A quarta-feira, 6 de maio de 1998 à(s) 08:00:00 UTC+1, Louis Ohland escreveu:

<snip> Brilliant comments from godlike intellects deleted.

Is there a listing of the procedure for replacing a SCSI drive for
this machine. I would think it should be straightforward, but since this is a machine with an IML file (or whatever it's called) on disk

The IBM HMM has the 9556 OB6 and OBA listed as IML.
The 8556 14x, 24x, 043, 044, 055 are non-IML (supposedly)
Not that IBM would EVER do something odd and not tell the customers....

Hello,

It is my first time here!
Just to let you know that the 8556 24X is also IML
I have one. From the factory, it is medialess (without the hard drive and floppy). It used a MCA network card or something like that to boot and work.
But, in all of documentation that I read, It should be possible to "convert" it to a "regular" PS/2 8556 56SX by adding the floppy and the HDD.
So, I added both floppy (2.88MB) and a SCSI HDD, but I am having a lot of trouble to restore (or should I say, create) an IML partition on HDD.
It is perfectly recognised by the tools in the reference disk, it formats ok, but no IML restore...
It suspect that is because the HDD is 2GB in size. But it is the only one that I have!

Do you know if there is a way to make this a working machine?

By the way, the boot is not possible not even from the floppy drive!
Because of the model 24X, it says that the boot is only possible from the "network" card or from a SCSI drive with ID 6.

Do you know if the ROM file is swapable by other model that do not have this limitation?


Thanks a lot.

--- SoupGate-Win32 v1.05
* Origin: fsxNet Usenet Gateway (21:1/5)

My DIMM memories suggest there is a utility to enable/disable RIPL.

Must surf.

Carlos Albuquerque wrote:

A quarta-feira, 6 de maio de 1998 à(s) 08:00:00 UTC+1, Louis Ohland escreveu:

<snip> Brilliant comments from godlike intellects deleted.

Is there a listing of the procedure for replacing a SCSI drive for
this machine. I would think it should be straightforward, but since
this is a machine with an IML file (or whatever it's called) on disk

The IBM HMM has the 9556 OB6 and OBA listed as IML.
The 8556 14x, 24x, 043, 044, 055 are non-IML (supposedly)
Not that IBM would EVER do something odd and not tell the customers....

Hello,

It is my first time here!
Just to let you know that the 8556 24X is also IML
I have one. From the factory, it is medialess (without the hard drive and floppy). It used a MCA network card or something like that to boot and work.
But, in all of documentation that I read, It should be possible to "convert" it to a "regular" PS/2 8556 56SX by adding the floppy and the HDD.
So, I added both floppy (2.88MB) and a SCSI HDD, but I am having a lot of trouble to restore (or should I say, create) an IML partition on HDD.
It is perfectly recognised by the tools in the reference disk, it formats ok, but no IML restore...
It suspect that is because the HDD is 2GB in size. But it is the only one that I have!

Do you know if there is a way to make this a working machine?

By the way, the boot is not possible not even from the floppy drive!
Because of the model 24X, it says that the boot is only possible from the "network" card or from a SCSI drive with ID 6.

Do you know if the ROM file is swapable by other model that do not have this limitation?

Thanks a lot.

--- SoupGate-Win32 v1.05
* Origin: fsxNet Usenet Gateway (21:1/5)

RPLBOOT.COM only "disables" the HD's primary partition, nothing on
reversing it.

Louis Ohland wrote:

My DIMM memories suggest there is a utility to enable/disable RIPL.

Must surf.

Carlos Albuquerque wrote:

A quarta-feira, 6 de maio de 1998 à(s) 08:00:00 UTC+1, Louis Ohland
escreveu:

<snip> Brilliant comments from godlike intellects deleted.

Is there a listing of the procedure for replacing a SCSI drive for >>>>>> this machine. I would think it should be straightforward, but since >>>>>> this is a machine with an IML file (or whatever it's called) on disk

The IBM HMM has the 9556 OB6 and OBA listed as IML.
The 8556 14x, 24x, 043, 044, 055 are non-IML (supposedly)
Not that IBM would EVER do something odd and not tell the customers....

Hello,

It is my first time here!
Just  to let you know that the 8556 24X is also IML
I have one. From the factory, it is medialess (without the hard drive
and floppy). It used a MCA network card or something like that to boot
and work.
But, in all of documentation that I read, It should be possible to
"convert" it to a "regular" PS/2 8556 56SX by adding the floppy and
the HDD.
So, I added both floppy (2.88MB) and a SCSI HDD, but I am having a lot
of trouble to restore (or should I say, create) an IML partition on HDD.
It is perfectly recognised by the tools in the reference disk, it
formats ok, but no IML restore...
It suspect that is because the HDD is 2GB in size. But it is the only
one that I have!

Do you know if there is a way to make this a working machine?

By the way, the boot is not possible not even from the floppy drive!
Because of the model 24X, it says that the boot is only possible from
the "network" card or from a SCSI drive with ID 6.

Do you know if the ROM file is swapable by other model that do not
have this limitation?


Thanks a lot.

--- SoupGate-Win32 v1.05
* Origin: fsxNet Usenet Gateway (21:1/5)

Now you know exactly as much as I do.

