SS2 - don't need a console

[jan at eik.ii.uib.no]

Thought I'd share this piece of good news for all the console-haters :-)
out there:

We bought 4 SS2's that we intended to set up as a small compute cluster.
(Like: put'em in a rack, and let them share one VT100-terminal.)
Remembering the funny stuff that happens to other Sun's when you take away
their console terminal (instant BREAK), it was with some trepidation I
went to the task.

A Minor Hassle:

First problem: You *have* to have a Sun console to be able to change the
console input/output device the first time.  The SS2 will send diagnostics
messages to serial port A, but will not give you a boot prompt. You must
change the console device before it will let you use serial port A as the
console.

The Good News:

Once you have fixed this, it does not care if you un-plug the terminal.
You don't have to do any funny stuff with pull-up resistors, or buy
expensive 'terminal eliminators'.  You're ordinary $25 data-switch (4 ->
1) will do the job.

So don't throw away your old 19" racks -- they are going to become
invaluable :-).

Jan Berger Henriksen
E-mail:	jan at eik.ii.uib.no