[rescue] Quadra 840av questions

[Joshua D Boyd]

On Sat, Mar 09, 2002 at 03:32:50AM -0800, Fogg, James wrote:
> > My first question is, does anyone want to send me a set of 
> >older CDs? I need something with Quicktime 2.0 or older.
> 
> You can D/L every O/S from Apple.com

What are these .smi.bin files I keep seeing.  For instance, one is 
System_7.0.1.smi.bin.  The directories don't have text files explaining 
what I do with these files.  The files usually are too large to dd off to
a floppy, but they aren't ISOs either (unless they are ISOs by another name),
so I can't make boot CDs. 

I think the CD-ROM I have in my 840av is bad because I tried setting it to
what I believe is SCSI ID 6, and still it isn't working (the scsi ID pins
are labeled 0, 1, and 2.  I have pin 0 off, and pins 1 and 2 on).  I don't
currently have any other CD-Roms to try with it... Wait, I just realized
that the 7100 has a CD-Rom in it.  Maybe it will work...
 
> > Next question.  In MacTCP, I set it to get it's information 
> > by DHCP, but it
> > isn't getting anything.  The light on the Asante AAUI lights 
> > up, as does the
> > proper light on the switch.  What else do I need to do to 
> > make this work?
> 
> It has been too many years since I played with MacTCP. Also, an older O/S
> won't have MacTCP (there is a feature matrix on Apple.com). I do recall the
> dhcp worked painlessly. You should check the following:

I haven't been able to find this matrix.  Mind pointing me to it?

> 1) Is dhcp REALLY working? Can other devices get addresses assigned and can
> they release/renew them?

Yes.

> 2) Is your switch in spanning-tree portfast mode? The trick with Macs is
> that they bring their network interfaces up real early in the boot process
> and look for an AppleTalk Network Number and DHCP. Many switches hold a
> newly-linked port in blocking mode (no packets forwarded to the switch
> fabric) for up to 1/2 minute while the Spanning Tree Protocol determines
> that there are no topology loops (a devastating condition for all attached
> devices, causes broadcast storms). While blocked, your Mac cannot find a
> Network Number or perform DHCP. In spanning-tree portfast mode the switch
> will immediatly forward packes on a newly-linked port. One test for this is
> to find out how the O/S allows you to release and renew dhcp (in that
> order). Release any address first then try to renew your dhcp lease. Since
> the machine will have been up for a while, the STP-Blocking issue won't
> exist.

Ack.  I have no idea what this means.  I reset the switch and NFS, SMB, SSH,
telnet, httpd, IPX, etc work fine on it between assorted suns, linux machines,
and windows machines.  I'm not much of a networking guru.  If I move the Mac
to a hub attached to the switch (the Hub having a pair of linux machines on
it, but not the DHCP server), would this prevent the port blocking thing
you describe?  I'll try it just in case...  Nope didn't work.  Now trying
moving the DHCP server to the hub also...  Nope, didn't convince the Mac
to pick up DHCP either.

> 3) Sorry, basic ASSumption here... you *can* move packets on the network,
> right? Or is the network card/switchport dead? (again, sorry to ask such a
> stupid question, but you'd be surprised how many people don't check).

Yes, the switch port is just fine.  I just double checked it.

-- 
Joshua D. Boyd