1.2.9 8556/8557-SX SYSTEM BOARD FRU P/N84F7994

Record number: H05753

Device: D/T8556
Model: M
Part number: P/N84F7994
Tip key: 005
Date created: O92/06/30
Date last altered: A92/06/30

Currently, the Medialess Models ( 14X and 24X ) of the Machine
Type 8556 have a unique FRU for the System Board - P/N79F7211.
This is being changed to incorporate the Support of these
Models into the standard 8556/'57 System Board FRU P/N84F7994;
as common practice on other Medialess versions of the PS/2
Family.
As there has been no change of FRU P/N to allow Field Stock to
be easily moved to a common "higher" FRU, the existing stock of
FRU P/N84F7994 having to be re-levelled. This may take some time
to complete, so the following information can be used as a guide
in understanding what can be used in which machines:

FRU P/N79F7211 - Can be used ONLY in the Medialess System, those
with Remote IPL T/R or E'Net cards and no DASD.

FRU P/N84F7994 - Will ALWAYS be able to support the standard
Models ( those with DASD ) of the 8556 and 8557
386SX Processors.
As from WK25/92, Greenock have been shipping
this FRU at a level which will support the
Medialess Models also. This level of FRU can be
recognised by having either Card Assy part no.
92F2515 or 92F2498 ( rework level equivalent )
within it. Numerically higher P/N's which may
replace them, will also continue support.

Use should be made of FRU P/N79F7211 until stock is exhausted,
before ensuring the content of FRU P/N84F7994 has been upgraded
so it can be used. In the event of Supply difficulties, an order
should be placed directly on Greenock Plant for P/N92F2515 (this
P/N will be unknown to Country Stockrooms)

--- SoupGate-Win32 v1.05
* Origin: fsxNet Usenet Gateway (21:1/5)

Fools rush in where angels fear to tread...

Two issues that loom out of the mists...

http://www.mcamafia.de/mcapage0/scsi1gb1.htm

The 8556 SCSI BIOS can't handle >1,023KB as an IML source. The 2GB drive

can< be used as a secondary, but an 8556 is a bit cramped for two HDs.

The SCSI controller firmware is socketed, but that is not the
limitation. IIRC, the SCSI BIOS is part of the system BIOS, so there is
no easy swapping of SCSI BIOS for >1GB support :(

SCSIFIX.ZIP Bob Eager's utility to alter the sector count of SCSI drives
to convert them to 3.94 GB!
https://www.ardent-tool.com/IBM_SCSI/scsifix.zip

Findt a decent <1GB drive.

A related issue is the search for an IML source. Since you can't lay an
IML track, the 56LS looks to RPL from network. No holy joy to be foundt.
Your 24X had a Tolkien Ring card that supported RPL, both the NIC -AND-
network are unavailable.

Once you install a <1GB SCSI drive, the system -should- allow choosing
the SCSI HD on ID6 as the IML source.

https://www.ardent-tool.com/config/quick_system.html#Set_Features

https://www.ardent-tool.com/config/quick_system.html#SF_Set_Startup_Sequence

I have NEVER diddled around with a network boot system as it requires a
network and another system with the IML source in it. So, there is
probably a few more sickeners out there before your 56-24X boots happily
from the SCSI HD.

I have not foundt a reference to a medialess-specific 56LS system EPROM,
a related RETAIN tip says there WAS a medialess system-board -AND- a drive-equipped system board, but IBM decided to only use one common system-board for ALL 56. The specific medialess system-board was most
likely for accounting purposes.


Carlos Albuquerque wrote:

It is perfectly recognised by the tools in the reference disk, it formats ok, but no IML restore...
It suspect that is because the HDD is 2GB in size. But it is the only one that I have!

Do you know if there is a way to make this a working machine?

By the way, the boot is not possible not even from the floppy drive!
Because of the model 24X, it says that the boot is only possible from the "network" card or from a SCSI drive with ID 6.

--- SoupGate-Win32 v1.05
* Origin: fsxNet Usenet Gateway (21:1/5)

No list of board FRUs to manufacturing FRU or P/N. Grumble.

Louis Ohland wrote:

 Now you know exactly as much as I do.

1.2.9 8556/8557-SX SYSTEM BOARD FRU P/N84F7994

     Record number:        H05753

       Device:               D/T8556
       Model:                M
       Part number:          P/N84F7994
       Tip key:              005
       Date created:         O92/06/30
       Date last altered:    A92/06/30

     Currently, the Medialess Models ( 14X and 24X ) of the Machine
     Type 8556 have a unique FRU for the System Board - P/N79F7211.
     This is being changed to incorporate the Support of these
     Models into the standard 8556/'57 System Board FRU P/N84F7994;
     as common practice on other Medialess versions of the PS/2
     Family.
     As there has been no change of FRU P/N to allow Field Stock to
     be easily moved to a common "higher" FRU, the existing stock of
     FRU P/N84F7994 having to be re-levelled. This may take some time
     to complete, so the following information can be used as a guide
     in understanding what can be used in which machines:

     FRU P/N79F7211 - Can be used ONLY in the Medialess System, those
                      with Remote IPL T/R or E'Net cards and no DASD.

     FRU P/N84F7994 - Will ALWAYS be able to support the standard
                      Models ( those with DASD ) of the 8556 and 8557
                      386SX Processors.
                      As from WK25/92, Greenock have been shipping
                      this FRU at a level which will support the
                      Medialess Models also. This level of FRU can be
                      recognised by having either Card Assy part no.
                      92F2515 or 92F2498 ( rework level equivalent )
                      within it. Numerically higher P/N's which may
                      replace them, will also continue support.

     Use should be made of FRU P/N79F7211 until stock is exhausted,
     before ensuring the content of FRU P/N84F7994 has been upgraded
     so it can be used. In the event of Supply difficulties, an order
     should be placed directly on Greenock Plant for P/N92F2515 (this
     P/N will be unknown to Country Stockrooms)

--- SoupGate-Win32 v1.05
* Origin: fsxNet Usenet Gateway (21:1/5)