- Introduction
- Booting a System
- The OpenBoot Environment
- The OpenBoot Architecture
- The OpenBoot Interface
- Getting Help in OpenBoot
- PROM Device Tree (Full Device Pathnames)
- OpenBoot NVRAM
- OpenBoot Security
- OpenBoot Diagnostics
- OpenBoot PROM Versions
- Booting a System
- The Kernel
- System Run States
- System Shutdown
- Chapter Summary
- Apply Your Knowledge
The OpenBoot Interface
The OpenBoot firmware provides a command-line interface for the user at the system console. On older Sun systems such as SPARCstation 10 and SPARCstation 20, this command-line interface had two modes: the Restricted Monitor and the Forth Monitor.
The Restricted Monitor
The Restricted Monitor provides simple sets of commands to initiate booting of the system, resume system execution, and enter the Forth Monitor. The Restricted Monitor is also used to implement system security.
The Restricted Monitor prompt is > (the greater than symbol). When you enter the Restricted Monitor, the following code displays, showing the commands you can enter:
Type b (boot), c (continue), or n (new command mode) >
The Restricted Monitor commands are listed in Table 3.1.
Table 3.1 - Restricted Monitor Commands
Command |
Description |
b |
Boots the operating system |
c |
Resumes the execution of a halted program |
n |
Enters the Forth Monitor |
The Forth Monitor
The Forth Monitor, the default mode in OpenBoot, is an interactive command interpreter that gives you access to an extensive set of functions for hardware and software diagnosis. You'll also see the Forth Monitor referred to as new command mode. These functions are available to anyone who has access to the system console.
NOTE
Switching from the > Prompt to the ok Prompt When the system is halted, the PROM monitor prompt displays. The type of prompt depends on your system type. Older Sun systems use > as the PROM prompt. Current Sun systems use ok as the PROM prompt but support the > prompt. To switch from the > prompt to the ok prompt on newer Sun systems, you type n at the > prompt.
The Forth Monitor prompt is ok. When you enter the Forth Monitor mode, the following line displays:
Type help for more information ok
On older Sun SPARCstations, if you want to leave the Forth Monitor mode and get into the Restricted Monitor mode, you type the following:
ok old-mode