alpha1200 v60 fw relnote

This document provides firmware release notes for the AlphaServer 1200, specifically for SRM Console Version V6.0-4, revised September 2001. It is intended for customers using Compaq Tru64 UNIX, DIGITAL UNIX, and OpenVMS operating systems.

Key highlights include:

1. Critical Firmware Update Procedure Change (SRM V5.3 onwards): The AlphaBIOS console was relocated in the flash ROM to support Windows NT serviceability. As a result, if updating from any firmware version prior to V5.3 using the LFU command method, the update procedure must be performed twice (first for SRM firmware, then for AlphaBIOS firmware) to ensure AlphaBIOS is correctly relocated and not left in an invalid state. This double update is not necessary if booting the update directly from a CD-ROM or if updating from SRM V5.3 or later firmware.

2. Firmware Components & Update Methods:

   • The document lists the revisions for SRM Console (V6.0-4), OpenVMS Alpha PALcode (V1.21-2), DIGITAL UNIX PALcode (V1.23-2), Extended SROM (V6.0), and Qlogic ISP10X0 Firmware (V5.57).
   • Updates are performed using the SRM console's built-in LFU utility, or by booting a monolithic LFU image from a CD.
   • LFU supports updates from local SCSI CD-ROM (CDA0), local floppy (DVA0), and local network (EWA0).
   • Detailed instructions are provided for updating via CD-ROM, FAT-formatted floppy diskettes (which may require two or three diskettes depending on the scope of the update), ODS2-formatted floppy diskettes, or a local MOP server.
   • Firmware images and release notes are available via Compaq's FTP and WWW sites.

3. New Features, Changes, and Bug Fixes in V6.0 SRM Console:

   • Revised release notes and removal of KZPCC option references.
   • Fix for system hangs when multiple nodes respond to MOP requests via FDDI.
   • Fix for KGPSA device probe timeout failures, preventing access to disks.
   • Correction for crash dump failures to CIPCA-connected disks under heavy I/O loads.
   • Removal of Memory Channel adapter firmware (CCMAB) support.

4. Important Considerations & Restrictions:

   • Memory Tests: Can take a significant amount of time during power-on/reset.
   • Console Selection: Controlled by OS_TYPE (e.g., "NT" for AlphaBIOS, "OpenVMS"/"UNIX" for SRM) and CONSOLE (e.g., "SERIAL", "GRAPHICS") environment variables.
   • Windows NT Serviceability: SRM V5.3 and later firmware uses an EEPROM area for fatal error logging. After updates to V5.4 or above, users must initialize this area using the build -eeprom command.
   • KZPSA Changes: The driver code for KZPSA adapters changed with V5.1, leading to a new representation ("pks" instead of "kzpsa") and updated command syntax (e.g., UPD>UPDATE PKS* and P00>>SHOW DEVICE PKS*).
   • Known Bugs: HSD30 DSSI node ID configuration issues, and VGAs needing to be configured in PCI0.
   • UNIX Installations: Notes for setting boot osflags and bootdef_dev if screen scrolls past initial instructions.

5. Utilities and NVRAM Management:

   • Information on running ARC-based configuration utilities (EISA Configuration Utility (ECU), RAID Configuration Utility (RCU), KZPSA Configuration Utility) via the AlphaBIOS console.
   • Appendix A describes SAVE_NVRAM and RESTORE_NVRAM commands for backing up and restoring system NVRAM data (including ARC/AlphaBIOS, SRM, and TOY RAM data) to a floppy file.