Alphaserver DS15

[zahal]

Hola,

I got a DS15 a few days ago. Turns out the machine seems to be OK (hooking up via serial I get all the SRM boot output until it tries to boot from a disk that was removed):

Code: Select all


*** keyboard not plugged in...                                               
starting console on CPU 0                                                       
initialized idle PCB                                                           
initializing semaphores                                                         
initializing heap                                                               
initial heap 240c0                                                             
memory low limit = 1c6000 heap = 240c0, 17fc0                                   
initializing driver structures                                                 
initializing idle process PID                                                   
initializing file system                                                       
initializing timer data structures                                             
lowering IPL                                                                   
CPU 0 speed is 1000 MHz                                                         
create dead_eater                                                               
create poll                                                                     
create timer                                                                   
create powerup                                                                 
access NVRAM                                                                   
512 MB of System Memory                                                         
Testing Memory                                                                 
...                                                                             
probe I/O subsystem                                                             
starting drivers                                                               
entering idle loop                                                             
initializing GCT/FRU at 1ee000                                                 
Initializing dqa dqb eia eib pka pkb                                           
Memory Testing and Configuration Status                                         
  Array       Size       Base Address    Intlv Mode                             
---------  ----------  ----------------  ----------                             
    0        512Mb     0000000000000000    1-Way                               
                                                                               
     512 MB of System Memory                                                   
Testing the System                                                             
Testing the Network                                                             
AlphaServer DS15 Console V6.9-2, built on Nov 18 2004 at 09:55:43               
                                                                               
CPU 0 booting                                                                   
                                                                               
(boot dka0.0.0.8.0 -flags 0,0)                                                 
failed to open dka0.0.0.8.0                                                     



I downloaded the 7.3 firmware iso image and burned a CD. However, trying to boot from the firmware CD results in:

Code: Select all


>>>boot dqa0                                                                   
(boot dqa0.0.0.13.0 -flags 0,0)                                                 
block 0 of dqa0.0.0.13.0 is not a valid boot block                             
bootstrap failure                             



I plugged in another drive but the result is the same. I'll try burning another CD or trying another optical drive.
As far as I can remember, the Alphas don't need special firmware for the video cards for text display (or if I choose to install Linux or *BSD). I plugged a 64MB Radeon 7000 but havent switched to graphics console yet and I doubt it will be accelerated under Tru64.
This box seriuosly needs more RAM and the audio card option would be nice too.

I have the possibility of getting a few DS10 boxes from the same source. While those are slower, they seem to be supported by more Linux distros, and they have onboard USB.
The DS15 top cover is somewhat beat up. It's been AGES since I had my hands on Alpha hardware (last time was a PW500au back in the 90s).
I'll post some pics later as I try to install Tru64 and/or *BSD.

Keep stackin!!

[Krokodil]

Congratulations from a fellow Alpha owner and owner of a DS10 myself. Mine has VMS. I put a Compaq Esoniq sound card and Oxygen 32MB 2D accelerator in as well.

Don't get too excited about the USB ports, supposedly the way they are set up hardware wise has some potential to hang the system.

It's a pity that there is so little working software for Tru64 and VMS and the Windows2000 port was never finished.

[TruHobbyist]

Hola, zahal!

I have the possibility of getting a few DS10 boxes from the same source. While those are slower, they seem to be supported by more Linux distros, and they have onboard USB.

For VMS you'll need version 7.3-2 or later for USB support with some tinkering to get it to work. OpenVMS 8.3 does it out of the box.

Tru64's USB support is somewhat similar to IRIX's, only HID (keyboard, mouse) and CDC (modem) class drivers are implemented and supported.

As for Linux I would suggest digging through the relevant sites for the exact combination of hardware you have. As these systems are not PC's it is possible to have an unsupported integrated USB host controller on the DS10 but support for *exactly* the same USB host controller if put in through a USB PCI card. A quick look at the type of PCI slots and supported cards gives at least 1x64 bit, 66 MHz so hardware wise you'd be fine for a USB 3.0 PCI card.

http://h18000.www1.hp.com/products/quic ... 8_div.HTML

It's a pity that there is so little working software for Tru64 and VMS and the Windows2000 port was never finished.

