Does anybody know how to boot the original black hardware with diagnostic messages instead of the boot graphics? On Intel hardware the option -v could be used but how to do that on black hardware? And what if I want to set it back to boot graphics?
I found a solution for myself! :)
After powering on the NeXTstation, right after the message "Loading from disk" appears, press Command + Tilde. The monitor appears. Enter "p" and you can set some "bios" parameters. There is a parameter called "verbose messages" (similar like that). Press "y" (for yes). Simply press return at all other options. Then press the power button to shut down. On next startup you will see all diagnostic messages while booting! :)
Good job!
What would be really handy (sometimes, like when troubleshooting) is the ability to reboot from inside the ROM monitor, instead of doing a power-down and restart. Anyone know how?
EDIT: and now I will answer my own question. According to The NeXT Book by Bruce F. Webster:
1) Left Alternate + Command + * (in keypad) = hard reset!!!! yay!!
and the other common combinations:
2) Right Command + ~ = restart/power-off window
3) Left Command + Right Command + ~ = NMI mini-monitor