Dixit Thierry.Besancon_at_lps.ens.fr (Thierry Besancon) (le Tue, 27 Jan 1998 15:27:44 +0000) :
>> I have to setup some DIGITAL Personnal Workstation Series a 500.
>> These boxes came with NT installed but we're switching to DU4.0x.
>> Thus I need to install DU 4.0c.
>> (please don't tell me to go to linux, that's not the point ; linux
>> can't do what we want to do so DU is the only thing left)
>>
>> The problem is that I can't manage to boot something else than microsoft
>> NT stuff. The PWS500 doesn't recognize a DU 4.0x system disk.
>>
>> What I don't understand is the monitor I get at the power-on.
>> It is called "AlphaBIOS", version 5.33.
>> It is very different from what I have on other PWS500 au (note the u like in
>> unix). This one is all kinda graphical, very microsoft windowish.
>>
>> I think my problem has something to see with this monitor.
>> I fear the prom is set on a windows NT boot instead of a Unix boot.
>> I couldn't find any means to get to the unix way of boot.
>> I updated the firmware in case it could bring me to the monitor for
>> unix but I just got back to the AlphaBIOS. I searched on the ftp site
>> of DIGITAL for some tools but I couldn't find any. Nothing in the FAQ
>> as well.
>>
>> So does anybody know how to revert to the "unix" monitor instead of the
>> "NT" monitor ? Does it help in booting DU ?
>> (I have POST v4.45 and AlphaBIOS 5.33 at the moment).
>>
>> Another question not so far from this one too :
>> I've never found explications on what is SRM, ARC.
>> It is clear it has to see with the firmware and the monitor mode
>> but what else ? What does the acronym means ? how does one switch
>> from one mode to another ? is it possible to switch from one to
>> another ?
>>
>> Thanks in advance for any piece of help.
I got the answer to my problem.
Thanks to
Thomas Leitner <tom_at_finwds01.tu-graz.ac.at>
Luff, Neil I" <Neil.Luff_at_capgemini.co.uk>
Peter Stern <peter_at_wiscpa.weizmann.ac.il>
"Dr. Tom Blinn, 603-884-0646" <tpb_at_zk3.dec.com>
but the winner is
rye <rye_at_jtasc.acom.mil>
I'm giving the interesting parts of the mails I got.
Thanks again a lot to everyone.
Best regards.
Thierry Besancon
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Thomas Leitner <tom_at_finwds01.tu-graz.ac.at>
>> Sure. Check out:
>>
>> http://ftp.digital.com/pub/DEC/Alpha/firmware/
>>
>> It contains the SRM console firmware for all sorts of Alphas in order
>> to boot Digital Unix.
My problem was just in switching from one monitor mode to another.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Luff, Neil I" <Neil.Luff_at_capgemini.co.uk>
>> Not sure I can help you get round your problem but I can help with the
>> console types.
>> SRM = Systems Reference Manual
>> ARC = Advanced RISC Computing
>>
>> To switch from SRM is easy - just type arc at the >>> prompt.
>> To switch from ARC to SRM :
>>
>> from the boot menu select "Suplementary menu"
>> then select "Set up the System"
>> From the setup menu select "Switch to OpenVMS or Digital UNIX console"
>> Now select the console you require, select the setup menu and press
>> <Enter>
>> When "Power cycle the system to implement the change" is displayed,
>> press the reset button.
>>
>> When the system comes back up you should get the >>> prompt.
Explanations for acronyms.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Peter Stern <peter_at_wiscpa.weizmann.ac.il>
>> The DPW series comes in three flavors, i for Intel, a for Alpha (and
>> thus the "AlphaBIOS", version 5.33) and au for Alpha Unix (as you
>> already guessed). The i series can run either W95 or WNT, the a series
>> just WindowsNT and the au series either WindowsNT or DU. As I
>> understand it, the a-series is priced considerably lower than the
>> au-series (~$3000 less?) because it is missing some hardware necessary
>> to run DU and you aren't paying for the DU license. So I don't think
>> that you can do what you want to do. Of course, if what you have is a
>> DPW 500au with WindowsNT installed, you should be able to boot from DU.
My PWS500 is indeed a PWS500au. That's what the SRM finally said.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
rye <rye_at_jtasc.acom.mil>
>> If you have the SRM console installed (Licensed) then it is very simple.
>> Enter setup mode from the Alpha Bios Screen (F2)
>> Enter Advanced Setup (F6)
>> Tab down to the Console Type and change it to Digital Unix
>> Press F10 twice (Saves Settings)
>> Power Cycle the system
>> Should be running SRM
To be more exact :
- Enter setup mode from the Alpha Bios Screen (F2)
- Enter the CMOS setup menu
- Enter Advanced Setup (F6)
- Tab down to the Console Type and change it to Digital Unix
- Press F10 twice (Saves Settings)
- Power Cycle the system
And it runs SRM the next time.
That's the answer.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
"Dr. Tom Blinn, 603-884-0646" <tpb_at_zk3.dec.com>
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Received on Tue Jan 27 1998 - 16:44:15 NZDT