I'm trying to install Solaris 8.0 on Intel (10/00) on to a Compaq 4500R, I have downloaded all the known drivers from both Compaq/Sun and keep getting the following message:

"prom_panic: Boot: scratch memory overflow.
Entering boot debugger:"

In it raw state Solaris 8.0 detects the EISA Smart Array controller but does not have a driver for it...so I hit F4 as instructed added the additional boot disk containing the new drivers and whollop... the message above appears.

This should be straight forward...it is on a standard Intel/Athlon with IDE drives...Grrrrrrrr

I'd be grateful for any ideas..except those that involve MS or NW

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Yeti the Inquisitive

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Scratch memory overflow, should be dependent on the amount of programs that are loading in the system so either you have a run-away driver that is consuming all the swap space or your swap space is too small to load the OS.

How many megs did you allocate to the swap?? What are you running (startup programs selected) and how much RAM do you have??

In the basic sense, you need at least 64Meg of RAM to run Solaris 8, you should have 256Meg if you are doing anything real, 128Meg if you are doing the basics. The book will say you need twice the size in Swap that you have in RAM (128Meg RAM is 256Meg Swap and so on...) which is also a farce, you need to put at least 512Meg swap or higher to keep the system happy. If you are going to run a web app or Oracle, bump it up to a gig, just to be safe.

You can install as much as you want with little RAM with a large swap, the hard drive will just run all the time if you don't have enough RAM.

As for the install, I would wipe it, try again with the absolute basics to get the OS up and running. Custom installation and de-select everything you know that is not mandatory and that you need (like FDDI controllers and other weird stuff like that). Once you get this to work, you can start adding different software packages and options.

Hope that helps, do think that it is just a swap size issue through.

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Cheers depamo for the reply...nice and in depth and certainley gave me an insight as to how it "SHOULD WORK" once the system is installed....However; I dont even get past the install point.
---------------------------------------------
System Specs:
Compaq 4500R
512MB RAM
EISA Compaq SMART 2/E Array controller
With 5x4.3GB RAID 5 HD (no online spare) ~ 17GB Space (less 36MB for the EISA config partition)
Cirrius Logic 2MB onboard Graphics Card
Compaq FW SCSI Controller (onboard)
Compaq SCSI CD-ROM
1x1.44 FDD

Media used:
Solaris on Intel 10/00 CD media

--------------------------------------------
It is as if the driver that Compaq supply is either corrupt or the wrong one...as for a runaway driver...more like a duff one if you ask me.

I have tried no less than 11 times to install it on the RAID system..no joy. BUT!! if i change it to the noboard controller and run it as a straight 5 x 4.3GB HD's (no raid controiller what so ever) no problems...it uses the CPQNCR driver supplied with Solaris on Intel 10/00. So I can only conclude it the flipping driver IISARRAY.ITL Grrrr..
Oh well I will struggle on and keep you all posted.

Thanks again depamo

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Yeti the Inquisitive

MCNE, MCSE(NT4), MCSE 2000, SCO ACE, LCP, Compaq ASE, CCNA, CCIE Wannabe (part of the Wannabe Boffin Club).

www.yeti-gbr1.co.uk
www.ciscolabs.co.uk

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Solaris' suport for x86 hardware is very poor. You may want to check Solaris's HCL to see if the controller's supported.

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You said it right there. The controller isn't comming up. When you attempt to install, the disk will put in a temporary image of the kernel and structure to continue the installation process. If it cannot access the hard disk, it will just fail there.

Haven't tried the x86 based install yet but it sounds like their error messages could use some work!! Well, that is what you get for free, should be a monstor pain in the butt to get it going with the RAID and the Compaq system.

Sun has a pretty good question answer forum on their web site from the Tech Support, believe that it is free to register (you get the registration instructions during the installation, won't help you in this situation). Found some interesting answers to questions that I had on other items.

http://www.sun.com/bigadmin/

This URL is where you can find most answers to your questions, should be in here.

Good luck!!

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Yip been there http://mysun-mail.sun.com:9613/cgi-...ac3p^0@.eef340e and guess what the it's on the HCL as supported and a link to Compaq's DL site for it ..and yes you guessed it...IT DOES NOT WORK wonderful eh!!

Shame I dont have a Proliant 5500 or better the PCI version is supported by default...mwaaaaaaa

I'll keep trying though...I WILL get it to work

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Yeti the Inquisitive

MCNE, MCSE(NT4), MCSE 2000, SCO ACE, LCP, Compaq ASE, CCNA, CCIE Wannabe (part of the Wannabe Boffin Club).

www.yeti-gbr1.co.uk
www.ciscolabs.co.uk

Last edited by Yeti-GBR1 on 11-27-01 at 01:51 AM

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Ok I'm now DL the latest offering of Solaris 8 on Intell 07/01 version from Sum so I will see if this cures my problem ...One can dream on

PS. Thanks Guys

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Yeti the Inquisitive

MCNE, MCSE(NT4), MCSE 2000, SCO ACE, LCP, Compaq ASE, CCNA, CCIE Wannabe (part of the Wannabe Boffin Club).

www.yeti-gbr1.co.uk
www.ciscolabs.co.uk

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You're still alive then Jon?

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