DS5000 boot commands

This document provides updated boot commands for DECstation/DECsystem 5000 Model 200 Series Processors running ULTRIX. These updates are necessary due to recent firmware changes that enhanced TURBOchannel support, rendering existing boot commands in older documentation and on-console displays incorrect.

Key points:

• Immediate Action Required: After a new firmware installation, users must immediately reset the console environmental variables for the boot and haltaction commands.
• Determining Device Information: The cnfg command is used to determine the slot and device numbers of boot devices (disks, tapes, CDROMs, network controllers).

• Setting Environmental Variables:

  • boot variable: Defines the default boot device, including the slot number, device name/number, and UNIX kernel path. It supports booting to multiuser mode with the -a switch (e.g., setenv boot "slot/device/kernel -a" for disk or setenv boot "slot/mop -a" for network).
  • haltaction variable: Controls automatic boot operations. Setting it to b enables automatic booting, h disables it, and r forces a restart with a memory dump.

• Booting Procedures: Detailed instructions are provided for booting from various sources:

  • System Disk or Alternate Disk/Kernel
  • TK50 Tape
  • CDROM Optical Disc Kit
  • Network (for diskless systems, remote installations, or standalone kernels)

• Installation Guidance: Specific, corrected bootstrap command sequences and slot number determination steps are given for systems being installed as standalone machines or diskless clients, addressing the incorrect commands often displayed during the installation process.

This document serves as the authoritative guide for booting these systems until official software and documentation revisions are complete.