Thanks to all who replied and there were many!
I'll try to summarise briefly in case others haven't made the transition
yet:
It seems that almost any make of conventional-format PC flat screen
monitor will work, as long as it has a native resolution of 1280 x 1024.
Several cautioned that wide screens might not work and one that a 30",
2560 x 1600 Apple LCD screen would definitely not work!
The model of the Sun machine and perhaps the Sun OS/Solaris version can
be an issue but - I quote - "even older Suns with 13W3 video connectors
(the ones which have 3 coax connectors embedded in them) will work, with
an 13W3 -> VGA (or DVI) adapter or cable".
Sun Ultra Spark 60 was mentioned as an example of older machines which
did work.
As regards even older suns the following comment may be useful:
"Old Sun computers don't automatically detect what monitor you have, so
you can't just unplug one monitor and plug the other in. .....
I recall that you have to first get the computer to boot up in some
neutral mode - the one where you see black text on a white background -
and specify some code with a Sun unix command that corresponds to the
type of monitor you're putting on. Then you power down the computer,
swap video cables, power up the monitor first, then power up the
computer. With luck that works. I forget exactly where to find those
codes, but you should be able to find info on some Sun site."
If the system does not select the correct/optimum resolution
automatically the following commands are useful:
/sbin/fbconfig -prconf will show the available resolutions, with older
software the command is m64config.
For setting the resolution, if this proves necessary, - I quote this
advice: "You can test the graphics with the machine running in the
normal way and then boot to single user mode to make the change
permanent. You do have to first figure out what devices are present.
On newer computers one gets a lot of complaints when the color depth
equals 8. For both machines I was able to test the graphics and then go
to single user mode to make the change permanent. For the older Blade
150(?) I had to use: m64config -dev "whatever" -res whatever -depth
24. For the newer computer, the SunBlade 2000, I used: fbconfig -dev
/whatever -depth 24"
As to my own experience: Having received all these encouraging e-mails I
felt bold enough to give it a try. The Ultra 5 (Solaris 6), our oldest
machine, proved to have a VGA contact so no adapter necessary. I
borrowed an HP-LP1965 flat screen, plugged it in and started the sun. At
first the screen reacted then went to sleep but after switching the
monitor off and on, the familiar login screen appeared - happiness!. I
have since borrowed and tried a newer 20" DELL screen and that worked
immediately. The only problem is that I now realise how bad our old
screens have become and really will have to get them replaced!
Many thanks again to all of you who replied!
David
David S. B. Grace Ph.D.
Senior Scientist
GE Healthcare
david.grace_at_ge.com
Nycovn. 2, 0401 Oslo, Norway.
Received on Fri Oct 09 2009 - 03:15:33 MST