AlphaServer 4100 System Drawer User’s Guide

This document is a user's guide for managing, operating, and servicing the BA30A system drawer within an AlphaServer 4100 system. It provides comprehensive instructions and information across several key areas:

The manual begins with an overview of the system drawer, detailing its characteristics, architecture, and major components such as CPU, memory, power control, PCI motherboard, server control module, control panel, and power supply. It describes how these components interact via the system bus.

Key operation procedures are covered, including powering up the system, interpreting power-up displays, and booting various operating systems like Digital UNIX, OpenVMS, and Windows NT. It also explains how to update system firmware from CD-ROM, floppy disk, or a network. A significant section is dedicated to remote system operation using the Remote Console Monitor (RCM), including modem usage, commands for remote control, and troubleshooting RCM connectivity.

Troubleshooting common issues is addressed, such with the system not powering up or the control panel displaying errors. Instructions are also provided for installing components, such as CPU modules, memory pairs, PCI/EISA cards, and power supplies, with details on accessing the system drawer in different enclosures.

The document extensively covers the two primary user interfaces: the SRM Console (command-line interface for Digital UNIX and OpenVMS) and the AlphaBIOS Console (graphical interface for Microsoft Windows NT). For the SRM Console, it lists commands for displaying configuration, booting, system testing, firmware updates, crash dumps, and managing environment variables. For the AlphaBIOS Console, it details how to display system configuration, update firmware, set up hard disks (including partitioning), perform general setup tasks, install Windows NT, and select different Windows NT versions. It also outlines how to run utility programs from both console types.

Finally, appendices offer guidance on finding firmware updates, understanding hard disk partitioning for AlphaBIOS and Windows NT, and highlight key differences between AlphaBIOS and ARC firmware.