Compaq AlphaServer 4100 s Instruction Manual

AlphaServer4100/4000
Firmware Release Notes
For Compaq Tru64
UNIX, DIGITAL UNIX and
OpenVMSCustomers
Revised September, 2001
SRM Console Version: V6.0-4
These release notes are for the V6.0-4 SRM console, and include documented
restrictions in V6.0-4. Firmware update instructions and other useful
information is also provided.
Firmware release notes for Windows NT AlphaServer 4100/4000 customers
are available separately. Information about where to obtain AlphaBIOS
console release notes is provided in Section 1.7 of this document.
IMPORTANT NOTE: Beginning with SRM V5.3 console firmware, the
AlphaBIOS console was relocated to a different sector in the flash rom to
accomodate Windows NT serviceability. Please read the update procedures
information, found in Chapter 2, carefully for the details on this change and
what new steps are required for updating firmware. These changes apply to
all systems and are independent of what operating system is in use.

January, 2001
The information in this publication is subject to change without notice.
COMPAQ, the Compaq log, DEC, the DEC logo, AlphaServer and VMS registered
in U.S. Patent and Trademark office. OpenVMS, Tru64, are trademarks of Compaq
Information Technologies Group, L.P. in the United States and/or countries. Microsoft
and Windows NT are trademarks of Microsoft Corporation in the United States
and/or other countries. Unix is a trademark of The Open Group in the United States
and/or other countries. PostScript is a registered trademark of Adobe Systems, Inc.
MEMORY CHANNEL is a trademark of Encore Computer. All other product names
mentioned herein may be trademarks or registered trademarks of their respective
companies.
Confidential computer software. Valid license from Compaq required for possession,
use or copying. Consistent with FAR 12.211 and 12.212, Commercial Computer
Software, Computer Software Documentation, and Technical Data for Commercial
Items are licensed to the U.S. Government under vendor’s standard commercial
license.
Compaq shall not be liable for technical or editorial errors or omissions contained
herein. The information in this document is subject to change without notice.
The limited warranties for Compaq products are exclusively set forth in the
documentation accompanying such products. Nothing herein should be
construed as constituting a further or additional warranty.
Copyright © Compaq Computer Corporation, 2001. All Rights Reserved.
FCC NOTICE: The equipment described in this manual generates, uses, and may
emit radio frequency energy. The equipment has been type tested and found to
comply with the limits for a Class A computing device pursuant to Subpart J of Part
15 of FCC Rules, which are designed to provide reasonable protection against such
radio frequency interference when operated in a commercial environment. Operation
of this equipment in a residential area may cause interference, in which case the user
at his own expense may be required to take measures to correct the interference.

Contents
PREFACE v
CHAPTER 1 FIRMWARE UPDATE INFORMATION 1–1
1.1 FIRMWARE AND OPERATING SYSTEM REVISION MATRIX 1–2
1.2 CONSOLE FIRMWARE COMPONENTS AND REVISION
INFORMATION 1–3
1.3 PCI I/O OPTION FIRMWARE COMPONENTS - REVISION
INFORMATION 1–4
1.4 CONFIGURATION UTILITY KIT AND VERSION INFORMATION 1–4
1.5 ALPHA SYSTEMS FIRMWARE QUARTERLY UPDATE KIT 1–5
1.6 ACCESSING FIRMWARE OVER THE INTERNET 1–5
1.6.1 Proper Transfer Types For Use With FAT-Format Floppy
Updates 1–6
1.7 FIRMWARE RELEASE NOTES FOR WINDOWS NT CUSTOMERS 1–6
1.8 ALPHASERVER 4100 DOCUMENTATION 1–6
CHAPTER 2 FIRMWARE UPDATE INSTRUCTIONS 2–1
2.1 UPDATING YOUR SYSTEM FIRMWARE 2–1
2.2 PREPARING FOR THE UPDATE 2–2
2.2.1 LFU command changes 2–2
2.2.2 Updating Using the Alpha Systems Firmware Update V6.0
CD 2–3
iii