Windows 2000 actually reached Beta status and could be downloaded from technet at the time. It had a 200 or 300 day limit but was/is usable.

Kind regards,
Tru

[commodorejohn]

There's workarounds for the limit, too And it supports the FX!32 extensions, so you can run x86 software on it as well.

[johnnym]

Hola,

I downloaded the 7.3 firmware iso image and burned a CD. However, trying to boot from the firmware CD results in:

Code: Select all


>>>boot dqa0                                                                   
(boot dqa0.0.0.13.0 -flags 0,0)                                                 
block 0 of dqa0.0.0.13.0 is not a valid boot block                             
bootstrap failure                             



I plugged in another drive but the result is the same. I'll try burning another CD or trying another optical drive.
[...]

You can also boot the firmware upgrade binary via BOOTP/TFTP. On the download page for the firmware choose the link named "BOOTP Network Update". I did this on an ALPHAstation 255 with success.

WARNING: When using the serial console but also having a graphics card in your machine, make sure that the environment variable `console` is set to `serial`. This because otherwise, the output created by the firmware upgrade is split between serial console and graphics console - at least it was the case for me when upgrading the above mentioned machine.

Code: Select all

ff.fe.fd.fc.fb.fa.f9.f8.f7.f6.f5.
ef.df.ee.ed.ec.f4.eb.ea.
TIMER_TPS environment variable invalid
Defaulting to 1mS per tick
e9.e8.e7.e6.e5.
V6.5-2, built on Jul 15 1997 at 14:30:36
>>>show console
console                 graphics
>>>set console serial
>>>init
ff.fe.fd.fc.fb.fa.f9.f8.f7.f6.f5.
ef.df.ee.ed.ec.f4.eb.....ea.e9.e8.e7.e6.e5.
V6.5-2, built on Jul 15 1997 at 14:30:36
>>>show console
console                 serial
>>>boot ewa0
(boot ewa0.0.0.14.0 -flags a)
_
Trying BOOTP boot.
_
Broadcasting BOOTP Request...
Received BOOTP Packet File Name is: /as255_v8_1.exe
local inet address: 192.168.178.23
remote inet address: 192.168.178.4
TFTP Read File Name: /as255_v8_1.exe
netmask = 255.255.255.0
Server is on same subnet as client.
....................
bootstrap code read in
base = 1f2000, image_start = 0, image_bytes = 13e200
initializing HWRPB at 2000
initializing page table at 1e4000
initializing machine state
setting affinity to the primary CPU
jumping to bootstrap code
ff.fe.fd.fc.fb.fa.f9.f8.f7.f6.f5.
ef.df.ee.ed.ec.f4.eb.ea.e9.e8.e7.....e5.
V7.0-9, built on Mar 18 1999 at 13:41:11
>>>(boot pmem:180000 -flags unit=1)
bootstrap code read in
base = 180000, image_start = 0, image_bytes = 800000
initializing HWRPB at 2000
initializing page table at 7fc000
initializing machine state
setting affinity to the primary CPU
jumping to bootstrap code
_
        ***  AlphaStation 255/300 -- Firmware Update   ***
_
        Use HELP or ? for help
_
Update
Verify
List
Show
DEbug
NDebug
?
Apu-> ?
_
        For more information, type:  HELP <Topic> or ? <Topic>
_
        Topic        Description
        -----        -----------
        Update       Update the ROM(s)
        VERIFy       Verify the ROM(s)
        List         List ROM device type
        Show         Show ROM checksum
        Quit         Quit update utility
_
Update
Verify
List
Show
DEbug
NDebug
?
Apu-> List
ROM devices supported:  29F400B Amd Flash Memory
Apu-> Update
APU-I ARE YOU READY TO PROGRAM (SRM  ) ROM DEVICE ? (Y/N) y
APU-I ERASING (SRM  ) ROM DEVICE
APU-I PROGRAMMING (SRM  ) ROM DEVICE
APU-I VERIFY LOADED (SRM  ) ROM IMAGE
APU-I VERIFY LOADED (SRM  ) ROM IMAGE DONE
APU-I PROGRAMMING (SRM  ) ROM COMPLETED
Apu-> verify
SRM   ROM verify successful
Apu-> quit
_
_
    ...Please Cycle System Power ...ff.fe.fd.fc.fb.fa.f9.f8.f7.f6.f5.
ef.df.ee.ed.ec.f4.eb.ea.
TIMER_TPS environment variable invalid
Defaulting to 1mS per tick
e9.e8.e7.e6.....e5.
V7.0-9, built on Mar 18 1999 at 13:41:11
>>>


