gs140 v64 fw relnote

This document provides V6.4 firmware update procedures and release notes for Compaq AlphaServer GS60, GS60E, and GS140 Systems, published in December 2002 by Hewlett-Packard.

The guide details how to update the system's firmware on E2063-DA and E2067-DA CPU modules using the Loadable Firmware Update (LFU) utility. It outlines the compatibility matrix for Console FW V6.4 and LFU V6.4 with OpenVMS (V7.1-2 to V7.3 variants) and Tru64 UNIX (V4.0E to V5.2 variants), and specifies minimum required revisions for configuration utilities.

Key procedures and important cautions include:

• Firmware Update: Detailed steps for booting the LFU utility from a local CD-ROM drive or InfoServer, followed by instructions to update various firmware components.
• Critical Cautions: Emphasizes that operation with mixed firmware revisions on CPUs is NOT supported, and all CPUs must have the same revision. It also specifies minimum required console firmware revisions for CPU models, warning that updating below these versions will render the CPU module inoperable.
• EEPROM and NVR Management: Advises users to save and restore EEPROM settings and rebuild Non-Volatile RAM (NVR) to default values after a firmware update.

The document also includes Console and Diagnostic Release Notes, highlighting:

• Enhancements: Fixes for bootp failures and galaxy secondary instance hangs.
• Diagnostic Features and Restrictions: Recommends system initialization before and after running diagnostics. Lists supported TEST commands for various components but notes that CPU tests (test kn7c*) are not supported. Significant bugs include intermittent hangs with the ECU utility (requiring diagnostic mode), limitations on booting from certain devices or over the network (bootp), and specific adapter configurations causing test command hangs.
• Invoking ARC Utility Programs: Explains how to enable and use ARC-based utilities (EISA Configuration Utility, RAID Configuration Utility, etc.) from the console, detailing the RUNECU and RUN commands and their specific requirements (e.g., ARC_ENABLE ON, serial interface only, RA200FL utility must be run from floppy).

Finally, an appendix details discrepancies in the "AlphaServer GS60/140 and 8200/8400 Operations Manual" regarding console command behaviors.