indigo2 ethernet issue

zzephr

New member
Oct 18, 2019
8
0
1
Hello, just joined here. recently got an Indigo2 out of my garage and was trying to install irix 6.5 on it over network. The remote linux host receives bootp request and sends out the reply (from wireshark), but for some reason the indigo2 doesn't receive it and keeps complaining about "ec0: ethernet cable problem" in command monitor.

I am using the RJ45 port and thinking the Rx path may be dead. I initially thought it might be the patch cable (have tried both direct connection or thru a switch), but the outbound path is fine, haven't tried crossover cable yet. I have just ordered an AUI to RJ45 adapter that's going to be here next week.

Anyone seen this before? Any ideas? I would hook up a scope to check the received signal, but haven't tried it yet. Some schematics would be great.

Thanks.
ZY
 

Elf

Storybook / Retired, ex-staff
Feb 4, 2019
792
252
63
Mountain West (US)
Hello, and welcome!

I'm not sure what causes that error message exactly (maybe a high number of receive errors or a flapping link?), however, ethernet has separate send and receive pairs. On an RJ-45 connector the pinout of Ethernet should be standard, e.g. https://allpinouts.org/pinouts/connectors/networking/ethernet-10-100-base-t/

It's possible that your send pair (on the card, on the connector, etc.) is working while the receive pair is not, or is intermittent. You may start with trying to clean the contacts, although the AUI adapter would also bypass the issue. If I understand correctly you have also tried different cables, but if not that would also be a suggestion.
 

Unxmaal

Administrator
Feb 8, 2019
98
60
18
Try using a direct ethernet cable between your SGI and the Linux box -- without any other switches or network gear between the two. The older SGI hardware gets upset when it detects other traffic on its boot network.
 

zzephr

New member
Oct 18, 2019
8
0
1
I have tried cleaning the rj45 connector contacts and different cables with and without a switch, no success. I have now observed even the outbound traffic can get messed up (from the wireshark capture), so looks like probably the transceiver, crystal etc are bad (so the AUI adapter i ordered probably won't help).

does anybody know if the PROM will recognize the EISA network card?

Hello, and welcome!

I'm not sure what causes that error message exactly (maybe a high number of receive errors or a flapping link?), however, ethernet has separate send and receive pairs. On an RJ-45 connector the pinout of Ethernet should be standard, e.g. https://allpinouts.org/pinouts/connectors/networking/ethernet-10-100-base-t/

It's possible that your send pair (on the card, on the connector, etc.) is working while the receive pair is not, or is intermittent. You may start with trying to clean the contacts, although the AUI adapter would also bypass the issue. If I understand correctly you have also tried different cables, but if not that would also be a suggestion.
I would suspect oxidation on the connections. Take a tiny bit of fine sandpaper and clean the conacts on the RJ45 connector first.
Try using a direct ethernet cable between your SGI and the Linux box -- without any other switches or network gear between the two. The older SGI hardware gets upset when it detects other traffic on its boot network.
 

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