Conference mvblab::alphaserver_4100

    Yes, according to latest Supported Options List note 23.61
    
    Storage Adapters and Controllers
    					VMS		UNIX	NT	Max
    
    CIPCA-AA  PCI-CI adapter		6.2-1H3		N/A	N/A	2
    
    
    Les

    Well, the real answer is "yes, but..."
    
    What is currently on the supported options list is the PCI-EISA
    version.  The PCI-PCI version is the CIPCA-BA.  This option has been
    qualified and will be on the supported options list, but won't FRS
    until April 7.  
    
    Todd

    To clarify, two of the PCI/EISA CIPCA variants are supported on the
    4100 today with VMS 6.2-1H3, yes?

    Yes, .3 is correct, 2 -AAs are supported.  
    
    Looks like I answered a question that wasn't asked... two PCI adapters
    was the original question, not two PCI boards per adapter version.
    
    Sorry for any confusion.
    
    Todd  

    
    And, do we have a goal for the number of CIPCA-BAs to be supported, or
    is this a purely "what works in qualification" thing?
    
    bob

    Well, what works in qualification and what is practical to support may
    be two different things.  
    
    There's a support statement posted in 43.8 which claims support for 2. 
    Three were actually qualified, but since there are only 5 available PCI
    slots, and this is a 2-module option, only two are supported.  So which
    embedded option do you remove (manufacturing won't do it, so the
    customer or field guy has to), the video card, the ethernet card, or
    the SCSI card.  Maybe SCSI, if your boot device is on the CI bus.
    
    We're going to look at this some more.  Should we support more than 2
    if we mix -AAs and -BAs?  Could probably fit 3 -AAs, 1 -BA and the
    three embedded options.  But how long will the -AA be around?
    
    Not many of these decisions are "purely" anything...
    
    Todd

    
    Agreed, and I have to keep reminding myself that this is a two-slot
    card that (in -AA form) requires one PCI and one EISA slot.  However,
    are you able to use, generally, a PCI slot and the adjacent EISA slot,
    or must you use a PCI slot and the EISA slot next to the neighboring
    PCI slot, i.e.:
    
    	-----------------------        <-------card 1 of 2  (PCI)
    	------------------------------ <-------card 2 0f 2  (EISA)
    
    		OR
    
    	-----------------------        <-------card 1 of 2  (PCI)
    	------------------------------             ^        (EISA)
                                                   | (interconnected)
    	-----------------------                   \ /       (PCI)
    	------------------------------ <-------card 2 of 2  (EISA)

    (yes, my memory may have the length of the slots confused, as well as
    the layout, but this is for clarification ONLY...)
    
    bob

    I don't know if there are configuration rules on these cards or not. 
    The cards are separate, connected by two ribbon cables inside the PCI
    card cage.  They might be long enough to allow other options to fit
    between the EISA and PCI cards.  My guess is that it's not a supported
    configuration, but I don't have any of the documentation.
    
    Todd

The ribbon cable is long enough to have slots free between the EISA and PCI
cards.

	Dennis

    If I understand what the author of .7 is asking, then some explanation
    and clarification is in order.
    
    On a 4100 box, there are five PCI-only slots and three PCI/EISA slots.
    Re: PCI/EISA, it's an either/or situation. Therefore, you could not use
    a PCI slot and the adjacent/corresponding EISA slot.
    
    
       -----------------------        PCI1, Slot 5          
       -----------------------        PCI1, Slot 4
       -----------------------        PCI1, Slot 3
       -----------------------        PCI1, Slot 2
    
       -----------------------        PCI0, Slot 5
       -----------------------        PCI0, Slot 4  \____ PCI or EISA
       ------------------------------ EISA, Slot 3  /
       -----------------------        PCI0, Slot 3  \____ PCI or EISA
       ------------------------------ EISA, Slot 2  /
       -----------------------        PCI0, Slot 2  \____ PCI or EISA
       ------------------------------ EISA, Slot 1  /
    
    In other words, for a single CIPCA-AA option, you must consume two
    available "slots". Example: a CIPCA placed in the top two slots of
    PCI bus zero, would consume the following connectors:
    
       -----------------------        PCI0, Slot 5   XXXXXXXX
       -----------------------        PCI0, Slot 4  
       ------------------------------ EISA, Slot 3   XXXXXXXX
    
    Slot 4 of PCI0 would therefore be unusable (since EISA card of CIPCA-AA
    option would be installed in PCI0, Slot 4 / EISA, Slot 3 "combination
    slot".
    
    Hope this helps.
    BC

    
    Yes, it helps.  Sorry, too many backplanes, too little time...
    
    bob