AlphaServer ES40 Release Notes

This document, the "Compaq AlphaServer ES40 Release Notes" from October 1999, provides important hardware release notes for anyone operating, managing, or maintaining the AlphaServer ES40 system.

Key information includes:

• Operating System Support: The AlphaServer ES40 supports Tru64 UNIX, Linux, and OpenVMS, but does not support Microsoft Windows NT.
• Memory Management: Details how memory interleaving affects performance (requiring identical DIMM sets for 2-way or 4-way interleaving) and how the SRM console dynamically allocates memory, potentially requiring multiple reboots to adjust heap space.
• Installation Updates: Provides a revised procedure for installing disk cages, replacing a section in the Owner's Guide and including critical safety warnings (e.g., unplugging power).
• Configuration Restrictions: Specifies PCI slot restrictions, such as the KZPAC RAID controller requiring PCI bus 1 (not bus 0) and certain multifunction PCI options (like KZPCM-DA) being restricted from PCI bus 0, slots 1 and 2.
• OpenVMS Galaxy Support: Announces support for OpenVMS Galaxy, detailing its adaptive partitioned multiprocessing (APMP) architecture and providing URLs for necessary firmware (V5.5-107 console firmware) and software kits. It also notes that the console_memory_allocation environment variable should be set to new for OpenVMS Galaxy and old for Tru64 UNIX.
• Booting Linux: Outlines the process for booting Linux, requiring SRM console firmware V5.4-2 or higher, and provides commands for setting boot parameters.
• Fibre Channel Support: Confirms support for the KGPSA-BC Fibre Channel adapter with SRM console firmware V5.5 or higher.
• Miscellaneous Errata: Corrects previous documentation errors, including a fan error message, clarification on pk*0_soft_term not supporting differential mode, and a crucial correction that hard drive hot-swapping is NOT currently supported within the internal drive cages, contrary to earlier information.