Snap 4100 Waiting For Broadcast Mode

[ZazaBB]

Hello All

I'm trying to help get a Snap 4100 working that evidently failed somewhere along the way during an O/S update. Based upon what I am seeing in the wiki pages here, the System LED is Flashing twice, and twice.... or just continuously twice?

Accordingly, the system is waiting for a "brodcast mode" continuation of an O/S update. Unfortunately, I cannot find how to force that, as the suggested utility, snapup32.exe, as describe herein, is nowhere to be found.

Trying assist.exe and various command switches are of no use either, as it appears the system doesn't have an IP address, therefore cannot be addressed.

Can anyone tell me if I should just have them deposit this unit in the nearest landfill, or is there some reasonable way of forcing the update down it's little throat? I have attempted a crossover direct connect, and also connect via a switch, and via a regular network system (DHCP enabled) all with no luck.

Only ONCE did the assist.exe ever discover the actual unit, and when it did, it went to the First Time Config screen, but wouldn't succesfully assign an IP. It has not been seen again since, despite resetting everything to factory defaults.

Thanks for any help or advice!

[madmartyk]

I had the same issue with mine, I let it keep the DHCP address and set the static address from the web admin program. The unit has been working fine ever since. Did you swap drives? How many drives are in the unit?

[ZazaBB]

Hello All again!

Well, with a sheepish grin, I am reminded of the old adage, "Patience is a virtue".

As I was scouring the net for info, I let the 4100 just sit there and VOILA, it went ahead and booted. It appears that if you don't have any drives attached, it takes a LONG time to finally timeout, and that appears to have been the only problem.

To verify the system does in fact work, I installed a hodgepodge of drives, 2 - 40 Gig, and 2 - 80 Gig of varying manufacture. It recognized all 4 drives, formatted them, and is allowing all access to everything, including making shares, users, etc.

There appears to still be some problem according to the System LED, but I cannot fathom what it is after re-reading the LED Status pages found here.

The System LED flashes about once a second, with no other LED's joining in the parade. Each Drive LED reacts when accessed, Link LED is constant, Net LED reacts to traffic and Disk LED flashes whenever there is any Disk activity.

Does anyone have a clue what the LED is complaining about?

OS is SnapOS 4.0.860 (US), Hardware is 2.2.1 and BIOS is 2.4.437

Java has been updated to the included version with 4.0.860 sys file.


Thanks very much for any help!

[blue68f100]

The system led is a heart beat signal, so every thing is normal. If the LED is not blinking the unit is hung.

[ZazaBB]

First and foremost, THANKS to everyone for the replies!

Glad to hear it's a heartbeat monitor... my own was getting a tad shaky.

Lastly, I have read the various entries regarding the Java SnapExtensions being basically Foo-foo stuff... which is unfortunately the exact reason I am resurrecting this Snap Server. Way back years ago, this had a custom Web Page that I created for users of the SnapServer..... I understand that with the Java Extensions you can do a more complex version of page(s) for login, etc.

My question is what do you use to create / edit these pages? Frontpage or ???

Lastly, since you all have such extensive knowledge with these units, is it possible to display a unique WebPage to particular users based upon their login name / group? For example, let's say user ONE belongs to ABC group and works for ABC Toolworks. When he, or others of his ilk login, can I display a custom page, displaying something like their logo, etc? Then, can user FIVE, who belongs to EFG Group logs on, can I display an entirely different page with his logo and available resources?

Again, thanks ever so much for all your help!

[blue68f100]

I have not done it, but you use html for your web page and use the very basic jvm calls. (Bitor I know uses the JVM.) Once you have it built you can transfer the files/folder to the snap and under the Networks settings you can change to pointer on webroot$(hidden). This is where the snap can use the extra ram if you upgraded from 64mb. Be paitient with the unit if you use it, it will slow the snap down.

Your login ID can/will be used to pass access rights for each users. If you try to give access to a share that they do not have sufficient rights you will get an error.

[ZazaBB]

Thanks for the info Blue...

I am now going to show my age a bit in order to refine my quest....

Many moons ago I used to run a PCBoard BBS. According to your "user level", which was arbitrarily set from 1 thru 999, you could present a custom menu to that level user showing what functions or resources were available to them.

Could I do something like this.....

A custom "Default" page with hyperlinks to available resources based upon group or user when logged in?

Basically, can I create a group like ABC that allows all ABC group users to see only those shares that I allow, or will it show ALL shares but allow only those to which they have access, giving an error if trying to access the non-allowed shares?

My intent is to use the 4100 to support a variety of Companies that I do not wish to have see whom else is also being supported. (Wouldn't be a good idea, for example, to have GM see that I was also supporting Ford & Chrysler).

If this is basically a snipe hunt, is there a Snap Server that WILL allow this functionality, or am I going to have to bite the bullet and setup a regular webserver to accomplish it?

Thanks again to all for looking and pondering!

[Phoenix32]

Go figure... A hardware/install question and I missed it....


LMAO, David, he is going to show us his age, LMAO

[blue68f100]

You can do it using the login ID as system variable. But the custom pages can only be displayed after you know who it is. You need to get in touch with "bitor" (forum id). He uses the JVM and webpages and would be better suited in answering your specific questions. It's been many many years since I have done any html code.

As far as showing your age, I use to run on the bbs systems. If you had more than 48k of ram you were in hog haven and 300bps was a fast modem.

[ZazaBB]

Thanks again Blue!

I will indeed try and contact Bitor and see if he is willing to give me a few pointers.

As to age.. .yeah, I am afraid I remember those days well. Playing Zork on a PCjr and getting that memory expansion sidecar... wooo hooo.

I beta tested for USR back then... of course part of the SysOp program as well. Remember well the statement after the 2400 baud modems that 9600 baud was the absolute limit for phone line transmission..... ahhh.... progress and the ever shifting absolute limits.

Thanks again for the information and hospitality!

[madmartyk]

Originally Posted by ZazaBB

Playing Zork on a PCjr and getting that memory expansion sidecar... wooo hooo.

If you were playing Zork on a PCjr you're not old at all. I remember when I worked for DEC we played on a PDP 11/23. The BBS we used ran off of CPM on a old Altos! God!! I'm old!!

[ZazaBB]

Hi Madmartyk

I think ya got me. I'm in my mid-50's, so that makes you.... well..... you know where you are. <<GRIN>>

Thanks again to everyone for the feedback!

[madmartyk]

Originally Posted by ZazaBB

Hi Madmartyk

I think ya got me. I'm in my mid-50's, so that makes you.... well..... you know where you are. <<GRIN>>

Thanks again to everyone for the feedback!

I'm not even close to mid-50s yet! I just started early!!!

[ZazaBB]

Hi again Madmartyk!

YIKES!! EARLY??? Geez, you must have teethed on them!

Well I guess I am indeed old then! That does explain why my get-up-and-go has got-up-and-went!

Thanks for the reply!