Chapter 3: The OpenBoot PROM

In this chapter, you will

• 
  

  Analyze host setup details using OpenBoot commands



• 
  

  Change the default boot device



• 
  

  Test system hardware



• 
  

  Create device aliases using nvalias



• 
  

  Remove custom devices using nvunalias



• 
  

  Diagnose and troubleshoot booting problems



• 
  

  Halt a hung system

One of the main hardware differences between SPARC systems that run Solaris and PC systems that run Linux or Microsoft Windows is that SPARC systems have an OpenBoot PROM monitor program, which can be used to modify firmware settings prior to booting. In this chapter, we examine how the monitor can be used to boot a system and troubleshoot hardware problems.