DECsystem 5500 Operation

This document is the DECsystem 5500 Operation manual, published in August 1990 by Digital Equipment Corporation.

Its primary purpose is to guide users on how to operate the DECsystem 5500, a computer system built with a RISC-based KN220 CPU and running the ULTRIX operating system, housed within a BA430 pedestal enclosure.

The manual is structured into three main chapters:

• Chapter 1: System Overview – Provides a detailed description of the system's physical and functional components. This includes the BA430 enclosure, its internal layout (mass storage shelf, card cage, CPU cover panel, power supply, fans), and base system components such as the Central Processing Unit (CPU), Console Serial Line Unit (SLU), Main Memory, Network Controller, and embedded DSSI/SCSI Adapters. It also outlines various optional components like additional mass storage devices (e.g., RF/RZ-series Integrated Storage Elements, TK70/TLZ04 tape drives), communications controllers, and printer interfaces.
• Chapter 2: Operating the System – Covers the essential procedures for operating the system. This includes configuring switch settings for normal and special operations, powering the system on and off, booting (both manually from console mode and autobooting), managing console security, halting and restarting the system, and recovering from over-temperature conditions. A significant section is dedicated to explaining various console commands (e.g., boot, continue, dump, examine, help, init, maint, passwd, printenv, setenv, show device, show dssi, show ethernet, show scsi, unpriv, unsetenv) and control characters.
• Chapter 3: Operating the System Options – Offers specific instructions on how to use and maintain optional hardware installed in the system. This includes detailed guidance on various mass storage options (like TK70 and TLZ04 tape drives, RF/RZ-series ISEs, optical and digital disk subsystems), communications controller options (asynchronous, synchronous, and network controllers), and printer options, along with relevant handling and maintenance procedures.

The document also features an Appendix for related documentation, a comprehensive Glossary of key terms, and an Index for easy navigation.