How do I change color of screen after STOP-A

[jmarkus]

When I hit STOP-A, sometimes I get black text on a black background. How do I change that so I can actually read the text.

Thanks,
Jeff

 

[bfitzmai]

jmarkus,
First off, I don't recommend you using "STOP-A". This halts the OS and a file system sync is not run. You have a small chance of loosing files, or worse, corrupting the superblock. I have seen both. Most times the file system can be fixed using fsck and sometimes if necessary an alternate superblock can be used to replace the corrupted superblock.

A work around I use in my area is setting the sticky bit on /usr/sbin/init. You can use the following command to do so.

cd /usr/sbin
chmod 4555 init

This allows all users to use the init command to shutdown or reboot the workstation gracefully.

init 5 will shutdown
init 6 will reboot

Bruce

 

[jmarkus]

Bruce,

I only use STOP-A when I can't do anything with the terminal (i.e. the screen & mouse is frozen and the keyboard otherwise doesn't do anything). I realize that is not an ideal way to shutdown, but I am typically not using it to shutdown. I just peruse through the diags and things.

That being said, any idea how to change the screen colors?

Thanks,
Jeff

 

[bfitzmai]

Jmarkus,
Not really... I have seen what you describe. I always thought it was the state of the video board when the system crashed. If you are using Solaris 2.6 or 2.7, you can type reset... If NVRAM setting auto-boot? is set to false, the reset will bring you back to the OK> prompt.

Bruce

 

[cndcadams]

Is this a Sun monitor or are you using a dumb terminal. Sounds like you have a video card/monitor issue more than anything. I have never heard of changeing the color of video from OBP either. I have done plenty of stop-A (10 years experience)working on test systems and really have never run into the back screen issue. The fact you can do a stop-A from keyboard but can't do anything else is very strange also. The system is not hard hung if able to execute stop-A. Have you tried telneting to the box from another system when it seems hung?

 

[jmarkus]

I am using a Sun monitor. Sometimes, I am able to do other things (for instance, I can type "go" and return to the Xsession - since I can't see anything I am typing anyways). And usually when the screen seems hung I am able to telnet in. That is why I figure I could at least do some diags after STOP-A. But if I can't see anything...

I am using:

Kernel version: SunOS 5.8 Generic 117000-03 Mar 2004

 

[cndcadams]

what type of system is this?
is it onboard video or do you have a video card?
Have you tried another monitor?
Do you have any other similar systems around that you could remove the video card from and put it into the problem system?
The system is not the problem as far as I am concerned.
This sounds like a video card or monitor issue.

Thanks

CA

 

[jmarkus]

I am running on a SunBlade 1000 with and XVR-500 video card and a Sun Monitor 365-1399.

I haven't tried another monitor or put the card into another system. I have had no other video problems, only this black on black after STOP-A.

Before I start harassing my IT guys to swap cards and monitors, any idea what kind of video issue this might be?

Thanks
Jeff

 

[daFranze]

never seen sth. like that...
is video ok when you enter 'reset' or 'reset-all' (depends on OBP)

Best Regards, Franz
--
Solaris System Manager from Munich, Germany
I used to work for Sun Microsystems Support (EMEA) for 5 years

 

[jmarkus]

Franz,

Video is okay after a reset-all - i.e. system reboots and if I do a STOP-A from the console login screen then I get black text on a white background, but once I log in to my CDE session, if I do a STOP-A I get black text on a black background.

Jeff

 

[daFranze]

I see, and if you do a 'go' in OBP CDE is still black on black? Or is it just the OBP Screen?

Best Regards, Franz
--
Solaris System Manager from Munich, Germany
I used to work for Sun Microsystems Support (EMEA) for 5 years

 

[jmarkus]

Franz,

If I do 'go' in OBP, the CDE stays black until I change workspaces or open a new window or something that paints over the image from OBP.

Jeff

 

[daFranze]

hmm, strange phenomen, I am not a graphic expert; other systems don't have this problem, so it might be a defect or a firmware/driver problem; feel free to open a call at Sun (if you have a contract or warranty) if you think this should be fixed

Best Regards, Franz
--
Solaris System Manager from Munich, Germany
I used to work for Sun Microsystems Support (EMEA) for 5 years