alphapc v56 fw relnote

This document, dated December 1999, outlines firmware update procedures for DIGITAL Semiconductor AlphaPC 164SX, AlphaPC 164LX, and AlphaPC 164 motherboards, targeting system administrators.

It details using the Loadable Firmware Update (LFU) utility for AlphaPC 164SX and 164LX models. This involves booting from an Alpha Firmware CD-ROM and executing the update command within the LFU menu. The LFU also supports updating firmware for specific option adapters (e.g., FDDI, SCSI interfaces), with a caution about proper procedure to avoid rendering the adapter inoperable.

For the AlphaPC 164, a separate standalone firmware update utility is used, also booted from the CD-ROM, which offers a menu-driven update process.

Additionally, the document covers save_nvram and restore_nvram LFU commands, enabling backup and restoration of system NVRAM data (AlphaBIOS, SRM console, TOY) to/from a FAT-formatted diskette.

Key release notes include an ignorable EIDE PCI Interrupt Vector Allocation Error on AlphaPC 164LX systems and a specific procedure for migrating AlphaPC 164LX/SX systems from AlphaBIOS to SRM Console firmware using a floppy disk created from the Alpha Firmware CD.