SiPlace S25 Machine Controller HDD rebuild - error Software booting

#87399

SiPlace S25 Machine Controller HDD rebuild - error Software booting | 9 December, 2021

Hello Forumers,

I'm hoping there might be a SiPlace expert or two trawling the forum. We have an S25 machine that essentially has a failed MC harddrive and we're trying to rebuild a new one.

Attached are a few images and perhaps something shown here and the details below may trigger something with someone that will assist us.

We've been able to create a new hard drive for the MC from the procedure of booting from the two install floppies (from ...Sip_mcHS50FD_image.RM3 folder) using the RMOS-1 and RMOS-2.exe.

Through this process the MC hdd formats and partitions C and D are created and some files are copied across to these two drives. This seems to all go to plan. We can get into the host files in C:ETC and D:XY_ETC and change the IP addresses from default to that which should be correct for our system.

When we turn on the machine power and view the monitor on the mc, we get the first image which matches up with our S27. Then we switch the monitor to the station computer and when Windows finishes loading (WinNT on this machine), the SiPlace software loads and shows 'Software booting...'

If we change from that screen and look at the IPCServer trace, we see these connection attempts from the station computer to the MC (mc231_211) and the Line computer (vdohk84g1s). We can however ping both the mc and the line computer from the station computer (and vica-versa). You can also see on this screen that there are 13 Server connections and 0 client connections. (On our S27 which is currently working, there are 14 server and 1 client connections.)

My understanding of rebuilding the mc hdd is that we also need to run the MC Distributor program (from the start menu). Perhaps this is the missing process but when we attempt to run this software, nothing happens. No software loads, nothing appears on the screen, the only thing that happens is the mouse courser changes for a moment and then goes back to a pointer. We tried copying and running the same software from S27 on the S25 but it behaved in the same way.

A separate question, is there any reason why we couldn't clone our S27 hard drive and put that in the S25?

If anyone can provide any assistance or guidance, it would be very much appreciated.

Attachments:

#87582

SiPlace S25 Machine Controller HDD rebuild - error Software booting | 6 February, 2022

Though I am too late to see this thread, but just curious to know if your problem has been solved ?

I have S20 whose MC HDD was built be me a few years ago, and probably it needs to reduild again as I am getting too much "Software Booting" on the station PC.

#87583

SiPlace S25 Machine Controller HDD rebuild - error Software booting | 6 February, 2022

No, we were not able to complete the process to rebuild the hdd. If any one has more information please post a solution.

#87584

SiPlace S25 Machine Controller HDD rebuild - error Software booting | 7 February, 2022

So you only rebuilt the MC HDD and didn't rebuild the Station PC? Am I right ?

The Installer Floppy disks for MC software will install a default IP address and the Node Name. You have to change not only the IP addresses (in HOSTS file) but also the name against the IP Address.

Just setting correct IP address will only enable you to have successful PINGS. The Station software talks to MC with name (as I understand). In your case, it is looking to talk to "mc231_211" on port number 7001.

I think you need to edit your HOSTS File (on MC) to have correct name against the IP Address of the MC, here's example line from my MC &amp;quot;HOSTS&amp;quot; File

127.255 loop

172.22.202.3 mc202_3 local.bsl.wmw.com localhost # my IP address!

172.22.202.4 lr202_4 lr01.bsl.wmw.com autlr # line computer

172.22.202.2 sr202_2 sr01.bsl.wmw.com autsr traceserver # station computer

139.10.100.98 gem100_98 autgem.wmw.com # gem computer

Where are you located ?

#87642

SiPlace S25 Machine Controller HDD rebuild - error Software booting | 22 February, 2022

Just wondering if there's any update on your machine issue ?

#87647

SiPlace S25 Machine Controller HDD rebuild - error Software booting | 22 February, 2022

Hi, Sorry I didn't see your previous post. I do have an update but will answer your questions first.

{So you only rebuilt the MC HDD and didn't rebuild the Station PC? Am I right ?} Yes that's correct, we only rebuilt the MC HDD but were not able to run the MC Distributor software. Station PC is operating fine.

{The Installer Floppy disks for MC software will install a default IP address and the Node Name. You have to change not only the IP addresses (in HOSTS file) but also the name against the IP Address.} We did try this but didn't fix the problem.

{Just setting correct IP address will only enable you to have successful PINGS. The Station software talks to MC with name (as I understand). In your case, it is looking to talk to "mc231_211" on port number 7001.} This is exactly how we understood the system to work too, but we didn't have any success in adjusting any of the host names on the MC. Perhaps this detail is hardcoded into one of the .sys files but we couldn't read or edit them. Our thought was that the MC Distributor software would complete this link up and set the correct host names where required.

We're located in Australia.

For reference, this is the detail from our working C:ETCHosts file.

# Internet Official List Of Aliases # Comment # Address Host Name #

127.255 loop 172.22.209.179 local localhost # my IP address! 172.22.209.178 autsr autsr.wmw.com # station computer

So my update is that we do have the machine running again. We were able to successfully clone our S27 MC HDD and (after making IP changes in the HOST file) tried it in the S25. It worked. We were able to get the S25 to boot correctly, the station PC correctly connected to the MC and the Line PC. Even though we are operational again, I would rather have the ability to rebuild the MC HDD than have to rely on clones. I really do appreciate your suggestions and comments, so if you have any more, we would very much appreciate it.

#87652

SiPlace S25 Machine Controller HDD rebuild - error Software booting | 23 February, 2022

Congratulations on being operational again...

Few years ago, I acquired a Siplace line (S20 + F3 + S15 + G2) and I rebuild it completely because the line was lying idle for more than 10 years. All belts, pneumatic cylinders, pneumatic pipes were changed.

I remember that S20 MC HDD was dead and I made it from scratch but don't remember this MC Distributor thing. I will check.

Recently my S20 was having "Software Booting issues again and I thought I will have to rebuild it again. But upon investigation, it was found that MC was having RAM issues and was not booting past the BIOS.

I will try rebuilding the MC HDD and will make notes for you.

Greetings from Pakistan.

#87657

SiPlace S25 Machine Controller HDD rebuild - error Software booting | 23 February, 2022

Thank you.