Contents
2.2.3 Updating Using a FAT-Formatted Floppy Diskette 2–3
2.2.4 Updating Using an ODS2-Formatted Floppy Diskette 2–4
2.2.5 Updating Off Network Via Your Local MOP Server 2–5
2.2.5.1 Updating Off Network via BOOT command • 2–5
2.2.5.2 Updating Off Network via LFU command • 2–5
2.3 PERFORMING THE UPDATE 2–6
CHAPTER 3 THINGS YOU SHOULD KNOW THE FIRST TIME YOU
POWER ON YOUR MACHINE 3–1
3.1 MEMORY TESTS CAN TAKE A VERY LONG TIME! 3–1
3.2 SELECTING WHICH CONSOLE IS LOADED AND YOUR DISPLAY
DEVICE 3–1
3.3 CONFIGURING YOUR MACHINE PRIOR TO BOOTING 3–2
3.4 SRM CONSOLE FIRMWARE SUPPORTED BOOT DEVICES 3–4
3.5 NEW FEATURES, CHANGES AND BUGS FIXED IN THE V6.0 SRM
CONSOLE 3–4
3.6 SRM CONSOLE FIRMWARE BUGS AND RESTRICTIONS 3–5
3.7 WINDOWS NT SERVICEABILITY INFORMATION 3–5
3.7.1 Software requirements 3–5
3.7.2 Effects of Window NT Serviceability support on the update
process 3–6
3.7.3 EEPROM commands for Windows NT error logging 3–6
3.7.3.1 Build eeprom • 3–6
3.7.3.2 Show eeprom • 3–6
3.7.3.3 Clear eeprom • 3–6
3.8 ADDITIONAL NOTES FOR KZPSA CHANGES IMPLEMENTED WITH
THE V5.1 RELEASE 3–7
3.9 DIGITAL FAST ETHERWORKS PCI 10/100 (DE500) ADAPTERS AND
AUTO-NEGOTIATION 3–7
iv

Contents
3.9.1 Set EW*0_Mode Auto-Negotiate 3–8
3.9.2 Behavior Note on Systems with Multiple DE500’s 3–8
3.10 NOTE ON UNIX INSTALLATIONS 3–9
CHAPTER 4 RUNNING EISA, RAID, AND OTHER CONFIGURATION
UTILITIES 4–1
4.1 SETTING UP YOUR SYSTEM TO RUN ARC-BASED UTILITIES 4–1
4.2 USING A SERIAL LINE INTERFACE TO RUN ARC-BASED UTILITIES 4–1
4.3 RESTRICTIONS WHEN RUNNING KZPSA UTILITIES 4–2
APPENDIX A RESTORE_NVRAM AND SAVE_NVRAM A–1
A.1 SAVE NVRAM DATA IN EEROM/TOY TO A FLOPPY FILE. A–1
A.2 RESTORE NVRAM DATA TO EEROM/TOY FROM A FLOPPY FILE. A–2
TABLES
1–1 AlphaServer 4100 Firmware/Software Revision Matrix 1–2
1–2 V6.0-4 SRM Console Firmware Components and Revisions 1–3
1–3 Fail-safe Loader Kit content 1–3
1–4 I/O Module Firmware Revision Matrix 1–4
1–5 Configuration Utility Revisions 1–5
1–6 Orderable Documentation for the AlphaServer 4100 1–6
3–1 Supported Boot Devices (SRM Console V4.8 or above) 3–4
4–1 KZPSA CNFGDIAG.EXE (V1.5) Issues/Bugs With SCSI Options 4–2
v

Preface
Purpose of These Release Notes
These release notes are intended for users of the AlphaServer 4100 and
AlphaServer 4000 cabinet- and pedestal-style systems. Henceforth in
these notes, "4100" will be used to refer to both the model 4100 and model
4000. These release notes also support the DIGITAL Server 7000 Models
7300, 7305 and 7310.
This document provides release note information for the following items:
• SRM Console - system FEPROM0, sectors 3 - 15
• Loadable Firmware Update (LFU) Utility - built into SRM console
• OpenVMS Alpha PALcode - system FEPROM0, sector 1
• DIGITAL UNIX PALcode - system FEPROM0, sector 1
• Extended SROM (XSROM) - system FEPROM0 sectors 0 and 2
• Fail-safe Loader (FSL) - aforementioned XSROM sectors
• EISA Configuration Utility (ECU) - floppy diskette
• RAID Configuration Utility (RCU) - floppy and Alpha FW CD
• KZPSA Configuration/Diagnostic Utilities - Alpha FW CD
• PCI I/O Adapter Firmware for ISP1020 - shipped in SRM console
image
• PCI I/O Adapter Firmware for KZPSA, DEFPA, and CIPCA - Alpha
FW CD
AlphaBIOS, which resides in system FEPROM1 and is used to boot
and support Windows NT on the AlphaServer 4100, ships release notes
separately. See Section 1.7 for information about where to find AlphaBIOS
release notes.
AlphaBIOS is also used to run ECU, RCU, and various other ARC-
based utilities which ship on floppy and/or the Alpha Firmware CD.
See Chapter 4 of these release notes and the AlphaServer 4100 System
Drawer User’s Guide for instructions on how to use AlphaBIOS and run
ARC-based utilities.
System flash parts (FEPROM0 and FEPROM1) reside on the PCI
motherboard and logically hang off the EISA/XBUS.
See Table 1–1 for current revision information.
v

