DDCMP MULTIPLEXER SYSTEM DESIGN SPECIFICATION AND USERS GUIDE

This document contains the release notes for Compaq V5.7 Console Firmware for AlphaServer 800, Digital Server 3300, and AlphaServer 1000A systems, released in March 2000. It is intended for individuals responsible for OS installations, upgrades, and firmware updates.

Key Highlights:

1. Functional Changes (V5.7):

   • Introduces new console commands (show bios, run bios) for AlphaServer 800/Digital Server 3300 to interact with BIOS expansion ROMs.
   • Enhances the Loadable Firmware Utility (LFU) and DQ driver to read from multiple CD drives.
   • Crucially, firmware updates now require two floppy diskettes (one bootable with LFU/SRM, one FAT-formatted with AlphaBIOS).
   • Updates DEFPA option firmware to V3.20, adding DRAM parity support.

2. Firmware Update Procedures:

   • Provides detailed steps for updating console and I/O option firmware via both SRM Console (for Tru64 Unix/OpenVMS) and ARC/AlphaBIOS (for Windows NT), emphasizing the importance of updating both consoles for compatibility.
   • Includes specific CPU_Upgrade and CPU_Downgrade commands for AlphaServer 1000/1000A systems, which require a physical CPU swap and running the EISA Configuration Utility.
   • Warns against loading firmware older than what is currently installed.

3. Anomalies, Restrictions & Workarounds:

   • Addresses known issues with Fibre Channel (e.g., "MBX not ready" errors, wwidmgr command syntax).
   • Notes that Digital Server 33xx systems, while supported by V5.1+ firmware, only support the Windows NT operating system.
   • Details specific I/O option restrictions regarding PCI slot placement and support for various graphics and adapter cards across different AlphaServer models.
   • Lists operating system-specific issues, such as a Windows NT restart problem with AlphaBIOS V5.68 and an EISA Configuration Utility issue disabling the VGA Graphics Controller.

4. Special Console Commands & Features:

   • Explains save_nvram and restore_nvram commands (available through LFU) for backing up and restoring NVRAM configuration data, useful for motherboard upgrades.
   • Describes how to redirect console output to a floppy disk.
   • Introduces FFAUTO and FFNEXT environment variables (from V5.5) to force "not connected" disk devices to a "connected" state for booting, addressing situations where the console might not recognize a device.

5. Previous Release Changes:

   • Provides a chronological list of changes and enhancements from V4.5 through V5.6, detailing added hardware support (e.g., ATM, various Ethernet cards, SCSI controllers), bug fixes (e.g., TGA graphics, HALT button behavior), and console improvements (e.g., set console commands, boot_reset variable).