Digital Equipment AlphaStation 600 Series Operation manual

AlphaStation600Series
UserInformation
Part Number: EK-AS800-UI. B01
June 1995
This book introduces the AlphaStation 600 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: First Revision.
Digital Equipment Corporation
Maynard, Massachusetts

ii
June 1995
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. All rights reserved.
The postpaid Reader's Comments form at the end of this document requests your critical evaluation to assist in
preparing future documentation.
The following are trademarks of Digital Equipment Corporation: AlphaStation, 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.
OSF/1 is a trademark of the Open Software Foundation, Inc.
All other trademarks and registered trademarks are the property of their respective holders.
[S2868]

iii
Information - Class B
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.
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.
• 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.

v
Table of Contents
1 Getting Started............................................................................1-1
Introduction........................................................................................................... 1-1
Before Starting Your System................................................................................. 1-2
Posture and Work Habits................................................................................ 1-3
Identifying the Correct AC Power Cord..........................................................1-6
Installing Your System.......................................................................................... 1-7
Connecting System Components .................................................................... 1-9
Network Connection..................................................................................... 1-11
Starting Your System .......................................................................................... 1-11
Preloaded Operating System Software.......................................................... 1-12
DEC OSF/1 ........................................................................................... 1-13
OpenVMS ............................................................................................. 1-13
Switching Console Firmware........................................................................ 1-13
If No Operating System Is Installed.............................................................. 1-13
Turning Off Your System.................................................................................... 1-14
Computer Security .............................................................................................. 1-15
Security Lock............................................................................................... 1-15
Passwords..................................................................................................... 1-15
2 System Overview ........................................................................2-1
Introduction........................................................................................................... 2-1
System Unit .......................................................................................................... 2-1
PCI Architecture ................................................................................................... 2-2
AlphaStation 600 Series I/O Subsystem................................................................. 2-2
The Keyboard ....................................................................................................... 2-2
System Front Panel ...............................................................................................2-4
System Rear Panel ................................................................................................2-6

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vi
3 Installing System Options.........................................................3-1
Introduction .......................................................................................................... 3-1
System Unit Components...................................................................................... 3-2
Left Side Panel...................................................................................................... 3-3
Removing the Left Side Panel........................................................................ 3-3
Replacing the Left Side Panel ........................................................................ 3-5
System Board........................................................................................................ 3-6
System Memory.................................................................................................... 3-8
Cache Memory............................................................................................... 3-8
Random-Access Memory ............................................................................... 3-8
Adding a SIMM to a Memory Tower ............................................................3-10
Replacing the Cache Memory Modules.........................................................3-13
External Drive Bay Devices.................................................................................3-14
SCSI Addresses.............................................................................................3-14
SCSI Termination .........................................................................................3-14
Installing External Drive Bay Devices...........................................................3-15
Internal Drive Bay Devices..................................................................................3-21
Removing the Drive Assembly from the System Unit....................................3-21
Removing a Device from the Drive Assembly...............................................3-23
Replacing the Drive Assembly in the System Unit ........................................3-24
ISA, EISA, and PCI Expansion Options...............................................................3-25
ISA Bus.........................................................................................................3-25
EISA Bus......................................................................................................3-26
PCI Bus.........................................................................................................3-26
Installing Expansion Modules .......................................................................3-27
The Operator Control Panel .................................................................................3-30
Rotating the OCP..........................................................................................3-30
4 Troubleshooting.........................................................................4-1
Introduction .......................................................................................................... 4-1
Initial Troubleshooting.......................................................................................... 4-1
General Troubleshooting....................................................................................... 4-2
Status and Error Codes.......................................................................................... 4-8
Equipment Log ..................................................................................................... 4-9
A Console Commands..................................................................A-1
Introduction ..........................................................................................................A-1
ARC Console........................................................................................................A-1
Commands You Need to Know......................................................................A-2
Display Hardware Configuration.............................................................A-2

