alphabook1 v54 fw relnote

Order Number: XX-D7A96-3D

This document outlines the procedures for updating the firmware on Digital Equipment Corporation's ALPHAbook 1 systems, with revisions up to March 1999.

The primary purpose is to guide users through maintaining and upgrading the system's firmware, which includes Diagnostic ROM (DROM) and SRM console firmware, essential for operating system bootstrap, configuration, testing, and basic I/O operations. The update process is facilitated by a user-friendly Firmware Update Utility.

The document details two main methods for updating the firmware:

  1. Local Update (CD-ROM based): This procedure is specifically outlined for OpenVMS systems. It involves turning on the system, identifying the CD-ROM drive's device ID, loading the Firmware Update Utility Compact Disc, booting the system from the utility disk, executing the "update" command, verifying the successful ROM update, and finally, cycling the system's power.
  2. Network Updates: Instructions are provided for MOP, BOOTP, and InfoServer network upgrades. These methods generally require preparing a host system (VMS, ULTRIX, or DIGITAL UNIX) to copy and serve the firmware update file, then booting the ALPHAbook 1 target system from the network. Once the utility is booted, the subsequent update, verification, and exit steps are consistent with the local CD-ROM procedure.

Additionally, the document includes a compatibility table showing SRM firmware revisions with supported OpenVMS and DIGITAL UNIX operating system versions. It also lists new features (such as an added SRM2ctrl environment variable) and limitations of the firmware (e.g., requiring boot file pathnames to be enclosed in quotes for MOP or TCP/IP booting).

XX-D7A96-3D
June 1999
18 pages
Quality

Original
30.3kB

Site structure and layout ©2025 Majenko Technologies