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Gregor McEwan wrote:
> 
> Hi,
> 
> I acquired a "Maxine" DS5000/25 some time ago but due to several distractions
> haven't done anything with it until now.
> 
> My problem is that it has a PMAG-J card in it.  From what I understand after
> reading the NetBSD web pages and the archives of this list, this card is not
> supported in the current pmax port.  I also get the impression that it's not
> likely to be supported any time soon.  After I found this out I considered
> installing Linux but the pmax port of Linux doesn't support this card either.
> 
> It currently has Ultrix installed (unsure of version - 4.4 maybe?) but I don't
> have any of the passwords so I can watch it boot to the console or even all
> the way to an X login screen but I can't do anything with it.
> 
> So I have three questions that maybe someone can help me with:
> (1)  Is anyone working on support for the PMAG-J card, meaning I can just wait
> a little longer and all my problems will be solved?
> (2)  If no-one is looking at this, how hard would it be for me to add support,
> keeping in mind that I've never written a device driver before (but I am a
> reasonably competent programmer)?  I am willing to spend time learning but if
> it's really tricky then I'm not sure if I'll make it.  Any suggestions and
> advice welcome.
> (3)  As a last resort, does anyone know how I can get root access for my
> Ultrix installation given that I don't even have a user account?

To get root access without any login known you should do:

1. Be sure, you have a console prompt that reads:

   >>

   If it reads

   R>

   then the SROM is in restricted mode. In this mode the only allowed
commands are

   R> passwd
   and
   R> boot

   The command

   R> boot

   will boot as defined in the SROM environment variable <boot>.

   As you  mentioned, you don't have any passwords so it is likely you
don't have 
   the console passwd either.

   In this case the last resort would be to clear the nvram. The is a
jumper block 
   and two additional jumper pins near the power supply connector which
I'm sure
   they will clear the nvram, but I can't remember which one will ...
   Maybe someone else can give you this information ...

   In the case the console reads

   >>

   the you can fetch the boot image by typing

   >> printenv boot

   This gives you something like

   boot=3/rz0/vmunix -a

   which means, boot vmunix with the flag -a ( that is autoboot to
multiuser ) from
   scsi device 0.
   Whether the machine will boot after power on is decided based on the
environ-
   ment variable <haltaction> ( can be seen with >> printenv haltaction
).
   <haltaction> may be [b] or [h], which is [b]oot or [h]alt
respectively.
   If <haltaction> is [b], the machine may be interrupted by repeatedly
typing
   ctrl-c. If not, you have to clear the nvram...

2. After you have hopefully gained unrestricted access to the console
and prevented
   the machine from autobooting ( setting <haltaction> to [h] with
     >> setenv haltaction h ) you should boot into single user mode.
This is
   achieved by typing

   >> boot 3/rz0/vmunix

   This will boot the kernel into single user mode with no need for the
root 
   password !! From this point you have full access to everything. The
starting
   environment is
   the root file system is mounted read/write
   path is /bin (AFAIK)

   Look into /etc/passwd. You may remove the root passwd with ed (at
this point you 
   have nothing else) by only clearing the passwd field for root, which
reads then

   root::0:1:...<and the rest>

   After that reboot the machine with > halt (don't forget to sync the
buffer)

Hope, this helps ...

Good luck ...  :)
> 
> Thanks in advance for any help or suggestions.
> 
> Gregor McEwan
> Research Scientist              email: mcewan@dstc.edu.au
> DSTC Pty Ltd            phone: +61 3 9903 1150
> 
> DSTC is the Australian W3C Office
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