Reprogramming HostID/Ethernet Address for Sun machines by David A. Gutierrez latest update: April 17,2004 written for Anysystem.com ------------------------------------------------------ DISCLAIMER ------------------------------------------------------ YOU CAN SERIOUSLY DISABLE YOUR SYSTEM AND RENDER IT UNUSABLE BY FOLLOWING THESE DIRECTIONS INCORRECTLY. HECK, EVEN IF YOU FOLLOW THEM CORRECTLY, THERE'S NO TELLING IF I WROTE THEM UP INCORRECTLY. IN SHORT, DO NOT USE THESE DIRECTIONS UNLESS YOUR SYSTEM IS EXPENDABLE... AND IN NO WAY, SHOULD YOU ATTEMPT THIS ON A PRODUCTION MACHINE. ------------------------------------------------------ * * * * * * * * * * * * * * SIDE NOTE: OBP 4.0 doesn't have an "mkp" command, which is central to the following instructions. Therefore systems such as SunBlade 100, SunBlade 1000, 2000, etc that have OBP 4.0 cannot have their HostIDs changed (at present knowledge.) more information: http://people.spacelabs.nl/~admar/usb100faq/61.html * * * * * * * * * * * * * * 1. You should be at the OK prompt. Write down all the banner information carefully (in case you need to revert to the state you were in when you started.) 2. Type: 17 0 mkp Press 3. Type the desired ethernet address (with spaces where the colons should be), followed by a space, followed by the desired HostID, then a space, followed by mkpl. Here is an example: 8 0 20 f9 e1 a6 80f9e1a6 mkpl (notice the missing "20" from the second set of numbers) Press (replace the ethernet address and hostid above with the actual values you want to "burn" to your NVRAM chip) 4. The system will appear to be hung. Press CTRL+D, followed by CTRL+R. 5. Check the banner to make sure the info has changed to match what you want. 6. If it worked, great! If not, don't complain that your system is permanently unusable. You were warned above. ----------------------------------------------------- ------ WHY WOULD ANYONE WANT THIS INFORMATION? ------ ----------------------------------------------------- This is particularly useful in a number of situations: 1) If you are forced to change a system board and you have applications licensed to a specific HostID. Of course, you could simply move the NVRAM chip from the old motherboard to the new one. However, it is also possible to use the above steps to burn the old HostID onto the new NVRAM chip. 2) If the NVRAM chip has become corrupted and your HostID has become all "ffffffffff"s If you remember the old HostID, you can burn it back onto the chip... or just make one up and burn it onto the chip. 3) If someone has put a password in the OBP. This one takes a little more effort. First you have to corrupt the NVRAM chip, then you have to burn a HostID back onto it. Follow these steps: a) Turn on your machine and write down the HostID from the banner. b) Take the cover off your machine, so you have access to the inside. c) Note the position of the NVRAM chip. (i.e. can you read the numbers on it or is it upside down? you will need to know so you can put it back in the same position in the end.) d) While the machine is on, remove the NVRAM chip, careful to not to bend any pins. e) Keep the chip carrier in the same position. Remove the chip from the carrier and rotate it 180 degrees so it is in the opposite position of when you pulled it out. Put the chip back into the motherboard. f) This will corrupt the information on the chip. Now remove it again and rotate back to the original position. g) Turn the machine off, then back on. h) when you get the banner, hit STOP+A. You will get the OK prompt. i) Notice the banner: The HostID should be all f's. j) Follow the directions above to burn the old HostID onto the chip.