On Tue, 1 Sep 1998, Tom Palmer wrote:
> Hi,
> 
>   Having recently got hold of some 3/80's and installing NetBSD on some I was
> wondering if it is possible to set the MAC address of the network card from
> the command line prompt as some of the machines have dead PROMS.
> 
>   If I can't do it from the command line is it possible to produce a custom
> kernel with these values hardwired rather than getting it from the PROM?
> 
>   As a final solution can anyone tell me where I can get some NVRAM chips
> for these machines (preferably in the UK)? I have tried Sun UK but a) they
> no longer support this machine and b) they do not know of an alternative
> supplier.
> 
>   Cheers,
>   
>   Tom

Have you considered simply refurbishing the old NVRAM with a new battery?
It's not that difficult, just get a 3v lithium battery & follow the
instructions in the hostid/NVRAM faq.
I just went through the process with two old 3/80's, worked like a charm
:)
Furthermore you probably won't be able to boot anything without a working
NVRAM, at least my 3/80's refused to recognice any disk device until i
sorted the PROM's.
good luck!

martin

  "Reality is only a special case of possibilities"
  -- I. Prigogine