Conference mvblab::alphaserver_4100

    OK, I'll give it one more try...
    
    First, we are not shipping out-of-rev PB2GA-JB modules.  There may have
    been an issue with older stock coming out of manufacturing, but I don't
    remember hearing about any problem PB2GAs coming from us.  The issue is
    the module is a commodity graphics option available from other sources
    besides Digital.  The other scenario is that someone upgrading from a
    2100 to a 4100 may be tempted to put his/her older S3 module into the
    new machine.  There is presently no other qualified graphics option for
    the AS4000 family. 
    
    Historically, most of the graphics options work was done for
    uniprocessor workstations, including the software.  The theory was the
    higher end servers didn't need high-end graphics, you could just
    connect a workstation for high-end graphics display.
    
    Well, the customers are now telling us that they do want to use servers
    like the AS4000 family for their high-end graphics.  We're playing
    catch-up now.  
    
    For options in the TGA2 family, the hardware will work, but the support
    code isn't necessarily "SMP safe", meaning we're not sure yet if the
    code will always behave correctly with more than one CPU.  There is
    also demand for multihead operation (more than one graphics adapter in
    a system).  This also seems to work from a hardware perspective, but
    again, the support code isn't there yet.
    
    For higher end options like the Intergraph modules, there are PCI
    physical and electrical compatibility issues on top of the software
    issues.  There is work going on now to provide a server solution that
    will overcome these hardware issues, but the software issue is still
    there.
    
    On the bright side, SBU management is recognizing this is an issue and
    is devoting resources to solving these problems.  I don't have an idea
    of the timeframe.  
    
    If you need more specific information, you may try Lori Carlson, the
    SBU graphics options product manager.
    
    Todd
                                          

    You may be interested to know that the SRM console, as of V3.0-10,
    checks for older revision S3 VGAs.
    
    Snippet from V3.0-10 readme file:
    
      --> Protection against PCI devices which don't support Type 1
          configuration cycles (e.g. so older S3 VGAs won't destroy
          AlphaServer 4100/4000 EISA bus bridges).
    
    Prior releases of SRM console did not protect the user in this way.
    To the best of my knowledge, AlphaBIOS does not make a similar check,
    so this "feature" only helps on UNIX/VMS systems..
    
    BC

    
    	re: .0
    
    	One other thing - see note 93.25 this conference.  WNT 4.0 is not
    	supported on Rawhide (yet).
    
    	- Walt

 Digital 			I N T E R O F F I C E    M E M O R A N D U M
   Equipment 
     Corporation
 
 
 TO:  Rawhide Options Team			DATE:  10-FEB-1997
 						FROM:  Todd Davis
 						DEPT:  SBU HW ENG
     						DTN:   223-5882
     						LOC:   PKO3-1/R11
 		 				ENET:  MOVMON::DAVIS
 						
 
 Subject:  Statement of Support for PB2GA-JC/JD on the AlphaServer 4000/4100
 
 
 This is to notify you of support of the PB2GA-JC/JD S3 TRIO64 V+ graphics 
 adapters on the AS4000/AS4100 Systems:

	Adapters supported:
	  PB2GA-JC  S3 TRIO64 V+ 1MB DRAM
	  PB2GA-JD  S3 TRIO64 V+ 2MB DRAM

	The maximum number of adapters supported:		1

        The minimum shippable option BIOS revision:        		
	  PB2GA-JC						2.16.07
	  PB2GA-JD						2.36.07

        The minimum shippable option H/W revision:              A01

        The minimum SRM console revision tested:                3.0-10

        The minimum AlphaBIOS revision tested:			5.24
	
        The minimum Operating System Versions tested:           UNIX 4.0B
                                                                VMS 6.2-1H3
                                                                WNT 3.51
 
	The minimum OpenVMS DECwindows Motif version tested:	1.2-3



 Restrictions:
 
 1. PB2GA-JC/JD must be installed in PCI bus segment 0.

 2. 9FX Motion 331 Install Kit (Part number AK-R4CKA-CA) is required during
    Windows NT 3.51 installation.   This restriction is lifted for Windows NT
    4.0.
 

    Does the S3 Trio support 1280x1024 resolution, the soc article only
    states 1024x768, for the alphaserver 1000A, 1280x1024 on the
    alphaserver 400 and no resolution figure for the alphaserver 4100.
    
    Which is correct, OS required is OpenVMS and DUnix
    
    Thanks,
    Steve.

    
    The video card capability is not married to a particular AphaServer or 
    AlphaStatioon or an INTEL PC. It has to with the amount of memory
    (DRAM) that is on the card to hold the video information.
    
    PB2GA-JB has 1-MB DRAM (Supports to max. of 1024x768)  S3Trio64
    PB2GA-JC has also 1-MB DRAM (Supports to max. of 1024x768) S3Trio64V+
    PB2GA-JD has 2-MB DRAM (Supports to max. 0f 1280x1024) S3Trio64V+
    
    All the above resolutions assume that you are using 8-bit color. Your
    supported resolution might be lower if you use 16-bit or 24-bit color.
    
    Bottom line is that the product (multiplication) of your screen
    resolution and the amount memory used to represent each pixel (i.e.
    8-Bit) cannot exceed the teh amoutn of the onboard memory.
    
    Remember that -JC module is not field upgradable to -JD module, since
    teh the two modules have two different BIOS's onboard.
    
    /Frank   

    Note also that the PB2GA-JC (1MB DRAM) will be the embedded adapter in
    the 4000/4100 come April.  The -JD (2MB DRAM) will be available as an
    option.
    
    Todd 

    .4 states that Digital UNIX V4.0b is the minimum version for
    PB2GA-JC/JD support.
    
    How does a customer running Digital UNIX V3.2g get a graphics console
    on a 4 processor 4100 ?
    
    Thanks
    Glynn

Glynn,

	The quick answer would be to have the customer use the older
S3Trio PB2GA-JB. The support for the newer S3TrioV+ was added to UNIX in
the V4.0B release. 

	To get PB2GA-JC/JD  supported on the V3.2G woul require a backport
of the changes required for the V+. 


	

Unix Hardware Support,
Rich Freiss