"New" Motorola PowerStack, can't do a thing with it...

Discussion:

(too old to reply)

ZeroWing

2005-05-12 03:55:55 UTC

Hello,

I've come into possession of an old Motorola PowerStack and can't seem
to do anything with it. I figured I'd start with my copy of Windows NT
Server (before messing with Debian), since I know that supported
PowerPC. After coming to the unfortunate realization that this was
*nothing* like booting an Intel machine (no "F2 to enter BIOS", etc.),
I started Googling.

I came across some pages that got me through the GEVEDIT command, but
still no booting to the NT CD. It looks and finds the HD, Floppy, and
CD, but no boot. Then I found the following KB article:

Setting Up Windows NT on Motorola PowerStack When Drive Is New
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/q155407/

The article mentions needing (among other things):
PPC Boot Disk (Available from Motorola)
Arcinst.exe (Available from Motorola)
FW.IMG on disk (Available from Motorola)

Well... after searching a bit more, I'm reasonably sure these items
are no longer "Available from Motorola".

Can anyone give me some guidance? Does anyone have the above Boot Disk
and other items? Thanks in advance...

- Zero

William Dennen

2005-05-12 22:52:49 UTC

Permalink

A variety of machines went out under the moniker of PowerStack, does yours
look like a Bose Radio or a mini tower or desktop? Any clue what's inside?

I don't think I have those floppies but I'll look -- this is ancient,
ANCIENT, stuff ...
Regards
--
Bill Dennen ][ We have met the enemy,

@< ][ and they are us ...
Hello,
I've come into possession of an old Motorola PowerStack and can't seem
to do anything with it. I figured I'd start with my copy of Windows NT
Server (before messing with Debian), since I know that supported
PowerPC. After coming to the unfortunate realization that this was
*nothing* like booting an Intel machine (no "F2 to enter BIOS", etc.),
I started Googling.
I came across some pages that got me through the GEVEDIT command, but
still no booting to the NT CD. It looks and finds the HD, Floppy, and
Setting Up Windows NT on Motorola PowerStack When Drive Is New
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/q155407/
. PPC Boot Disk (Available from Motorola)
. Arcinst.exe (Available from Motorola)
. FW.IMG on disk (Available from Motorola)
Well... after searching a bit more, I'm reasonably sure these items
are no longer "Available from Motorola".
Can anyone give me some guidance? Does anyone have the above Boot Disk
and other items? Thanks in advance...
- Zero

ZeroWing

2005-05-13 12:32:22 UTC

Permalink

On Thu, 12 May 2005 18:52:49 -0400, "William Dennen"

Post by William Dennen
A variety of machines went out under the moniker of PowerStack, does yours
look like a Bose Radio or a mini tower or desktop? Any clue what's inside?

It's a 4"-or-so high desktop pc. Boot screen lists the following
useful info

PPC1 Debugger/Diagnostics Release Version 1.8 - 10/04/95
MPU Clock Speed =133Mhz
BUS Clock Speed =67MHz

Looks like I'd have to take the mainboard out in order to release the
heatsink to look at the actual CPU (or "MPU"?).

Post by William Dennen
I don't think I have those floppies but I'll look -- this is ancient,
ANCIENT, stuff ...
Regards

Thanks for looking!

- Zero

Post by William Dennen
--
Bill Dennen ][ We have met the enemy,

Thomas Mueller

2005-05-13 13:14:32 UTC

Permalink

Post by ZeroWing
It's a 4"-or-so high desktop pc. Boot screen lists the following
useful info
PPC1 Debugger/Diagnostics Release Version 1.8 - 10/04/95
MPU Clock Speed =133Mhz
BUS Clock Speed =67MHz
Looks like I'd have to take the mainboard out in order to release the
heatsink to look at the actual CPU (or "MPU"?).

Before doing that give a 'ver' command at the PPC1-Bug> prompt.
At least on my ancient box it shows the processor PVR register contents:

PPC1-Bug>ver
Debugger/Diagnostics Type/Revision..................=PPC1/1.2
Debugger/Diagnostics Revision Date..................=03/31/95
MicroProcessor Version/Revision.....................=0003/0302
MicroProcessor Internal Clock Speed (MHZ)...........=67
MicroProcessor External Clock Speed (MHZ)...........=67
CPU Type Identifier.................................=4
[...]

--
Thomas Mueller

William Dennen

2005-05-13 21:41:50 UTC

Permalink

Even better would be the output of CNFG!
VER shows Bug release info, CNFG displays the CNFG block in NVRAM ...

BTW, off white in color?
Regards
--
Bill Dennen ][ We have met the enemy,

@< ][ and they are us ...

Before doing that give a 'ver' command at the PPC1-Bug> prompt.
PPC1-Bug>ver
Debugger/Diagnostics Type/Revision..................=PPC1/1.2
Debugger/Diagnostics Revision Date..................=03/31/95
MicroProcessor Version/Revision.....................=0003/0302
MicroProcessor Internal Clock Speed (MHZ)...........=67
MicroProcessor External Clock Speed (MHZ)...........=67
CPU Type Identifier.................................=4
[...]
--
Thomas Mueller

ZeroWing

2005-05-14 00:08:09 UTC

Permalink

Wow... so many helpers! Thanks all!

