Digital Equipment AlphaServer 2000 User manual

AlphaServer2000
Owner’sGuide
Order Number: EK–400MP–OP. A01
Digital Equipment Corporation
Maynard, Massachusetts

Preliminary Version, September 1994
First printing, October 1994
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 1994. All Rights Reserved.
The postpaid Reader’s Comments forms at the end of this document request
your critical evaluation to assist in preparing future documentation.
The following are trademarks of Digital Equipment
Corporation: AlphaGeneration, AlphaServer, AXP, DEC, DECchip, DECconnect,
Digital, OpenVMS, StorageWorks, VAX, VT, the AlphaGeneration logo, and the
DIGITAL logo.
OSF/1 is a registered trademark of Open Software Foundation, Inc. PostScript
is a registered trademark of Adobe Systems, Inc. Microsoft Windows and
Microsoft Windows NT are trademarks of Microsoft Corporation.
All other trademarks and registered trademarks are the property of their
respective holders.
S2635
FCC Notice:
This equipment generates and uses radio frequency energy. It has been type
tested and found to comply with the limits for a Class B computing device in
accordance with the specifications in Part 15 of FCC Rules, which are designed
to provide reasonable protection against such radio and television interference
in a residential installation.
Any changes or modifications made to this equipment may void the user’s
authority to operate this equipment.
However, there is no guarantee that interference will not occur in a particular
installation. If this equipment does cause interference to radio or television
reception, the user is encouraged to try to correct the interference.
This document was prepared using VAX DOCUMENT Version 2.1.

EC Notice: This equipment complies with CE Class B requirements.
EU-Hinweis: Dieses Gerät entspricht den EU-Bestimmungen der Klasse B.
Avis de conformité aux normes CEE : Cet équipement est conforme aux
normes CEE pour la classe B.
Acoustics: Preliminary declared values per ISO 9296 and ISO 7779:
Sound Power Level
LwAd,B
Sound Pressure Level
LpAm, dBA (Bystander
Positions)
Idle (lightly
loaded) 6.3 45
Operating (lightly
loaded) 6.4 45
Idle (fully loaded) 6.4 45
Operating (fully
loaded) 6.5 45
Current values for specific configurations are available from Digital
representatives. 1B=10dBA.
Schallemissionswerte: Verläufige Werteangaben nach ISO 9296 und ISO
7779/DIN EN27779:
Schalleistungspegel
LwAd,B
Schalldruckpegel
LpAm, dBA
(Zuschauerpositionen)
Leerlauf (leicht
belastet) 6,3 45
Betrieb (voll
belastet) 6,4 45
Leerlauf (leicht
belastet) 6,4 45
Betrieb (voll
belastet) 6,5 45
Aktuelle Werte für spezielle Ausrüstungsstufen sind über die Digital Equipment
Vertretungen erhältlich. 1 B = 10 dBA.

Contents
Preface ..................................................... xiii
1 Basic Operation
Before Using this Guide . . ........................... 1–1
In This Chapter ................................... 1–2
System Features . . ................................... 1–3
Overview ........................................ 1–3
Characteristics . ................................... 1–3
Architecture . . . ................................... 1–5
Environmental and Power Requirements ................... 1–6
In This Section . ................................... 1–6
System Dimensions ................................ 1–6
Environmental Specifications ......................... 1–7
Power Requirements ............................... 1–8
Power Cords . . . ................................... 1–9
Moving the System ................................ 1–10
Repositioning the System . ........................... 1–10
Opening the System Door ........................... 1–11
Turning the System On ................................ 1–12
Overview ........................................ 1–12
Checking System Settings ........................... 1–13
Powering Up the System . ........................... 1–14
Displaying Power-Up Information . . ................... 1–14
Checking the Power-Up Displays . . . ................... 1–16
Preboot Tasks. . ................................... 1–20
Booting an Operating System ........................ 1–23
Autobooting an Operating System . . ................... 1–25
Powering Down the System . . ........................... 1–26
Before You Begin .................................. 1–26
Turning Off DC Power . . . ........................... 1–26
Extended Power-Down (AC Power) . ................... 1–27
Invoking Console Mode ................................ 1–28
v

