[cobalt-users] Qube2 Primary IP 0.0.0.0 can't be changed

["Brett Barron" <bb2@xxxxxxxx>]

My original post on 7/6 never made it to the list.  I'm reposting on 7/11:

Comprehensive searches at google on this topic reveals no discussion of this
specific phenomenon.  A customer reports to me that a Qube2 in service for
over a year spontaneously appears with primary IP address 0.0.0.0.  Attempts
to change this address on the LCD panel fail as the ENTER key is not
accepted: you can't get to the prompt to edit the IP address.  The ENTER key
does work for every other function on the LCD panel.  Selecting RESET
NETWORK on the LCD would appear to execute properly, but upon the subsequent
reboot, there is no "Enter Primary IP, 000.000.000.000" prompt to update the
IP address.

On boot, the normal LCD messages appear, and it would seem to properly set
up all services.  Since the address of the machine is 0.0.0.0, attempts to
connect by telnet or any other service fail, though both Ethernet ports give
link lights and appropriate traffic lights when scanned.

I've read every list entry and documentation on the serial console function
(115200 8N1) and can get initial boot messages, but the Qube never appeared
to receive keyboard entry regardless of term settings
(http://list.cobalt.com/pipermail/cobalt-users/2000-July/017186.html and
http://list.cobalt.com/pipermail/cobalt-users/2000-April/010614.html).
These instructions
(http://list.cobalt.com/pipermail/cobalt-developers/2000-June/001164.html)
aren't useful since I cannot telnet to the box. Even attempting the
instructions to drop into ROM and set "single" never appeared to be heard
from the
Qube2(http://list.cobalt.com/pipermail/cobalt-security/2000-June/000283.html
).

Would this appear to be a crack, or is there some other likely explanation?
Can anyone suggest a means into this server, or is reinstall the only option
(the customer has GUI backups, but over 700 users must be re-keyed).

Thanks for any insight.

--bb