Preface
Conventions Used in This Guide
This document uses the following conventions:
KEY Indicates a key on your keyboard.
CTRL/key Indicates control characters. For example, Control C is
shown as CTRL/C and indicates that both the CTRL and
the Cmust be pressed simultaneously.
vi

1FirmwareUpdateInformation
This chapter provides firmware and utility revision information, as well as
information on where to find firmware update images and documentation
for your AlphaServer 4100 system.
Firmware updates are performed using the SRM console’s built-in LFU
utility. Bootable LFU images are also supported, e.g. when booting the
firmware update CD. LFU supports multiple update devices: local SCSI
CD-ROM (CDA0), local floppy (DVA0), and local network (EWA0). Other
devices are supported for the advanced user. Refer to Chapter 2 and the
AlphaServer 4100 System Drawer User’s Guide for more information about
LFU and other console commands, environment variables to set when
performing updates off a network device, and firmware update procedures
and examples.
The SRM and AlphaBIOS consoles, and associated firmware files such as
I/O option firmware, are available via customer update kits (CD-ROM). For
order information of the customer update kit please reference the Release
Notes Overview booklet included in the firmware CD kit. A pointer to
the World Wide Web (WWW) pages, which can be used to obtain interim
firmware releases of AlphaServer 4100 firmware, is available later in this
chapter.
1–1

Firmware Update Information
1.1 Firmware and Operating System Revision Matrix
Table 1–1 lists operating system versions supported by SRM console.
The firmware from this release is on the Alpha Systems Firmware Update
V6.0 CD.
Table 1–1 AlphaServer 4100 Firmware/Software Revision Matrix
Alpha Systems Firmware Update CD
Release V6.0 V5.9 V5.8 V5.7
Date June-01 Jan.-01 Aug.-00 Apr.-00
AlphaServer 4x00 Firmware
SRM Firmware V6.0-4 V5.9-5 V5.8-2 V5.7-4
AlphaBIOS Firmware V5.70-0 V5.70-0 V5.70-0 V5.70-0
OpenVMS PAL V1.21-2 V1.21-2 V1.21-2 V1.21-2
DIGITAL UNIX PAL V1.23-2 V1.23-2 V1.23-2 V1.23-2
Operating Systems
OpenVMS V7.3 V7.3
V7.2-1 V7.2-1 V7.2-1 V7.2-1
V7.2 V7.2 V7.2 V7.2
V7.1-2 V7.1-2 V7.1-2 V7.1-2
V7.1-1H1 V7.1-1H1 V7.1-1H1 V7.1-1H1
V7.1 V7.1 V7.1 V7.1
V6.2-1H3 V6.2-1H3 V6.2-1H3 V6.2-1H3
Compaq Tru64 UNIX V5.2 V5.2
V5.1 V5.1 V5.1
V5.0 V5.0 V5.0 V5.0
V4.0F V4.0F V4.0F V4.0F
DIGITAL UNIX V4.0E V4.0E V4.0E V4.0E
V4.0D V4.0D V4.0D V4.0D
V4.0B V4.0B V4.0B V4.0B
V4.0A V4.0A V4.0A V4.0A
V3.2G V3.2G V3.2G V3.2G
V3.2F V3.2F V3.2F V3.2F
Windows NT V3.51 V3.51 V3.51 V3.51
V4.0 V4.0 V4.0 V4.0
1–2