Console Subsystem. ................................ 1–28
Console Terminal . . ................................ 1–28
Console Mode ..................................... 1–28
Invoking Console Mode ............................. 1–28
Remote Access .................................... 1–29
Switching Between Operating Systems . ................ 1–29
Network Options ..................................... 1–31
Overview ........................................ 1–31
Connecting Peripherals ................................ 1–32
Serial/Parallel Connections . . ........................ 1–32
Terminal Connections .............................. 1–34
Operating Storage Devices .............................. 1–36
Overview ........................................ 1–36
For Additional Information . . ........................ 1–36
Before You Operate Mass Storage Devices ............... 1–36
Identifying Mass Storage Compartments ................ 1–37
Operating Storage Devices . . . ........................ 1–37
Operating a CD–ROM Drive ............................ 1–38
CD–ROM Drive Description . . ........................ 1–38
Caddyless Drive . . . ................................ 1–38
Drive with Caddy . . ................................ 1–40
Inserting and Removing a Compact Disc ............... 1–42
Operating a DAT Tape Drive ............................ 1–46
DAT Description. . . ................................ 1–46
Inserting a Tape . . . ................................ 1–46
Removing a Tape . . ................................ 1–46
Operating a Diskette Drive ............................. 1–48
Diskette Drive Description . . . ........................ 1–48
Inserting a Diskette ............................... 1–48
Removing a Diskette ............................... 1–48
Operating a QIC Drive . ................................ 1–50
QIC Drive Description .............................. 1–50
Inserting a QIC Tape ............................... 1–50
Removing a QIC Tape .............................. 1–50
2 Hardware Components
In This Chapter . . . ................................ 2–1
Operator Control Panel (OCP) . . . ........................ 2–2
Power-Up Display . ................................ 2–2
DC On/Off Button . ................................ 2–2
Halt Button ...................................... 2–3
Reset Button ..................................... 2–4
vi

System Front ........................................ 2–5
Front Components ................................. 2–5
System Rear......................................... 2–6
Rear Components .................................. 2–6
System Door and Cover ................................ 2–8
Door Removal. . ................................... 2–8
Cover Removal . ................................... 2–9
System Module Locations............................... 2–11
Card Cages . . . ................................... 2–11
Accessing the Card Cages ........................... 2–12
Accessories .......................................... 2–14
Accessories ....................................... 2–14
3 Options and Upgrades
In this Chapter ................................... 3–1
Upgrade Overview . ................................... 3–2
Planning Your Upgrade . . ........................... 3–2
Adding Third-Party Devices .......................... 3–3
Supported Options . ................................... 3–4
Supported Options ................................. 3–4
Access from the Internet . ........................... 3–4
Access from CompuServe . ........................... 3–4
Digital Systems and Options Catalog................... 3–4
Verifying System Configuration .......................... 3–5
Before You Begin .................................. 3–5
Firmware Menu Options for Microsoft Windows NT ....... 3–5
Viewing ARC Hardware Display . . . ................... 3–5
Viewing ARC Environment Variables ................... 3–9
ARC Environment Variables ......................... 3–10
For More Information . . . ........................... 3–11
Firmware Console Commands for DEC OSF/1 and
OpenVMS........................................ 3–11
show config....................................... 3–12
show device . . . ................................... 3–14
show memory . . ................................... 3–16
set and show . . ................................... 3–17
System Bus Options ................................... 3–18
CPU Modules . . ................................... 3–20
Memory Modules .................................. 3–22
Expansion I/O . ................................... 3–24
EISA Bus Options . ................................... 3–25
ISA Bus Options . . ................................... 3–27
vii

Identifying ISA and EISA Options ........................ 3–29
Configuring EISA and ISA Options ....................... 3–30
EISA Configuration Utility . . ........................ 3–30
System Configuration Diskette ....................... 3–30
Before You Run the ECU ............................ 3–30
Starting the ECU . . ................................ 3–31
Configuring EISA Options .............................. 3–34
Configuring EISA/ISA Options . . . ........................ 3–36
PCI Bus Options ..................................... 3–38
Installing PCI Boards .............................. 3–39
SCSI Buses . ........................................ 3–40
Internal SCSI Bus . ................................ 3–41
Configuring the Removable Media Bus . ................ 3–41
SCSI Bus Node IDs ................................ 3–44
Internal StorageWorks Shelves ....................... 3–44
Installing StorageWorks Fixed Disks . . . ................ 3–46
Preferred SWXCR-Ex Cable Routing . . . ................ 3–47
Guidelines for Systems with SWXCR-Ex Controller. ....... 3–49
Power Supply Configurations ............................ 3–50
Power Supply Modes ............................... 3–51
Power Requirements ............................... 3–53
Power Ordering Guidelines . . ........................ 3–54
4 Troubleshooting the System
Introduction ...................................... 4–1
In This Chapter . . . ................................ 4–1
Before You Begin ..................................... 4–2
Determine Service Provider . . ........................ 4–2
Identifying Problems ............................... 4–3
Task Overview ....................................... 4–4
Steps to Identifying a Problem ........................ 4–4
Determining Type of Problem . . . ........................ 4–5
Types of System Problems . . . ........................ 4–5
Reporting Problems to Digital Services .................... 4–6
Pre-Call Checklist . ................................ 4–6
Digital Support Center Contact Numbers ............... 4–6
Power Problems ...................................... 4–10
Problems Getting to Console Mode ....................... 4–11
Interpreting the Operator Control Panel Power-Up Display .... 4–12
CPU Failover ..................................... 4–12
Console Reported Problems ............................. 4–15
show fru . ........................................ 4–17
viii