I used the ISC DHCP server and HPA's TFTP server for the firmware upgrade. There was no special configuration needed for it to work, except possibly the setting `always-reply-rfc1048 true;` - sorry, but I don't remember if this was really needed for the upgrade. The NetBSD diskless guide recommends it for "old Alphas".

[zahal]

Hello,
An update on the DS15.
SRM upgrade was done using another ISO image. RAM upgraded to 1GB (4x256MB sticks). On a sidenote, seems like the Octane2 RAM *might* be interchangeable with the DS15 RAM. Physically they fit in the slot, and from what I could find out, both are 133MHz. Don't know about the voltage/ECC so I did not try Octane2 RAM on the DS15.
OpenBSD is installed on the DS15, but there is no X support yet. NetBSD dumps when booting from the CD, and Gentoo Linux bombs during installation. Not sure if it's related to the Radeon 7000 card, so I also have a GLoria Synergy-8 that came from an Alpha. The other DS10 and several other older Alpha boxes servers were destroyed before I could save them. Now I can't make a NHD7 hard disk/CDROM. I tried to generate a NHD7 hard drive from OpenBSD, but the Tru64 installer would not find the files on the disk. Seems like the disklabel from OpenBSD and Tru64 are not completely compatible, or I might need a smaller hard drive.
Any help on finding a NHD7 CD/ISO is appreciated.

And last but not least, I am waiting for a faster 21264C processor (1.25GHz). I don't expect the DS15 to recognize and adjust to the new processor's full speed, but maybe at least it should run a lot cooler if it runs downclocked at the DS15 1GHz speed.

[TruHobbyist]

NHD7:

ftp://ftp-uxsup.csx.cam.ac.uk/pub/publi ... HD7.tar.gz

Don't dismiss FreeAXP for anything DEC related, including of course Tru64: http://www.migrationspecialties.com/FreeAXP.html

[zahal]

NHD7:

ftp://ftp-uxsup.csx.cam.ac.uk/pub/publi ... HD7.tar.gz

Don't dismiss FreeAXP for anything DEC related, including of course Tru64: http://www.migrationspecialties.com/FreeAXP.html

Thanks for the link. I already have the tar.gz file. The problem lies in generating a NHD7 image on a hard drive as described on the NHD7 manual. I've done it on OpenBSD and once I boot the Tru64 install disc, the NHD7 hard drive is not recognized. Yes, I'll try to do it now from the emulator and then use dd to make an image file to burn on a CD. Hope that works...

[bifo]

let us know, always good to see an alpha alive in the wilderness. also if you want to pass those DS10s on to others definitely give us dibs!

[zahal]

Hello,

After several failed attempts at getting gentoo on the DS15 (it would switch back to SRM console at different stages of install) and NetBSD (seems the problem is memory overlap with SRM), I decided to try out Debian Lenny.
Install went just fine (only had to supply a mirror by hand since Lenny is no longer on the mirrors).
However, upon reboot there was no X running. The xorg.conf file is pretty much empty and running dpkg-reconfigure xserver-xorg only gave me menus to configure the keyboard.

lspci correctly identifies the video card installed:

Code: Select all

DS15:/etc/X11# lspci
0000:00:07.0 ISA bridge: ALi Corporation M1533/M1535/M1543 PCI to ISA Bridge [Aladdin IV/V/V+] (rev c3)
0000:00:08.0 SCSI storage controller: Adaptec AIC-7899P U160/m (rev 01)
0000:00:08.1 SCSI storage controller: Adaptec AIC-7899P U160/m (rev 01)
0000:00:09.0 Ethernet controller: Intel Corporation 8255xER/82551IT Fast Ethernet Controller (rev 09)
0000:00:0a.0 Ethernet controller: Intel Corporation 8255xER/82551IT Fast Ethernet Controller (rev 09)
0000:00:0d.0 IDE interface: ALi Corporation M5229 IDE (rev c1)
0002:01:07.0 PCI bridge: PLX Technology, Inc. PEX 8111 PCI Express-to-PCI Bridge (rev 21)
0002:02:00.0 VGA compatible controller: ATI Technologies Inc Mobility Radeon HD 3450


