Digital Equipment AlphaStation 500 Series Operation manual

AlphaStation500Series
UserInformation
Part Number: EK-ALPH5-UI. B01
January 1997
This book introduces the AlphaStation 500 Series system. Use the information in this
book to configure, start, use, update, and troubleshoot your system. You will also find
general system information, such as console commands and system care, in this book.
Revision/Update Information: This is revision.
Digital Equipment Corporation
Maynard, Massachusetts

First Printing, December 1995
Revised, January 1997
Digital Equipment Corporation makes no representations that the use of its products in the manner described in this
publication will not infringe on existing or future patent rights, nor do the descriptions contained in this publication
imply the granting of licenses to make, use, or sell equipment or software in accordance with the description.
Possession, use, or copying of the software described in this publication is authorized only pursuant to a valid
written license from Digital or an authorized sublicensor.
© Digital Equipment Corporation 1995, 1997. All rights reserved.
The following are trademarks of Digital Equipment Corporation: AlphaStation, Digital UNIX, OpenVMS,
ThinWire, and the DIGITAL logo.
The following are third-party trademarks:
Microsoft and Windows NT are registered trademarks of Microsoft Corporation.
SIMM is a trademark of Molex Corporation.
UNIX is a registered trademark in the United States and other countries, licensed exclusively through X/Open
Company Ltd.
All other trademarks and registered trademarks are the property of their respective holders.
[S3420]

FCC CLASSIFICATION
There are many variants of AlphaStation 500 Series systems. Your AlphaStation 500
Series system may be classified as either a Class A or a Class B FCC/EMC device,
depending upon its options and configuration.. To determine your system’s classification,
look at the FCC Classification Label on the bottom of the system.
FCC NOTICE -- CLASS A DEVICE
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 digital device pursuant to part 15 of FCC Rules, which are designed to provide
reasonable protection against such radio frequency interference.
Operation of this equipment in a residential area may cause interference, in which case the
user at their own expense will be required to take whatever measures are required to
correct the interference. If shielded cables have been supplied or specified, they must be
used on the system in order to maintain international regulatory compliance.
FCC NOTICE -- CLASS B DEVICE
This device complies with Part 15 of the FCC rules. Operation is subject to the following
conditions:
(1) this device may not cause harmful interference, and
(2) this device must accept any interference received, including interference that may
cause undesired operation.
This equipment has been tested and found to comply with the limits for a Class B digital
device, pursuant to Part 15 of the FCC rules. These limits are designed to provide
reasonable protection against harmful interference in a residential installation. Any
changes or modifications to this equipment may void the user's authority to operate this
equipment.

FCC NOTICE -- CLASS B DEVICE (continued)
This equipment generates, uses, and can radiate radio frequency energy and, if not
installed and used in accordance with the instructions, may cause harmful interference to
radio communications. However, there is no guarantee that interference will not occur in a
particular installation. If this equipment does cause harmful interference to radio or
television reception, which can be determined by turning the equipment off and on, the
user is encouraged to try to correct the interference by one or more of the following
measures:
• Reorient or relocate the receiving antenna.
• Increase the separation between the equipment and the receiver is connected.
• Connect the equipment into an outlet on a circuit different from that to which the
receiver is connected.
Consult the dealer or an experienced radio/TV technician for help.
The keyboard and video ports should be connected only with shielded data cables with an
external ferrite bead over the cable. When either of these ports is connected with cables
without such a ferrite bead, the additional ferrite beads shall be clamped over these cables
next to the cable connector.

AlphaStation 500 Series User Information v
Table of Contents
1 System Overview
Introduction...........................................................................................................................1-1
System Unit...........................................................................................................................1-2
Enclosure Front Panel............................................................................................................1-3
Enclosure Rear Panel.............................................................................................................1-4
The Keyboard........................................................................................................................1-6
2 Getting Started
Introduction...........................................................................................................................2-1
Before Starting Your System.................................................................................................2-2
Identifying the Correct AC Power Cord..........................................................................2-3
Installing Your System ..........................................................................................................2-4
Connecting System Components.....................................................................................2-5
Network Connection.......................................................................................................2-7
Starting Your System.............................................................................................................2-7
Preloaded Operating System Software ............................................................................2-8
Digital UNIX...........................................................................................................2-8
OpenVMS................................................................................................................2-8
Switching Console Firmware..........................................................................................2-9
If No Operating System Is Installed ................................................................................2-9
Turning Off Your System......................................................................................................2-9
Computer Security...............................................................................................................2-10
Security Lock ...............................................................................................................2-10
Passwords.....................................................................................................................2-10
Posture and Work Habits ..............................................................................................2-10