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vii
Set Default Environment Variables......................................................... A-2
Set Default Configuration....................................................................... A-2
Manage Boot Selection Menu................................................................. A-2
Machine Specific Setup.......................................................................... A-3
Boot (Boot Selection Identifier).............................................................. A-3
Boot an Alternate Operating System....................................................... A-3
Other Commands of Interest.......................................................................... A-3
Setup Autoboot....................................................................................... A-3
Install New Firmware............................................................................. A-3
Install Windows NT from CD-ROM....................................................... A-4
Switch to OpenVMS or OSF Console..................................................... A-4
SRM Console....................................................................................................... A-5
SRM Console Conventions............................................................................ A-5
SRM Console Shortcut Keys ......................................................................... A-6
Boot Command ............................................................................................. A-7
Boot Command Examples ...................................................................... A-8
ECU Command............................................................................................. A-9
Set Command................................................................................................ A-9
Set Command Examples........................................................................A-10
Show Command...........................................................................................A-10
Show Command Examples....................................................................A-11
Environment Variables.................................................................................A-12
Examine Command......................................................................................A-13
Examine Command Examples...............................................................A-14
Deposit Command........................................................................................A-15
Deposit Command Examples.................................................................A-16
Using the EISA Configuration Utility..................................................................A-17
Before You Run the ECU.............................................................................A-17
Configuring EISA Options ...........................................................................A-18
Configuring ISA Options..............................................................................A-20
B System Care...............................................................................B-1
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-4
Installing Your System at a New Location......................................................B-4

Table of Contents
viii
C Technical Specifications...........................................................C-1
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
I/O Subsystem Module........................................................................................C-13
SCSI Controller............................................................................................C-13
Ethernet Interface.........................................................................................C-14
Thick Wire Jumpering...........................................................................C-14
ThinWire or Twisted-pair Jumpering.....................................................C-14
Software Switches.................................................................................C-14
D Device Mapping .........................................................................D-1
Introduction ..........................................................................................................D-1
I/O Address Map...................................................................................................D-1
Interrupt Map........................................................................................................D-2
E Updating System Firmware.......................................................E-1
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...............................F-1
Introduction .......................................................................................................... F-1
Starting a DEC OSF/1 Installation......................................................................... F-2
Starting an OpenVMS Installation......................................................................... F-3

Table of Contents
ix
List of Figures
Figure 1-1. AlphaStation 600 Series System.......................................................... 1-2
Figure 1-2. Recommendations for Posture and Work Habits.................................. 1-4
Figure 1-3. System Airflow (Side View, Cover Removed) .................................... 1-8
Figure 1-4. Connecting Cables and the Power Cord............................................. 1-10
Figure 1-5. Starting Your System........................................................................ 1-12
Figure 2-1. Typical Keyboard Layout.................................................................... 2-3
Figure 2-2. Front Controls, Indicators, and Drive Bay Locations........................... 2-4
Figure 2-3. Rear Connectors (Rear View).............................................................. 2-6
Figure 3-1. System Unit Components.................................................................... 3-2
Figure 3-2. Unlocking and Removing the Left Side Panel..................................... 3-4
Figure 3-3. Replacing the Left Side Panel ............................................................. 3-5
Figure 3-4. System Board Components .................................................................3-7
Figure 3-5. Populating a Memory Tower...............................................................3-9
Figure 3-6. Removing a Memory Tower.............................................................. 3-11
Figure 3-7. Installing a SIMM............................................................................. 3-12
Figure 3-8. Removing a Plastic Filler Panel......................................................... 3-15
Figure 3-9. Attaching the Securing Bracket and Installing the Device................. 3-17
Figure 3-10. SCSI and Removable Device Connector Cable Configuration......... 3-18
Figure 3-11. Power Cable Configuration ............................................................. 3-19
Figure 3-12. Removing the Drive Assembly........................................................ 3-22
Figure 3-13. Removing a Device from the Drive Assembly................................. 3-23
Figure 3-14. ISA, EISA, and PCI Expansion Module Contacts............................ 3-25
Figure 3-15. EISA/ISA Slot Numbering .............................................................. 3-26
Figure 3-16. Installing an Expansion Module ...................................................... 3-28
Figure 3-17. Removing the Front Bezel............................................................... 3-30
Figure 3-18. Rotating the OCP............................................................................ 3-31
Figure B-1. Cleaning the Mouse............................................................................B-3
Figure C-1. System Board Jumper Locations.......................................................C-11
Figure C-2. I/O Subsystem Module Jumper/Connector Locations........................C-15

