My original message follows:
All,
I recently purchased a PC164SX board with a 21164PC 533 alpha cpu. I
am very familiar with the Alpha architecture and machines, and I am
trying to get the AlphaBIOS firmware to load the SRM firmware so I can
put Tru64 on it. I go to load the new firmware according to the Compaq
manual, but when AlphaBIOS loads the image, it just stops. No output
from the serial port or the graphics console. I've also tried to do it
from the FSL, but it can't see the srm_fw image. Anyone else had
problems with these boards or can someone point me to a contact at
Compaq OEM so I can get some help?
-------
Thanks to TJ [stang_at_ll.net], Dr. Tom Blinn [tpb_at_doctor.zk3.dec.com], and
Thomas Leitner [tom_at_radar.tu-graz.ac.at] for their suggestions. I was
able to get my firmware upgraded before I received any replies, so I
can't speak for their suggestions. I was able to upgrade my firmware in
two steps. First, set the FSL switch and get it to load the
fwmupdate.exe from the 5.4 firmware CD. This sends the board into the
lfu, which asks me for any option firmware files. I then put in a
second diskette, which had the SX164_V5_4.SYS file on it, which I assume
is the SRM firmware image. From the UPD> prompt, I issued an "update fw
-path srm_fw" command, which I assume forced the lfu to upgrade the fm
with the srm_fw image instead of the nt_fm, which it was expecting to
find. I think the root of my problem is that I couldn't fit both the
fwmupdate.exe and the SX_164_V5_4.SYS on the same diskette, as they're
both 900+K in size.
TJ, Dr. Blinn and Mr. Leitner's messages follow, perhaps they'll help
someone else with this problem:
TJ:
Apparently it's a video card problem, or so I've been told. I have some
S3's that I tried and it locks the console up. I did get the correct
files,
if I can get a compatible video card and it works, I will send them to
you.
Dr. Blinn:
Hi, I've passed your request for information along to my colleagues in
the
group that designed and manufactured the motherboard and who maintain
the
firmware for it. You're dealing with a relatively low volume product
that
was never aggressively marketed for use with Tru64 UNIX. It does work,
at
least most of the time -- I've got one here in my office that I'm
testing
with the V5.0 release, but I've never loaded the ARC console on it, so I
have no personal practical experience with switching the consoles.
By the way, I trust you have acquired a valid Tru64 UNIX license for use
with your system, since if you don't have a valid license, loading Tru64
UNIX
onto the system would be software piracy, and I'm sure you wouldn't want
to
do that, especially since Linux probably runs on the system for free.
Mr. Leitner:
I had this problem as well. You need to upgrade to an old SRM version
from AlphaBIOS. Then use the old SRM version to upgrade to the newest
SRM version.
The old SRM version which can be upgraded from AlphaBIOS is on the
SRM Firmware CD V5.0. It is SRM Version
SRM T4.9
BIOS 1.15a
VMS PALcode 1.20-5
UNIX PALcode 1.22-6
These are the required files:
-r-xr-x--- 1 tom users 4013 Aug 21 1998 fwreadme.txt
-r-xr-x--- 1 tom users 421600 Aug 21 1998 fwupdate.exe
-r-xr-x--- 1 tom users 461368 Aug 21 1998 sx164srm.rom
You should be able to find them on the DEC firmware site. If not,
drop me a line and I can send it to you.
After you've upgraded to this old SRM version, you can use the
"fwupdate"
command to update to the newest SRM console version.
Received on Thu May 27 1999 - 19:46:58 NZST