But Xorg.0.log does not list the card:

Code: Select all

X.Org X Server 1.4.2
Release Date: 11 June 2008
X Protocol Version 11, Revision 0
Build Operating System: Linux Debian (xorg-server 2:1.4.2-10.lenny4)
Current Operating System: Linux DS15 2.6.26-2-alpha-generic #1 Sun Mar 4 21:08:0
3 UTC 2012 alpha
Build Date: 03 August 2011  08:55:07PM
 
   Before reporting problems, check http://wiki.x.org
   to make sure that you have the latest version.
Module Loader present
Markers: (--) probed, (**) from config file, (==) default setting,
   (++) from command line, (!!) notice, (II) informational,
   (WW) warning, (EE) error, (NI) not implemented, (??) unknown.
(==) Log file: "/var/log/Xorg.0.log", Time: Wed Nov 30 12:09:20 2016
(==) Using config file: "/etc/X11/xorg.conf"
(==) No Layout section.  Using the first Screen section.
(**) |-->Screen "Default Screen" (0)
(**) |   |-->Monitor "Configured Monitor"
(==) No device specified for screen "Default Screen".
   Using the first device section listed.
(**) |   |-->Device "Configured Video Device"
(==) |-->Input Device "Configured Mouse"
(==) |-->Input Device "Generic Keyboard"
(==) The core pointer device wasn't specified explicitly in the layout.
   Using the first mouse device.
(==) The core keyboard device wasn't specified explicitly in the layout.
   Using the first keyboard device.
(==) Automatically adding devices
(==) Automatically enabling devices
(==) No FontPath specified.  Using compiled-in default.
(WW) The directory "/usr/share/fonts/X11/cyrillic" does not exist.
   Entry deleted from font path.
(WW) The directory "/var/lib/defoma/x-ttcidfont-conf.d/dirs/TrueType" does not e
xist.
   Entry deleted from font path.
(==) FontPath set to:
   /usr/share/fonts/X11/misc,
   /usr/share/fonts/X11/100dpi/:unscaled,
   /usr/share/fonts/X11/75dpi/:unscaled,
   /usr/share/fonts/X11/Type1,
   /usr/share/fonts/X11/100dpi,
   /usr/share/fonts/X11/75dpi
(==) RgbPath set to "/etc/X11/rgb"
(==) ModulePath set to "/usr/lib/xorg/modules"
(II) No APM support in BIOS or kernel
(II) Loader magic: 0x120255cf8
(II) Module ABI versions:
   X.Org ANSI C Emulation: 0.3
   X.Org Video Driver: 2.0
   X.Org XInput driver : 2.0
   X.Org Server Extension : 0.3
   X.Org Font Renderer : 0.5
(II) Loader running on linux
(II) LoadModule: "pcidata"
(II) Loading /usr/lib/xorg/modules//libpcidata.so
(II) Module pcidata: vendor="X.Org Foundation"
   compiled for 1.4.2, module version = 1.0.0
   ABI class: X.Org Video Driver, version 2.0
(--) using VT number 7

(WW) OS did not count PCI devices, guessing wildly
(II) PCI: PCI scan (all values are in hex)
(II) PCI: 00:07:0: chip 10b9,1533 card 0000,0000 rev c3 class 06,01,00 hdr 00
(II) PCI: 00:08:0: chip 9005,00cf card 9005,ffff rev 01 class 01,00,00 hdr 80
(II) PCI: 00:08:1: chip 9005,00cf card 9005,ffff rev 01 class 01,00,00 hdr 80
(II) PCI: 00:09:0: chip 8086,1209 card 0e11,0000 rev 09 class 02,00,00 hdr 00
(II) PCI: 00:0a:0: chip 8086,1209 card 0e11,0000 rev 09 class 02,00,00 hdr 00
(II) PCI: 00:0d:0: chip 10b9,5229 card 0000,0000 rev c1 class 01,01,fa hdr 00
(II) PCI: End of PCI scan
....


