OFW access from linux

[david at lang.hm]

On Tue, 15 Sep 2009, John Gilmore wrote:

> Date: Tue, 15 Sep 2009 14:21:14 -0700
> From: John Gilmore <gnu at toad.com>
> To: Paul Fox <pgf at laptop.org>
> Cc: devel at lists.laptop.org
> Subject: Re: OFW access from linux 
> 
>> there's no SysRq key on the XO keyboard, so you'll need to use a
>> break on the serial console to invoke it...
>
> Please.  If you're going to put this hook in, which I think is a great
> idea, at least make it work on the standard hardware!  And when the
> operating system is not very responsive.  That's when you'll need it
> for debugging or resetting the system.  Without taking the plastic
> apart, finding a part with no known suppliers, and soldering it to
> your motherboard.
>
> On Sun workstations, the "L1-A" key combination (pressed in exactly
> that order, with no intervening keys or key-ups) got you into OFW or
> its predecessor.  (L1 was the top left key in the keypad to the left
> of the main keyboard.)  We shipped it that way for decades without
> trouble.
>
> There are some pretty obscure keys on the XO keyboard -- howabout
> something like holding down the leftmost and rightmost "gradually
> increasing sized dots" keys in the top row, and then pressing the
> M-for-Mitch key?

what you are suggesting is F5 + F8 + 'm' if you have a 'normal' keyboard 
attached somehow.

David Lang