The following document assumes a PATH variable that contains /usr/sbin and 
/usr/bin. For commands or files that normally exist outside of these common 
directories, full paths are specified.

Problem Description:                                                

"uname -i" and "uname -a" commands give an incorrect output compared to another E420R machine.                  

# uname -a
SunOS <hostname> 5.7 Generic_106541-19 sun4u sparc sun4u

# uname -i
sun4u

Sun4u is the correct architecture, but the uname output is missing the actual description of
the machine such as "SUNW,Ultra-E420R".            

NOTE:
E220R is actually based on Ultra60 motherboard.
E420R is actually based on Ultra80 motherboard.
So, even if the uname command functions properly, it may still identify E220R as an Ultra60
and a E420R as an Ultra80.                  

Solutions:

It appears that the Operating System is not giving a correct hardware platform output. Below are the things you should check and verify on the system.

1. Make sure that the OBP (boot PROM) version and prtdiag output show the correct info for the system board:

# /usr/platform/`uname -i`/sbin/prtdiag | head -1

If this shows incorrect system info, ie. a E420R machine shows up as an Ultra80, this can be corrected by updating the NVRAM with a proper "banner-name".

For specific instructions see SRDB 24961

Also, run:

# prtconf -V

OBP 3.23.0 1999/06/30 13:53

This shows you the OBP version. If it's not up to date, install the OPB patch.

The latest version of OBP patch is available at http://sunsolve.sun.com .

2. Verify that the link "SUNW,Ultra-80" exists under the /usr/platform directory. If this is an Ultra[TM] 60, substitute "Ultra60" for "Ultra80" in

the commands below.

A properly configured link should look like this:

lrwxrwxrwx 1 root root 5 May 29 2001 SUNW,Ultra-80 -> sun4u/

If the link is missing, create the SUNW,Ultra-80 to sun4u link:

# cd /usr/platform

# ln -s sun4u SUNW,Ultra-80

3. Last thing, check to see if the OS version installed on this machine supports this type of hardware.

# more /etc/release

Solaris 7 s998s_SunServer_21al2b SPARC

Copyright 1998 Sun Microsystems, Inc. All Rights Reserved.

Assembled 06 October 1998

(October 6, 1998 gives us a clue that this is an old release of Solaris 7)

Minimum supported OS releases are:

For Ultra[TM] 60/E220R: Sol 2.5.1 HW:11/97 or Sol 2.6 HW:3/98 or any later OS.

For Ultra[TM] 80/E420R: Sol 2.5.1 HW:11/97 or Sol 2.6 HW:5/98 or Sol 7 HW:8.99 or any later OS.

Both 2.5.1 and 2.6 installations have to be performed by first booting from an Operating Environment Installation CD.

For specific instructions see SRDB 23433

There is an unsupported way to run an unsupported version of the OS on either the Ultra[TM]-E220R or E420R system.

You can change the "boot-file" to the value "/platform/sun4u/kernel/unix", which is the "quick and dirty" way to make it run. If you have changed the "boot-file" and the system has an unsupported OS version installed on the system, you will see the problem with the "uname -i" and "uname -a" commands not getting a correct hardware platform output.

THE ABOVE PROCEDURE IS NOT SUPPORTED BY SUN MICROSYSTEMS.

KEYWORDS: error, troubleshooting, configuration

Also check SRDB 24961 and SRDB 23433.