test . . ........................................... 4–19
Mass Storage Problems Indicated at Power-Up .............. 4–21
EISA Bus Problems Indicated at Power-Up ................. 4–24
PCI Bus Problems Indicated at Power-Up .................. 4–26
Boot Problems ....................................... 4–27
Operating System Reported Problems . . ................... 4–28
Problems with RAID Devices . ........................... 4–29
Glossary
Index
Examples
1–1 Boot Menu Example ................................ 1–19
3–1 Sample Hardware Configuration Display ................ 3–6
3–2 Creating a User-Defined Environment Variable . .......... 3–9
Figures
1–1 System Architecture................................ 1–5
1–2 System Dimensions and Service Area .................. 1–6
1–3 Power Requirements ............................... 1–8
1–4 Leveler Feet . . . ................................... 1–10
1–5 System Keys . . ................................... 1–11
1–6 Powered-Down System Settings ....................... 1–13
1–7 Power Up the System............................... 1–15
1–8 Turning Off the System . . ........................... 1–26
1–9 Unplugging AC Power . . . ........................... 1–27
1–10 Connecting Serial and Parallel Devices ................. 1–33
1–11 Terminal Connections . . . ........................... 1–35
1–12 Storage Compartments . . ........................... 1–37
1–13 Caddyless CD–ROM Drive ........................... 1–39
1–14 CD–ROM Drive with Caddy .......................... 1–41
1–15 Inserting and Removing a Caddyless Compact Disc ....... 1–43
1–16 Inserting and Removing a CD–ROM Caddy .............. 1–45
1–17 Inserting and Removing a Tape: DAT .................. 1–47
1–18 Diskette Drive and Diskette.......................... 1–49
ix

1–19 QIC Tape Drive and QIC Tape ........................ 1–50
2–1 Operator Control Panel ............................. 2–2
2–2 System Front ..................................... 2–5
2–3 System Rear...................................... 2–6
2–4 Door Removal..................................... 2–8
2–5 Cover Removal .................................... 2–10
2–6 System Module Locations............................ 2–13
2–7 Accessories ....................................... 2–15
3–1 Device Name Convention ............................ 3–14
3–2 System Bus Option Locations ........................ 3–19
3–3 System Bus Configurations with One CPU and Two
CPUs . . . ........................................ 3–21
3–4 ISA and EISA Boards .............................. 3–29
3–5 PCI Board ....................................... 3–38
3–6 Removable-Media Bus Configurations . . ................ 3–43
3–7 Internal StorageWorks Configuration. . . ................ 3–45
3–8 Installing Hard-Disk Drives . . ........................ 3–47
3–9 Preferred SCSI Cable Routing with SWXCR Controller ..... 3–48
3–10 Power Supply Configurations . ........................ 3–50
3–11 I/O Backplane Jumpers ............................. 3–52
3–12 Current Share Cable Connection ...................... 3–53
Tables
1–1 System Characteristics.............................. 1–4
1–2 Environmental Specifications . ........................ 1–7
1–3 Power Cord Order Numbers . . ........................ 1–9
1–7 Interpreting Operator Control Panel Power-Up Display .... 1–17
1–5 Booting an Operating System for the First Time . . . ....... 1–23
3–1 Device Names .................................... 3–8
3–2 ARC Firmware Environment Variables . ................ 3–10
3–3 Memory Upgrade Paths ............................. 3–23
3–4 Summary of Procedure for Configuring EISA Bus (EISA
Options Only) .................................... 3–35
3–5 Summary of Procedure for Configuring EISA Bus with ISA
Options . ........................................ 3–37
3–6 RAID Subsystem Documentation ...................... 3–49
x