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Conference netcad::hub_mgnt

Title:DEChub/HUBwatch/PROBEwatch CONFERENCE
Notice:Firmware -2, Doc -3, Power -4, HW kits -5, firm load -6&7
Moderator:NETCAD::COLELLADT
Created:Wed Nov 13 1991
Last Modified:Fri Jun 06 1997
Last Successful Update:Fri Jun 06 1997
Number of topics:4455
Total number of notes:16761

1219.0. "Upgrading DECbridge 90FLs" by ALBANY::BARTLEY () Wed Jul 13 1994 10:43

    Is there a difference between upgrading 90 & 90FLs? I have upgraded our
    DECbridge 90 here in the office with out a problem. I have tried to
    upgrade 90FLs and both have failed leaving the bridge unusable.
    I have looked for a new copy of the fireware on:
    
    quiver::proj$722:[onehub.release.wgb.v3_1]DEWGB_031.sys and  get
    no files found.
    
    Any hints what I can do next?
    
    Thanks,
    
    Dave
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1219.1Bridge can't handle a quick responseROGER::GAUDETBecause the Earth is 2/3 waterWed Jul 13 1994 13:418
There should be no difference loading DECbridge 90's or 90FL's.  I have had
limited success loading those bridges using DECndu Plus, depending on the type
of system you're loading from.  The bridge is not very tolerant when it gets a
quick response to a load request it has made.

FWIW, loading from a VAX using NCP seems to succeed more frequently.

...Roger...
1219.2You have the latestROGER::GAUDETBecause the Earth is 2/3 waterWed Jul 13 1994 13:448
Oh yeah, V3.1 is the latest code, which is DEWGB_031.SYS.

>>    quiver::proj$722:[onehub.release.wgb.v3_1]DEWGB_031.sys and  get
>>    no files found.

FYI, in the future use NETCAD instead of QUIVER.

...Roger...
1219.3What can I do with them?ALBANY::BARTLEYWed Jul 13 1994 14:3318
    Thanks for the responses. I didn't think there was any difference.
    I am loading from a VAX using NCP. After the load fails, I tried 
    to connect to the bridge and I get what looks like
    a firmware/microcode prompt ">>". It gives me a list of commands
    EEPROM
    FLASH
    RESET
    TEST
    XDATA
    
    and the connection (using NCP conn node) is very unstable. Connections
    don't last long enough to try a command.
    
    Any more ideas before I send these to Logistics?
    
    Thanks again,
    
    Dave 
1219.4Instability might be caused by NCPROGER::GAUDETBecause the Earth is 2/3 waterThu Jul 14 1994 11:0011
The ">>" prompt means that the flash image is corrupt.  In this state the bridge
"should" respond to an NCP TRIGGER command to load the V3.1 code.  I am
concerned, though, about your "unstable connection."  I doubt that the bridge is
causing this.  There may be something else in your network (or the VAX?) that is
responsible for the instability.  Can you provide the output from the following
NCP commands:

SHOW NODE xxx CHAR	! xxx = node name you're connecting to
SHOW CIRC yyy CHAR	! yyy = circuit name

...Roger...
1219.5Update Through Backbone Port OnlyALBANY::BARTLEYThu Jul 14 1994 12:5231
                                                    
    
    Rodger,
    
    When I opened up this conference this morning,I  wound up in note # 51,
    which happened to be addressing this same problem (talk about luck).
    
    I had been trying to update the bridges through the workgroup port, I
    had the bridge in slot 7 of a DEChub 90 with nothing plugged into the
    backbone port. The VAX I was using to update the bridge was within the
    workgroup. When I tried to connect to the bridges, the connection was
    very shakey.
    
    Bottom line: I took the bridge out and used it standalone with the
    workgroup port connect to a Thinwire segment, same thing. I put a 
    Thinwire xcvr on the backbone and moved the segment and it updated 1st 
    time, no errors. I had a second bridge to update and had been having
    the same problem. I connected up to the backbone port and it too
    updated 1st time w/no errors.
    
    TECH TIP: UPDATE THROUGH THE BACKBONE PORT ONLY!!!!!
    
    I went back and looked at BRIDGE_LOAD.TXT, and no mention of this.
    
    Connections to the bridge were still alittle shakey. It had new
    firmware running, but would keep scrolling the banner every few
    seconds. I terminated to workgroup side and everything became very
    stable.
    
    Dave
                                                                      
1219.6Been thereROGER::GAUDETBecause the Earth is 2/3 waterThu Jul 14 1994 16:4814
Well I agree with you Dave that the need to terminate the thinwire ports should
be documented in the BRIDGE_LOAD.TXT file.  But it *IS* documented in the
DECbridge 90 Owner's Manual.  To quote from page 3-2:

NOTE
The ThinWire ports of the DECbridge 90 are not terminated
internally.  External 50-ohm terminations are required.

This note is in the "Standalone Installation" section but unforunately is not
duplicated in the "DEChub 90 Backplane Installation" section.

I'm glad you located the problem and was able to get things up and running again.

...Roger...
1219.7Just Nit'nALBANY::BARTLEYThu Jul 14 1994 17:309
    The major point here that should be documented in BRIDGE_LOAD.TXT is that
    you *can't* upgrade the bridge through the workgroup port. I *was* able to
    upgrade through the backbone port without terminating the workgroup side.
    
    Thanks again,
    
    Dave 
    
    
1219.8Looks like we've had opposite experiencesROGER::GAUDETBecause the Earth is 2/3 waterThu Jul 14 1994 17:509
But that's not true.  In fact, I have not had much success at all loading
through the backbone port, but have had very good success loading through the
workgroup side, both in and out of the hub (terminating the backbone port with a
T-connector and two 50-ohm terminators).

The point is that proper termination of both sides of the bridge is essential,
regardless of which side the load/connection comes from.

...Roger...
1219.9ALBANY::BARTLEYFri Jul 15 1994 16:183
    Go figure. I guess if you try both of them, one is bound to work.
    
    Dave
1219.10Any real solutionsKERNEL::ANSONRThu Nov 03 1994 08:3213
    
    Hi,
      Any more update on this problem when loading decbridge 90fl. We have
    a customer having exactly the same symtoms as descibed in previous
    notes. When upgrading the bridge image via DECNDU + running on a PC the
    bridges go into this 'funny' state with the '>>' prompt. How do you get
    out of this state ? What the most reliable method of loading these
    bridges ? Any fixes ?
    
    Thanks
    Rich
    
    
1219.11Use NCP LOAD NODEBIKINI::KRAUSECSC Network Management/HubsTue Nov 29 1994 04:218
Up to now, the only reliable method of loading DB90 and DB90FL is to use 
NCP LOAD NODE on a DECnet system.

I, too, am interested in an update to NDU that correctly handles the 
DB90. Maybe HUBwatch V4 will be able to do it? If they just take the NDU 
code it won't help...

*Robert