Table of Contents
x
List of Tables
Table 1-1. Recommendations for Posture and Work Habits................................... 1-4
Table 1-2. System Shutdown Commands .............................................................1-14
Table 2-1. Key Groups and Functions ................................................................... 2-3
Table 2-2. Front Controls, Indicators, and Drive Bay Locations............................ 2-4
Table 2-3. Rear Connectors................................................................................... 2-7
Table 3-1. System Unit Components..................................................................... 3-2
Table 3-2. System Board Components .................................................................. 3-7
Table 3-3. SCSI Address Recommendations ........................................................3-14
Table 4-1. System Troubleshooting....................................................................... 4-2
Table 4-2. Disk Drive Troubleshooting................................................................. 4-6
Table 4-3. Monitor Troubleshooting...................................................................... 4-7
Table 4-4. Status and Error Codes......................................................................... 4-8
Table A-1. SRM Console Conventions..................................................................A-5
Table A-2. SRM Console Shortcut Keys ...............................................................A-6
Table A-3. Boot Command Examples...................................................................A-8
Table A-4. Set Command Examples....................................................................A-10
Table A-5. Show Command Examples................................................................A-11
Table A-6. Environment Variables......................................................................A-12
Table A-7. Examine Command Examples...........................................................A-14
Table A-8. Deposit Command Examples.............................................................A-16
Table C-1. System Specifications..........................................................................C-2
Table C-2. System Dimensions .............................................................................C-2
Table C-3. System Environmental Specifications..................................................C-2
Table C-4. Acoustics-Declared Values According to ISO 9296 and ISO 7779.......C-3
Table C-5. Parallel Port Pinouts............................................................................C-4
Table C-6. 9-Pin Port Pinouts................................................................................C-5
Table C-7. Keyboard and Mouse Connector Pinouts .............................................C-5
Table C-8. Wide SCSI Pinouts..............................................................................C-6
Table C-9. Narrow SCSI Pinouts...........................................................................C-7
Table C-10. Output Power Requirements..............................................................C-9
Table C-11. Input Power Requirements.................................................................C-9
Table C-12. System Board Jumpers.....................................................................C-12
Table C-13. I/O Subsystem Module Jumpers.......................................................C-13
Table D-1. I/O Address Map.................................................................................D-1
Table D-2. Main Interrupt Logic IRQ Pin Assignments.........................................D-2
Table D–3. EISA Interrupt Assignments ...............................................................D-3
Table F-4. Starting a DEC OSF/1 Installation .......................................................F-2
Table F-5. Starting an OpenVMS Installation........................................................ F-3
Table G-1. Hardware Components.......................................................................G–2
Table G-2. SCSI Addresses..................................................................................G–2
Table G-3. Hardware Configuration.....................................................................G–3

Table of Contents
xi
Table G-4. Installed Software...............................................................................G–3
Table G-5. Additional Component Information....................................................G–3

xiii
Preface
Welcome to the AlphaStation 600 Series System
This book introduces the AlphaStation 600 Series system.
Use the information in this book to configure, start, use, update, and troubleshoot your
AlphaStation 600 Series system. You can also find general system information such as
console commands and system care in this book.
Audience
If you will be operating, configuring, or adding options to the AlphaStation 600 Series
system, the information included in this book will be helpful to you.
Organization of the Information
This information for users covers the following topics:
•• Chapter 1, Getting Started, describes installing, starting, restarting, and turning off the
system.
• Chapter 2, System Overview, describes the hardware components, including the
peripheral component interconnect (PCI) architecture, the controller, the keyboard, the
system unit front panel, and the system unit rear panel.
• Chapter 3, Installing System Options, describes the system unit components and gives
instructions and illustrations to help you remove and replace them.
• Chapter 4, Troubleshooting, describes system troubleshooting as well as the error beep
codes.
• Appendix A, Console Commands, contains a basic description of the advanced RISC
computing (ARC) console commands and the system reference manual (SRM) console
commands.