Table of Contents
vi AlphaStation 500 Series User Information
3 Installing System Options
Introduction...........................................................................................................................3-1
Top Cover/Left Side Panel ....................................................................................................3-2
Removing the Top Cover and Left Side Panel ................................................................3-2
System Unit Components ......................................................................................................3-4
System Board........................................................................................................................3-6
System Memory....................................................................................................................3-8
Cache Memory...............................................................................................................3-8
Memory Configuration Rules .........................................................................................3-8
Adding or Removing Memory Modules (DIMMs)..........................................................3-9
Storage Devices...................................................................................................................3-11
General Information on Installing Drives............................................................................. 3-11
SCSI Addresses (SCSI ID’s).........................................................................................3-11
SCSI Termination.........................................................................................................3-12
External SCSI Connector Termination.......................................................................... 3-12
Internal SCSI Termination............................................................................................ 3-12
SCSI Bus Length..........................................................................................................3-12
Installing Optional Internal Storage Devices........................................................................3-13
Installing Hard Disk Drives in the Lower Right Side Inner Bay....................................3-13
Removing the CD-ROM........................................................................................ 3-14
Removing the Drive Tray from the Lower Right Side Inner Bay .................................. 3-15
Installing Drives In the Right Side Bracket...................................................................3-16
Installing a Hard Disk Drive in the Left Side Storage Bay............................................ 3-24
Removing the Floppy Drive Tray Assembly.................................................................3-24
Removing the Floppy Drive from the Original Drive Tray..................................... 3-26
Removing the Floppy Drive from the Drive Tray (Re-Designed)...........................3-27
Installing an Optional Hard Drive in the Original Left-side Drive Tray..................3-28
Installing an Optional Hard Drive in the Re-designed Left-side Drive Tray ...........3-29
Installing an Optional Tape Drive in the Redesigned Left-Side Drive Tray............ 3-30
Replacing the Drive Tray Assembly in the System ....................................................... 3-30
PCI Expansion Options........................................................................................................3-31
PCI Bus........................................................................................................................3-31
Installing Expansion Modules.......................................................................................3-32
Replacing the Left Side Panel and Top Cover .....................................................................3-34
Connecting External Options............................................................................................... 3-36
Connecting a Printer or Other Parallel Device ..............................................................3-36
Connecting an External SCSI Option............................................................................ 3-36

Table of Contents
AlphaStation 500 Series User Information vii
4 Troubleshooting
Introduction...........................................................................................................................4-1
Initial Troubleshooting ..........................................................................................................4-1
General Troubleshooting .......................................................................................................4-2
SROM Status and Error Codes...............................................................................................4-8
Equipment Log....................................................................................................................4-10
Appendix
A Console Commands
Introduction..........................................................................................................................A-1
ARC Console........................................................................................................................A-1
Commands You Need to Know......................................................................................A-2
Display Hardware Configuration.............................................................................A-2
Set Default Environment Variables.........................................................................A-2
Set Default Configuration .......................................................................................A-3
Setting the Date and Time.......................................................................................A-4
Selecting a Default Language .................................................................................A-4
Manage Boot Selection Menu.................................................................................A-5
Machine Specific Setup ..........................................................................................A-6
Setting PCI Parity...................................................................................................A-7
Boot (Boot Selection Identifier)..............................................................................A-7
Boot an Alternate Operating System.......................................................................A-7
Other Commands of Interest..........................................................................................A-7
Setup Autoboot.......................................................................................................A-7
Install New Firmware..............................................................................................A-8
Install Windows NT from CD-ROM .......................................................................A-8
Switch to OpenVMS or Digital UNIX Console .......................................................A-8
SRM Console .......................................................................................................................A-8
SRM Console Conventions............................................................................................A-9
SRM Console Shortcut Keys........................................................................................A-10
Boot Command............................................................................................................A-11
Boot Command Examples..................................................................................... A-12
Set Command..............................................................................................................A-13
Set Command Examples.......................................................................................A-14
Show Command ..........................................................................................................A-14

Table of Contents
viii AlphaStation 500 Series User Information
Show Command Examples ................................................................................... A-15
Environment Variables................................................................................................A-16
Examine Command..................................................................................................... A-17
Examine Command Examples.............................................................................. A-18
Deposit Command....................................................................................................... A-19
Deposit Command Examples................................................................................ A-20
B System Care
Introduction.......................................................................................................................... B-1
Cleaning Your System Unit.................................................................................................. B-1
Cleaning Your Monitor ........................................................................................................ B-1
Cleaning Your Mouse........................................................................................................... B-2
Cleaning Your Keyboard...................................................................................................... B-3
Moving Your System............................................................................................................ B-3
Packing Your System .................................................................................................... B-3
Installing Your System at a New Location..................................................................... B-3
C Technical Specifications
Introduction.......................................................................................................................... C-1
System Specifications........................................................................................................... C-1
External System Connectors................................................................................................. C-3
Parallel Port Connector.................................................................................................. C-4
Serial Port Connectors................................................................................................... C-5
Keyboard and Mouse Connectors .................................................................................. C-5
SCSI Connectors ........................................................................................................... C-6
Expansion Slots............................................................................................................. C-8
Power Supply and Input Power Requirements ...................................................................... C-9
System Board Jumper Locations......................................................................................... C-10
SROM Selection Jumpers............................................................................................ C-12
Ethernet Interface........................................................................................................ C-13
Software Switches ................................................................................................ C-13
Selecting the ThickWire/ThinWire or Twisted Pair Ports...................................... C-13
D Device Mapping
Introduction..........................................................................................................................D-1
I/O Address Map..................................................................................................................D-1
Interrupt Map....................................................................................................................... D-2

