DSSI VMScluster Installation and Troubleshooting Guide

This document is the "DSSI VMScluster Installation and Troubleshooting Guide" published by Digital Equipment Corporation in October 1994, intended for system administrators.

It provides comprehensive instructions for installing and maintaining DSSI VMScluster configurations, which can include Alpha AXP-only systems, VAX-only systems, or a combination of both (dual-architecture). Key aspects covered include:

• DSSI VMScluster Configurations and Requirements: Details the different types of VMSclusters, the number of DSSI nodes supported per bus (up to eight), and crucial restrictions such as unique node IDs for devices and host adapters, separate boot disks for AXP and VAX in dual-architecture setups, and limitations on SCSI drive configurations. It also outlines software and licensing requirements (OpenVMS AXP/VAX, DECnet) and critical bus length and grounding specifications for optimal performance and data integrity.
• Installation Procedures: Provides step-by-step hardware setup for both AXP-only/dual-architecture and VAX-only configurations. This includes configuring Bus Node IDs for host adapters and mass storage devices (using specific utilities/commands like ECU, NCRn_SETUP, SET DSSI_ID), connecting ground and DSSI cables, setting DSSI device parameters (allocation class, unit number, node name) via console commands (cdp for AXP, SET HOST/DUP/DSSI for VAX), configuring SCSI Node IDs to avoid conflicts, and setting boot parameters.
• Troubleshooting: Offers a dedicated chapter with common problem sources (e.g., loose terminators, incorrect/duplicate node IDs, damaged cables) and detailed tables of symptoms with corresponding corrective actions specific to AlphaServer, DEC 4000 AXP, and VAX systems. It also lists various DSSI-related console commands for diagnostic purposes.

Additionally, the guide includes appendices detailing electrical lengths of embedded DSSI interconnects and a thorough explanation of storage device parameters, how OpenVMS utilizes them, and how to configure sample VAX systems for specific goals like high performance, storage capacity, or data availability.