Preface
xiv
• Appendix B, System Care, describes how to clean your system, monitor, mouse, and
keyboard. It also contains instructions for moving and reinstalling your system.
•
Appendix C, Technical Specifications, describes the technical characteristics of the
system.
• Appendix D, Device Mapping, lists system device address mapping information,
including I/O addresses and interrupts.
•
Appendix E, Updating System Firmware, explains how to use the firmware update
utility.
•
Appendix F, Starting an Operating System Installation, provides the information you
need to begin an operating system installation.
•
Appendix G, Equipment Log, contains tables that you can use to record information
about your system hardware and software components.
Refer to the Table of Contents for a detailed listing of topics.
Conventions
This guide uses the following conventions:
Convention Example Description
c:\windowsc:\windows> Monospaced, bold text indicates file names,
path names, directories, or screen text.
[Enter] Square brackets surrounding text represent a
key on the keyboard.
[Ctrl]+[R] A plus sign between keyboard keys indicates
that the keys shown should be pressed at the
same time.
auto_action Italic text indicates environment variables.
Titles of information sources are in italic, and
occasionally italic is used for emphasis in the
text.
F
A pointing hand indicates a reference to
additional information.

Preface
xv
Abbreviations
This guide uses the following abbreviations:
Abbreviation Meaning
AC alternating current
amp ampere
ARC advanced RISC computing (Windows NT console)
ARCINST ARC installation program
C Celsius
CD compact disc
CD-ROM compact disc read-only memory
CEE International Commission for Conformity Certification of
Electrical Equipment
CFG configuration file
cm centimeters
CPU central processing unit
CSA Canadian Standards Association
DC direct current
DMA direct memory access
DRAM dynamic random-access memory
DROM diagnostic read-only memory
ECU EISA configuration utility
EISA extended industry-standard architecture
flashROM electrically erasable, rewriteable, nonvolatile memory
ft feet
GB gigabyte
Hz hertz
IEC International Electrotechnical Commission
I/O input/output
IRQ interrupt request
ISA industry-standard architecture
ISACFG ISA configuration file
ISO International Organization for Standardization

Preface
xvi
Abbreviation Meaning
Kb kilobit
KB kilobyte
kg kilogram
lb pound
LED light-emitting diode
m meter
MAU media adapter unit
Mb megabit
MB megabyte
MHz megahertz.
mm millimeter
ns nanoseconds
NVRAM nonvolatile random-access memory
OSF DEC Open Software Foundation/1 UNIX operating system
PCI peripheral component interconnect
RISC reduced instruction set computing
ROM read-only memory
SCSI small computer system interface
SIMM single in-line memory modules
SRM system reference manual (the DEC OSF/1 and OpenVMS
consoles)
SROM serial read-only memory
UL Underwriters Laboratories
VAR value-added reseller
V AC volts alternating current
VMS Virtual Memory System
W watt

Preface
xvii
Special Notices
This guide uses three kinds of notices to emphasize specific information.
________________________WARNING __________________________
A WARNING indicates the presence of a hazard that can cause personal
injury.
____________________________________________________________
________________________ CAUTION___________________________
A CAUTION indicates the presence of a hazard that can cause damage to
hardware or that might corrupt software.
____________________________________________________________
__________________________NOTE ____________________________
A NOTE gives general information, such as compatibility with other products or
pointers to other information.
____________________________________________________________
Additional Information Resources
You may wish to consult the following information resource for additional information
about your AlphaStation 600 Series system:
• AlphaStation 600 Series Installation Information (order number EK-AS800-IN), which
presents a graphical overview of the AlphaStation 600 Series system installation.
Contact your distributor or Digital representative for other available product-related
information.

1-1
1
Getting Started
Introduction
Your AlphaStation 600 Series is a high-performance system that uses the latest
microprocessor technology. The system can stand alone or function as a client in an office
network environment.
This chapter describes how to install, start, restart, and turn off your AlphaStation 600
Series system. You can also find information here about preloaded software as well as
guidelines for system security. Figure 1-1 shows a typical AlphaStation 600 Series system.

Getting Started
1-2
Figure 1-1. AlphaStation 600 Series System
Before Starting Your System
Before you start your system, follow this procedure:
1. Read and understand the information supplied with your system.
2. Select a well-ventilated site near a grounded power outlet and away from sources of
excessive heat. Also, use an appropriate power strip to isolate the site from electric
noise (for example, spikes, sags, and surges) produced by devices such as air
conditioners, large fans, radios, and televisions.
3. Save all shipping containers and packing material for repackaging or moving the
system later.