Table of Contents
AlphaStation 500 Series User Information ix
E Updating System Firmware
Introduction.......................................................................................................................... E-1
System Firmware.................................................................................................................. E-1
Update Utility....................................................................................................................... E-1
Flash Enable Jumper...................................................................................................... E-1
Using the Flash Update Utility....................................................................................... E-1
F Starting an Operating System Installation
Introduction...........................................................................................................................F-1
Starting a Windows NT Workstation Installation...................................................................F-2
Starting a Digital UNIX Installation ......................................................................................F-5
Starting an OpenVMS Installation .........................................................................................F-6
G Sound Card Overview
Introduction..........................................................................................................................G-1
Module Layout.....................................................................................................................G-1
Module Connectors........................................................................................................G-2
Module Jumpers ............................................................................................................G-3
External Connection Jacks.............................................................................................G-4
Software ........................................................................................................................G-4
Microsoft Windows NT Workstation Operating System.................................................G-4
Digital UNIX Operating System ....................................................................................G-4
OpenVMS Operating System.........................................................................................G-5
H Equipment Log
Introduction......................................................................................................................... H–1
Equipment Log.................................................................................................................... H–1

Table of Contents
xAlphaStation 500 Series User Information
List of Figures
Figure 1-1 Front Controls, Indicators, and Drive Bay Locations...........................1-3
Figure 1-2 Rear Connectors (Rear View).............................................................1-4
Figure 1-3 Typical Keyboard Layout....................................................................1-6
Figure 2-1 AlphaStation 500 Series System..........................................................2-2
Figure 2-2 System Enclosure Airflow...................................................................2-4
Figure 2-3 Voltage Select Switch .........................................................................2-5
Figure 2-4 Connecting Cables and the Power Cord...............................................2-6
Figure 2-5 Starting Your System ..........................................................................2-7
Figure 2-6 Recommendations and Posture and Work Habits................................ 2-11
Figure 3-1 Unlocking the Top Cover....................................................................3-2
Figure 3-2 Removing the Top Cover and Left Side Panel.....................................3-3
Figure 3-3 System Unit Components....................................................................3-4
Figure 3-4 System Board Components..................................................................3-6
Figure 3-5 DIMM Bank Configuration.................................................................3-9
Figure 3-6 Installing a DIMM.............................................................................3-10
Figure 3-7 Removing the CD-ROM Bracket....................................................... 3-14
Figure 3-8 Removing the Hard Drive Tray Bracket ............................................ 3-15
Figure 3-9 Installing Drives in the Right Side Bracket........................................ 3-16
Figure 3-10 Cabling the Optional Hard Drives.................................................... 3-17
Figure 3-11 FDI/SCSI Cable Routing................................................................. 3-18
Figure 3-12 Audio Cable Routing....................................................................... 3-20
Figure 3-13 Power Cable Configuration .............................................................3-21
Figure 3-14 MAU Cable Configurations............................................................. 3-22
Figure 3-15 Fan and LED Cable Connections..................................................... 3-23
Figure 3-16 Removing the Floppy Drive Tray Assembly.................................... 3-25
Figure 3-17 Removing the Floppy Drive (Original Tray).................................... 3-26
Figure 3-18 Removing the Floppy Drive (Re-designed Tray) ............................. 3-27
Figure 3-19 Installing the Hard Drive in the Original Left-side Drive Tray......... 3-28
Figure 3-20 Installing Optional Hard Drive (Re-designed Tray) ......................... 3-29
Figure 3-21 Installing a Tape Drive in the Redesigned Left-side Drive Tray ......3-30
Figure 3-22 PCI Option Slots.............................................................................. 3-31
Figure 3-23 Installing an Expansion Module ...................................................... 3-33
Figure 3-24 Replacing the Top Cover................................................................. 3-35
Figure B-1 Cleaning the Mouse............................................................................ B-2
Figure C-1 System Board Jumper Locations........................................................C-11
Figure G-1 Card Connectors and Jumpers............................................................. G-1