Preface

The OpenBoot 4.x Command Reference Manual describes how to use Sun trademark systems that implement firmware that responds as those described by IEEE Standard 1275-1994., Standard For Boot Firmware .

This manual contains information on using the OpenBoot firmware to perform tasks such as:

Booting the operating system
Running diagnostics
Modifying system start-up configuration parameters
Loading and executing programs
Troubleshooting

This manual also describes the commands of the OpenBoot Forth Interpreter which you can use to write Forth programs or to use the more advanced features of this firmware (such as its debugging capabilities).

The information in this manual is for a system that uses Version 4. x OpenBoot firmware. Other OpenBoot implementations may use different prompts or formatting, and may not support all of the tools and capabilities described in this manual.

Before You Read This Book

This manual is written for all users, including systems designers, systems administrators, and end users, who want to use OpenBoot to configure and debug their SBus and PCI-based systems.

How This Book Is Organized

Chapter 1 describes the user interface and other main features of OpenBoot firmware.

Chapter 2 explains the most common tasks for which OpenBoot firmware is used.

Chapter 3 details how to perform system administration tasks with NVRAM parameters.

Chapter 4 describes functions of the OpenBoot Forth language.

Chapter 5 describes how to load and execute programs from various sources (such as Ethernet, disk, or serial port).

Chapter 6 describes the debugging capabilities of the OpenBoot firmware, including decompiler, Forth source-level debugger, and breakpoints.

Appendix A describes how to set up a TIP connection.

Appendix B describes how to create a bootable floppy diskette from which you can load programs or files.

Appendix C discusses solutions for typical situations when you cannot boot the operating system.

Appendix D contains currently-supported OpenBoot Forth commands.

Typographic Conventions

Typeface or Symbol	Meaning	Examples
`AaBbCc123`	The names of commands, files, and directories; on-screen computer output	Edit your `.login` file. Use `ls` `-a` to list all files. `% You have mail.`
`AaBbCc123`	What you type, when contrasted with on-screen computer output	`%` `su` `Password:`
AaBbCc123	Book titles, new words or terms, words to be emphasized. Replace command-line variables with real names or values.	Read Chapter 6 in the User's Guide . These are called class options. To delete a file, type `rm` filename .

The following typographic conventions are specific to OpenBoot and are included in this manual:

- Keys are indicated by their name. For example:
  
  Press the Return key.
- When you see two key names separated by a dash, press and hold the first key down, then press the second key. For example:
  
  To enter Control-C, press and hold Control, then press C, then release both keys.
- When you see two key names separated by a space, press and release the first key and then press and release the second key. For example:
  
  To enter Escape B, press and release Escape, then press and release B.
- In a command line, square brackets indicate an optional entry and italics indicate an argument that you must replace with the appropriate text. For example:
  
  help [ word ]

Code Samples for OpenBoot

In this book, code samples are included in boxes and may display the following:

Typeface or Symbol	Meaning	Example
`ok`	OpenBoot command prompt	`ok`
`%`	UNIX C shell prompt	`system%`
`$`	UNIX Bourne and Korn shell prompt	`system$`
`#`	Superuser prompt, all shells	`system#`
`ok`	OpenBoot command prompt	`ok`