Conference smurf::ase

2051.0. "Firmware help needed for ASE V1.4, Digital UNIX V4.0B, and FDDI on 8200s" by UNXA::PARKER () Wed May 07 1997 12:03

Hi,

I received the following message from a frustrated customer.  I hope I can get
some help on how to answer his questions.

Dave

----

I have worked out the procedures for upgrading our DEC8200s to UNIX V4.0B
/ASE V1.4 . However, there are problems and Digital UK does not seem to 
offer any help.

According to the Firmware Update CD V3.8 , the minimum Acceptable FW CD
is V3.8 for UNIX V4.0B (P.4  of the Release Notes Overview) . It is
also stated in the V09 FW Update Procedure (CD V3.8) that the 8200 FW/SW
Revision Matrix is

Console V4.1 /LFU V09 / Digital UNIX V4.0B .

When I followed the FW upgrade procedure, everything went through ok except
for the FDDI adapter. It complained about a missing file. Not sure how safe
it is to continue the upgrade, I abandoned the procedure. I reported to the
CSC and was told that they had received quite a few support calls for exactly
the same problem and a corrected version CD V3.9 is available.

Now as I prepare to use the CD V3.9 , I  am told by the Digital Engineer 
who installed and maintains the our hardware that the Console FW V4.*
on CD V3.8 onward does not work with FDDI adapter and that after the OS
upgrade to V4.0B , the ping via FDDI has failed and ASE has also failed
when using FDDI. He is having big problems with other customers and does 
not know how to solve the problems yet. I am advised not to go ahead with 
the upgrade.

When I checked with aother University nearby which has DEC8200, they seemed 
to be able to use CD V3.7 with UNIX V4.0B with no problems on FDDI. However,
there are problems with ASE not being able to failover properly.

You can see why I am so desparate. Just come back from HPCN Vienna after
meeting Bill Blake, Director of HPC, Digital,  I am all ready to install 
PSE/HPF and other HPC facilities which need UNIX V4.0B and are planning 
for hardware upgrade. Suddenly this is like a bombshell.

Could you help me by finding out the exact position with the FW CD V3.8/
V3.9 . The Console FW V4.? and Digital UNIX V4.0B . Have the US Engineers
received any bug report regarding Console FW V4.* and FDDI and ASE V1.4 ?