Member Avatar for philanthropist

When I try to boot from the cd, I get the following:


cannot open: cd

enter filename [cd]:

any suggestions?

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Short summary and practical checklist for the reported message ("cannot open: cd" / "enter filename [cd]:"). That prompt is from the Sun OpenBoot PROM (the "ok" console). It usually means the firmware could not open the device/alias you named or the media presented itself as non‑bootable or for the wrong architecture. Common root causes: wrong ISO (x86 vs sparc), a corrupted download/burn, or the OpenBoot device name/alias not matching the CD drive on that machine.

Concrete, immediate checks you can run before more invasive steps:

  • Confirm the ISO integrity and that it is the SPARC build (not i386). On Linux/macOS/Windows, compute the MD5 and compare with the distributor’s checksum.
# Linux
md5sum debian-*.iso

# macOS
md5 debian-*.iso

# Windows (cmd)
certutil -hashfile debian-*.iso MD5
  • Burn at a low speed and test the disc on another machine (or try an external drive). Some Sun firmware is picky about burn method or El Torito layouts.

OpenBoot troubleshooting (at the "ok" prompt):

  • List device aliases to see what the firmware calls the CD device:
ok devalias
ok printenv boot-device
  • Try booting using existing aliases or set the boot device explicitly:
ok boot cdrom
ok setenv boot-device cdrom
ok boot

If those aliases don’t exist, the CD device may have a different path on that machine and you’ll need the full device node or to use a different install method.

Fallback options: create the Debian SPARC installer boot floppies / miniroot or use a network install (RARP/TFTP/bootparam) if the Ultra5 won’t boot that particular CD. As suggested, checksums and media verification are useful; as noted, firmware booting differs from PC BIOS; and as later reported, an expert intervention ultimately fixed the situation — capture the "ok" output and devalias listing when seeking help, since those lines are the most diagnostic.

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Member Avatar for Dani

I've never had any experience with Debian, and therefore don't know how much help I can be to you. Are you sure that "boot cd" is a valid command? When I install RedHat, for example, I just set the BIOS up to run from the cd, as the disks are bootable.

Perhaps you have to mount the cd first? (e.g. mount /dev/cdrom) ??

I'm unfortunately in a lot of pain right now (just had major surgery on Tuesday) but I'll check around for you on Debian installs, and get back to ya within a day or so. Good luck in the mean time!

Member Avatar for Tekmaven

Well, I don't have that much experience with SPARC computer, but I think it would be the same.

First of all, are you 100% sure the cd is good? If you downloaded it, does the MD5 hash agree with one from a good copy (this will often be on the website).

Secondly, is the cd bootable? Sometimes, believe it or not, OS cd's arent bootable.

Thirdly, did you download the right operating system for your platform?

Finally, try making boot disks. I've seen cases where some computers just can't boot off certain cds, for whatever reason.

Hope this helps...

Member Avatar for philanthropist

many thanks to everyone.

Problem turned out to need a lot of effort from an expert, but finally got solved.

thank you all for taking the time to reply.

Member Avatar for Dani

OK, cool

A question actually - after all was said and done, it was possible, right? My only experience on a SparcStation has been with Sun Solaris at Hofstra's computer labs

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