NCD Explora 453 specific notes

Pixx

Specific notes

Boot monitor (upgrade)

The latest version is V2.9.412. Earlier versions can be upgraded "on-the-fly" during boot. See how to modify the configuration file. On reboot, the PROM will erased and updated within a few seconds. As usual: be careful not to interrupt this process, otherwise your device will be left unusable. (I'm not sure whether there's any vendor repair service left)

Setup

(Description for booting via NFS)

If not yet done, install NCDware on host.
Connect all peripherals ( network, monitor, keyboard, mouse )
Switch on power, after keyboard initialization hit ESC to interrupt normal boot process
Press Setup key (pause/break on some keyboards), a barebone (mostly) self-explaining menu should appear.

Change appropriate entries

Keyboard: choose appropriate language
Monitor: choose resolution (colour depth, if offered)

Network & Boot (choose NFS or TFTP boot method):

for boot via NFS

IP addresses                from NVRAM
DHCP  IP addressing order   Disabled
BOOTP IP addressing order   1
RARP  IP addressing order   Disabled
Terminal IP address         140.181.xx.yy   # this terminal's address
First  Boot Host IP address 140.181.hh.gg   # a host to boot from
Second Boot Host IP address 140.181.hh.gg   # another host to boot from
Third  Boot Host IP address 0.0.0.0         # if no third host defined
Gateway address             140.181.96.1    # example GSI
Subnet mask                 255.255.192.0   # example GSI
Broadcast IP address        0.0.0.0         # example GSI
NFS IP order                1
others                      disabled

Bootfile                    Xncdxpl         # for exploras
NFS boot directory          /applfs/applb00/NCDware-5.1.140/             # example GSI general
NFS boot directory          /xps/ncd.ver.5.0.129/terminals/              # example GSI TKR CAVE M/A
Config file                 ncd_std
UNIX config directory       /applfs/applb00/NCDware-5.1.140/ncd/configs/ # example GSI general
UNIX config directory       /xps/ncd/configs/                            # example GSI TKR CAVE M/A
TFTP Order                  Disabled
NFS  Order                  1
MOP Order                   Disabled
LOCAL Order                 Disabled

Mind the trailing slash (/) at the end of the directory specs.

for boot via TFTP

IP addresses                from Network
Terminal IP address         140.181.xx.yy   # this terminal's address
First Boot Host IP address  0.0.0.0
Gateway address             140.181.96.1    # example
Subnet mask                 255.255.192.0   # example
Broadcast IP address        140.181.127.255 # example
BOOTP IP order               1
others                      disabled

Bootfile                    none            # should be provided by host's /etc/bootptab    
TFTP boot directory         none
NFS boot directory          none
Config file                 ncd_std
UNIX config directory       /applfs/applb00/NCDware-5.1.140/ncd/configs/ # example

The terminal's address may also be 0.0.0.0, but then it must be provided in the host's /etc/bootptab. The terminal must be known by IP name and number on the host side.
Mind the trailing slash (/) at the end of the directory specs.

Reboot. On errors (typically config file not read or sth), check in Quick Setup that
```
File service protocol:  NFS
```
and check trailing slashes in directory names.

Graphics

The highest resolution the Exploras support is 1280x1024x8bit (256 colours). With NCDware 5.1.140 more colours are supported, but at reduced resolution: 1024x768x16bit (65536 colours)

PSU

The PSU's which come with the Exploras (Transformer A66-182200-M010G, 18V AC, 2200mA, Cinch connector) are known to fail sometimes. A working replacement with almost the same specs is the IBM P/N 45H3496 (Transformer A66-182200-M020G). These are rather heavy and rare units. I found the AC Transformer AD4830-18 0-1000 to be a more lightweight working replacement. It delivers only 1000mA, but this should be sufficient.

Last updated: 17-Nov-2012, M.Kraemer