| Title: | AlphaServer 4100 |
| Moderator: | MOVMON::DAVIS S |
| Created: | Tue Apr 16 1996 |
| Last Modified: | Fri Jun 06 1997 |
| Last Successful Update: | Fri Jun 06 1997 |
| Number of topics: | 648 |
| Total number of notes: | 3158 |
I have a few questions concerning the arc/alphabios console.
If this is not the right place, then please advise.
o is there any documentation available other then the
firmware / owners guide ? more detailed information
on various commands/functions are sought.
o the alphabios is suppose to have integrated support
for the configuration of various (non-digital) scsi
controllers such as adaptec's 2940uw. is there
documentation on which controllers are supported and
how do configure them ?
o what is the purpose of the environmental variables,
boot_reset and scsi_poll ? and where is this documented ?
o there seems to be a bug with the alpha bios SHOW DEVICE
command. It doesn't work after issuing the TEST command.
You need to init the console before it will work again.
thanks, Paul
| T.R | Title | User | Personal Name | Date | Lines |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 590.1 | MAY21::CUMMINS | Tue May 06 1997 15:59 | 44 | ||
I think you've got some things confused? The 4100/4000 platform ships
two distinct consoles: SRM (for OpenVMS and UNIX) and AlphaBIOS (for
Windows NT).
o is there any documentation available other then the
firmware / owners guide ? more detailed information
on various commands/functions are sought.
BC> Not sure which console you're asking about. Start of your note says
BC> AlphaBIOS, but half of your questions are SRM-centric. The other
BC> half are AlphaBIOS-centric. See note 404.3 for pointer to detailed
BC> SRM console spec.
o the alphabios is suppose to have integrated support
for the configuration of various (non-digital) scsi
controllers such as adaptec's 2940uw. is there
documentation on which controllers are supported and
how do configure them ?
BC> I have seen an AlphaBIOS User's Guide which supposedly ships
BC> with NT system kits on floppy. Will ask my DECwest counterpart
BC> to post it here in this conference. I believe it lists supported
BC> SCSI devices.
BC> SRM doesn't support the 2940UW and doesn't support BIOS emulation
BC> for SCSI boot support.
o what is the purpose of the environmental variables,
boot_reset and scsi_poll ? and where is this documented ?
BC> BOOT_RESET is an SRM EV that defaults to OFF. It's described in
BC> the owner's/user's guide you mentioned previously. That ships
BC> with each system. No such EV as SCSI_POLL, at least on 4100/4000
BC> SRM console..
o there seems to be a bug with the alpha bios SHOW DEVICE
command. It doesn't work after issuing the TEST command.
You need to init the console before it will work again.
BC> SHOW DEVICE is an SRM console command. This issue has been resolved
BC> in recent consoles (e.g. V4.8-5 and beyond).
thanks, Paul
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| 590.2 | AFW4::CUMMINS | Tue May 06 1997 16:24 | 15 | ||
Message from DECwest..
From: RUST::"[email protected]"
To: "'[email protected]'" <[email protected]>,
"'[email protected]'" <[email protected]>
CC:
Subj: RE: What kit or kits contain the AlphaBIOS User's Guide?
Bill,
we already post the AlphaBIOS users guide on
http://www.windows.digital.com/support/sysoft.asp. I'll go ahead and
update the note.
Matthew
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| 590.3 | MSE1::PCOTE | press one now for personal name | Tue May 06 1997 17:06 | 5 | |
thanks for the info. Is is not possible to use the SRM console to interrogate and test the hardware even though you intend to boot (alphaBIOS) NT ? Which is why the questions span both 'consoles'. | |||||
| 590.4 | HARMNY::CUMMINS | Wed May 07 1997 12:00 | 3 | ||
Absolutely. By all means, use SRM for testing/sizing the system, even
if an NT customer/site. This is what's recommended in the User's Guide
as well.
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