First, the original question:
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I just purchased a 166 MHz Alpha Multia, and I've got a couple of
questions.
I've installed Linux-axp on it and it works, but I'd like to
try installing Digital Unix on it. Has anyone tried it, and if so,
how did you install (I gave RIS a quick try, but it complained about
not being able to locate RIS mount point after it booted).
The second question is more hardware related...the Multia came with a
345 MB internal HD. Obviously, I'll be wanting more storage. The
problem is, the external SCSI port isn't installed on the model I got
(there's a cutout for it on the back panel). Inside, the SCSI cable
for the HD is soldered directly to a daugherboard. The daughterboard
also has what looks like a pad for another SCSI connector, but with no
pins soldered on. Apparently the external SCSI port was available as
an option, and so was a PCI slot if the machine had a 2.5" drive
instead of the 3.5" drive it came with.
Does anyone know if a different version of thie daughterboard can be
ordered to replace the one I have (I'll take the internal drive out
and run everything external if I have to). The SCSI option would be
preferrable, but if I can get a PCI slot, I suppose I can put in
another SCSI controller. Part numbers would be great - then I can put
the Digital rep to work to find out if they have any laying around in
storage. If not, I'll have to get busy soldering (which I'd prefer not to
do).
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Thanks to the following people for their quick and helpful replies:
Ed Jones <ejones16_at_ford.com>
Pat Villani <patv_at_unx.dec.com>
Michael-Dennis Biemans <michaeld_at_stack.nl>
Mike Newell <mnewell_at_newell.arlington.va.us>
David Warren <warren_at_atmos.washington.edu>
bernards_at_ecn.nl
Andreas Lundgren <atoalu2_at_ato.abb.se>
The basic answer is yes, you can install DU3.2 on the Multia. 4.0
apparently needs a firmware upgrade (and no more upgrades will be
available for the multia) so it won't install (though one person did
report successfully installing DU4.0A).
The most helpful information came from Pat Villani <patv_at_unx.dec.com>,
who pointed me in the right direction. He suggested joining redhat's
axplist (axp-list-request_at_redhat.com), which has a lot of discussion
of Multias.
He also solved the main problem I was having with the DU3.2 install -
when it probes the ethernet port, it decides that AUI is connected.
Since I was using thin-wire, it couldn't see the network. I grabbed a
thinwire->AUI transceiver, and it all worked fine. Apparently, twisted
pair does not have the same problem (ie. it's only thinwire/AUI
autodetection that doesn't work).
Does anyone know what a DU license for a multia would be worth (I know
DEC doesn't support it, but I'm willing to run it unsupported). I can
always go back to Linux-axp, but I'd like to run the same thing at
home that I do at work.
As far as adding more storage, the general suggestion was to replace
the 345 MB drive with a larger one, which I will probably do. I
managed to get the part numbers for the daughterboard, and I'm going
to see if I can still find one somewhere. The numbers came from the
UDB manual that is available from
http://www.brouhaha.com/~eric/computers/udb.html
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- Matt White whitem_at_arts.usask.ca -
- Network Technical Support
http://arts.usask.ca/~whitem -
- College of Arts & Science University of Saskatchewan -
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She said her name was emergency and asked to see my gun
Said her telephone number was 9 - 1 - 1.
- The Tractors..."Baby Likes to Rock It"
Received on Wed Nov 27 1996 - 21:34:07 NZDT