Conference mvblab::sable

2530.0. "Firmware update floppy for Options not loading" by CSC32::GULDEN () Sun Feb 23 1997 12:08

  I am attempting to create two NT firmware floppy to update an
AlphaServer 2100A EV5 console and its options. 

    
    1. I formatted the floppies under NT and selected FAT format
    
    2. I copied the firmware file AS2100A_e5_v4_7.exe from the web site
       to a floppy and called it FWUPDATE.EXE
    
    3. I copied the option files as2X00fw.txt, cipca315.sys, dfeaa130.sys,
       dfeab246.sys, dfxaa246.sys and kzpsaa10.sys th the second floppy.
    
    4. From the NT boot menu I select Supplemantary Menu and the Update
       Firmware.
    
    5. It reads the system firmware in and I can update without issue.
    
    6. However it asks for the options floppy and when I install it it
       reads it and asks for the next option floppy. Then it asks to hit
       return or type DONE. When I type DONE I get a UPD> prompt.

 Now a list command from the UPD prompt says  KZPSA - firmware file missing.

 Is there a special name I need to call these files? A label that needs to 
be on the floppy? I tried the files from the V3.8 and V3.6 directory since
this was the type of problem that showed up with the V3.7 CD . 

 I basically used netscape to go to the firmware web site at
http://ftp.digital.com/pub/DEC/Alpha/firmware/ . I then used method 3. 
I select the option firmware files listed and hit shift and mouse and
then tell it to save to a:filename_as_listed_below (i.e a:kzpsaa10.sys).
The files are all there. Below is the extract for Method 3.

Method 3, FAT Floppy (NT systems) 

If you downloaded fwupdate.exe, you can copy it to a FAT-formatted floppy 
diskette on a Windows NT based system for subsequent console loading into 
memory and startup on the target system. The procedure is as follows: 

    1.Copy the file to a FAT floppy with the update image file name of 
       a:\fwupdate.exe. (Note: For Alpha XL 4/2xx Systems, use a filename of 
       a:\xlupdate.exe, and for Alpha XL 5/3xx Systems, use a filename of
       a:\xltab.rom). 
    2.Shut down NT and from the NT Console menu, select "Install new firmware". 


      Alphaserver 2000/2100/2100A additional information:
      ---------------------------------------------------
      If you wish to update the options firmware, you must create a second 
       floppy. Download the following files from the options directory in the 
       V3.8 CD area and place them on a FAT formatted floppy: 

      as2x00fw.txt
      cipca315.sys
      dfeaa130.sys
      dfeab246.sys
      dfxaa246.sys
      kzpsaa10.sys



Any ideas what is wrong??


Wes Gulden
Colorado CSC / MVHS
800-354-9000 x25592
csc32::Gulden

	We recently bumped into a situation like what your seeing. We had a 
condition under LFU where it would not correctly scan the .TXT file properly. 

I our case we got an extra <CR> into the file that was on the floppy. To 
confirm if your .TXT file doesn't have any extra information in it. you can
at the console type: CAT FAT:AS2X00.TXT/DVA0 to see the contents of the file.
You then want to type: CAT FAT:AS2X00.TXT/DVA0 | HD to confirm how 
many <CR><LF> are at the end of each line of the file.


	We have indentifed a fix to the update utility and plan to release
this fix with our next CD release this summer.