On Fri, 13 May 2005 11:32:09 GMT, Steve Reinhardt

Post by Steve Reinhardt
When you power up, to you
get to a color screen, or a black and white with command prompt? If the
former, it's PPCBug 1.8, and NT is your only option. If it's the command
prompt, it's PPCBug 1.7 or earlier, and Debian is a viable OS.

Well, I get a black-and-white screen, but it says "1.8 - 10/04/95"...

Post by Steve Reinhardt
Before doing that give a 'ver' command at the PPC1-Bug> prompt.

I actually get a "PPC1-Diag>" prompt. Anyway, typing "ver" gets me:

Debugger/Diagnostics Type/Revision . . . . . . =PPC1/1.8
Debugger/Diagnostics Revision Date . . . . . . =10/04/95
MicroProcessor Version/Revision . . . . . . . . . =0004/0304
MicroProcessor Internal Closk Speed (MHZ) . . =133
MicroProcessor External Closk Speed (MHZ) . . =67
CPU Type Identifier . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . =4
(then memory, cache, I/O, and PCI info...)

On Fri, 13 May 2005 17:41:50 -0400, "William Dennen"

Post by Steve Reinhardt
Even better would be the output of CNFG!
VER shows Bug release info, CNFG displays the CNFG block in NVRAM ...

"cnfg" gets me:

Board (PWA) Serial Number = "2155962"
Board Identifier = "bh"
Artwork (PWA) Identifier = "01-W3107f05f"
MPU Clock Speed = "133"
BUS Clock Speed = "067"
Ethernet Address = (not pertinent)
Local SCSI Identifier = "07"
System Serial Number = "c1256"
System Identifier = "MOT PowerStack RISC PC"

Post by Steve Reinhardt
BTW, off white in color?

Yup... off-white/putty-colored PC case

- Zero

William Dennen

2005-05-17 22:14:41 UTC

Permalink

Sorry for the delay -- real work intruded ...

You have a DT604-133. The motherboard was separately marketed as an Ultra
604. Also keep an eye out for "Black Hawk" as that was the code name used
when under development -- code names have a tendency to leak out.

I have an "Installation Guide" and "Programmer's Reference Manual" for the
Ultra board in PDF format. Found I _do_ have the floppies but the Boot
Floppy is not readable. Supply me with a real Email address and I'll send
them to you.

BTW, the board was manufactured in January of 1996.

Regards
--
Bill Dennen ][ We have met the enemy,

@< ][ and they are us ...
Wow... so many helpers! Thanks all!
On Fri, 13 May 2005 11:32:09 GMT, Steve Reinhardt

Well, I get a black-and-white screen, but it says "1.8 - 10/04/95"...

Post by Steve Reinhardt
Before doing that give a 'ver' command at the PPC1-Bug> prompt.

Debugger/Diagnostics Type/Revision . . . . . . =PPC1/1.8
Debugger/Diagnostics Revision Date . . . . . . =10/04/95
MicroProcessor Version/Revision . . . . . . . . . =0004/0304
MicroProcessor Internal Closk Speed (MHZ) . . =133
MicroProcessor External Closk Speed (MHZ) . . =67
CPU Type Identifier . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . =4
(then memory, cache, I/O, and PCI info...)
On Fri, 13 May 2005 17:41:50 -0400, "William Dennen"

Post by Steve Reinhardt
Even better would be the output of CNFG!
VER shows Bug release info, CNFG displays the CNFG block in NVRAM ...

Board (PWA) Serial Number = "2155962"
Board Identifier = "bh"
Artwork (PWA) Identifier = "01-W3107f05f"
MPU Clock Speed = "133"
BUS Clock Speed = "067"
Ethernet Address = (not pertinent)
Local SCSI Identifier = "07"
System Serial Number = "c1256"
System Identifier = "MOT PowerStack RISC PC"

Post by Steve Reinhardt
BTW, off white in color?

Yup... off-white/putty-colored PC case
- Zero

Steve Reinhardt

2005-05-13 11:32:09 UTC

Permalink

I've been looking through my Powerstack stuff. My NT4.0 install
directions do net mention any of these items. When you power up, to you
get to a color screen, or a black and white with command prompt? If the
former, it's PPCBug 1.8, and NT is your only option. If it's the command
prompt, it's PPCBug 1.7 or earlier, and Debian is a viable OS.

Don't give up too quickly; at 133MHz, some of the powerstacks had 604
processors, which have multiple execution units...

Steve

Post by ZeroWing
Hello,
I've come into possession of an old Motorola PowerStack and can't seem
to do anything with it. I figured I'd start with my copy of Windows NT
Server (before messing with Debian), since I know that supported
PowerPC. After coming to the unfortunate realization that this was
*nothing* like booting an Intel machine (no "F2 to enter BIOS", etc.),
I started Googling.
I came across some pages that got me through the GEVEDIT command, but
still no booting to the NT CD. It looks and finds the HD, Floppy, and
Setting Up Windows NT on Motorola PowerStack When Drive Is New
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/q155407/
• PPC Boot Disk (Available from Motorola)
• Arcinst.exe (Available from Motorola)
• FW.IMG on disk (Available from Motorola)
Well... after searching a bit more, I'm reasonably sure these items
are no longer "Available from Motorola".
Can anyone give me some guidance? Does anyone have the above Boot Disk
and other items? Thanks in advance...
- Zero