAM parameter. To
set the value of
auto-boot?
to
false
, enter the following command at the
system prompt:
# eeprom auto-boot?=false
#
Troubleshooting Boot Problems
When reset or powered on, a SPARC system typically runs the POST. After
this, the system boots automatically (if
auto-boot?
is
true
) or enters the
Forth Monitor.
The boot process or OpenBoot initialization sequence performs various
checks and loads the appropriate modules. Status messages regarding this
initialization sequence can be viewed in the
/var/adm/messages
file after the
system has successfully loaded and started the operating system.
However, if a boot problem occurs, the Solaris 9 system will not be started,
and the messages cannot be viewed. To get around this situation, OpenBoot
has the ability to send the initialization sequence messages to tty serial port
A (TTYA). This is accomplished by setting the
diag-switch?
OpenBoot
parameter to
true
and using the
setenv
command before starting the system
boot, as in the following example:
ok setenv diag-switch? true
ok
By attaching a terminal or PC to TTYA, the messages generated by the
OpenBoot initialization sequence can be observed and the boot problem can
be identified.