Time to try with the Radeon 7000 and the Elsa Gloria Synergy.

[Krokodil]

Yeah, it sucks that the Alpha seems to get so little love these days. They're nice machines. I've got one(DS10) running VMS myself, but the OS can be a real PITA, especially since it suffers from neglect by an disinterested HP.

[johnnym]

The Alpha architecture is still available in Debian Ports. Some time ago I followed this guide (although intended for HPPA machines) to upgrade my Debian Lenny installation on my PWS 500au to Debian Sid. I also build some Debian Sid Alpha NFS root file systems with debootstrap on this machine. And they all work with my Alpha machines down to the AXPpci33 based machine with 21066 CPU. One just needs to make sure that the initrd contains drivers for the used network card and the used card is supported by the SRM (for the AXPpci33).

At this time the shipped Linux kernel was v3.16.x. Some time later v4.x.x kernels were made available, but they don't work with my Alpha gear (sadly all pre EV6). But these kernels might work with your 21264C CPU though. If needed, the older v3.16.x Alpha kernel is still available from backup.parisc-linux.org.

There are also installation ISOs available on the Debian Ports FTP service. So you don't need to go through the hassle to upgrade your Debian Lenny if those ISOs work for you.

[zahal]

Thanks for the info, I was already planning on switching to sid from Lenny, but I opted for installing from the network boot CD you mentioned.
After updating the initial install with apt-get, the bootmenu goes full retard with disk UUIDs so I had to edit and add the devices instead for it to boot correctly (finding the root disk) instead of dropping to busybox. The only drawback I see from installing from the Debian 8 network boot CD is that there is no option to format partitions as XFS (only ext4 and JFS). The Lenny install is all XFS (except for the ext2 boot partition).

X is still broken and several packages cant be installed due to dependencies and such. But working over VNC is fine, I'm typing this in Iceweasel 29.0.1 (still no firefox!) from the Alpha. Here's a screenshot taken from VNC:

VNC is mostly OK, but sometimes it does get laggy (using onboard 100BaseT). I installed a Tigon3 card to speed things up but apparently it won't be that easy as I need non-free firmware to use it -might just get a cheapo Realtek GigE instead!

At this time the shipped Linux kernel was v3.16.x. Some time later v4.x.x kernels were made available, but they don't work with my Alpha gear (sadly all pre EV6). But these kernels might work with your 21264C CPU though. If needed, the older v3.16.x Alpha kernel is still available from backup.parisc-linux.org.

There are also installation ISOs available on the Debian Ports FTP service. So you don't need to go through the hassle to upgrade your Debian Lenny if those ISOs work for you.

[johnnym]

Thanks for the info, I was already planning on switching to sid from Lenny, but I opted for installing from the network boot CD you mentioned.
After updating the initial install with apt-get, the bootmenu goes full retard with disk UUIDs so I had to edit and add the devices instead for it to boot correctly (finding the root disk) instead of dropping to busybox. The only drawback I see from installing from the Debian 8 network boot CD is that there is no option to format partitions as XFS (only ext4 and JFS). The Lenny install is all XFS (except for the ext2 boot partition).

Ext4 was OK for me, as I later used the base system to just build (mainly for the second stage of the debootstrap build process) a few inital NFS root file systems from there. In June 2014 a smart guy posted a handy script on the Debian Alpha/HPPA/M68K mailing lists which allows to use both "unstable" and "unreleased" suites with debootstrap at the same time.

X is still broken and several packages cant be installed due to dependencies and such. But working over VNC is fine, I'm typing this in Iceweasel 29.0.1 (still no firefox!) from the Alpha.

Thanks for the pointer to VNC. It's good to see a GUI running on my PWS 500au again. Up until recently I just used it via serial console and SSH when using Linux.

VNC is mostly OK, but sometimes it does get laggy (using onboard 100BaseT). I installed a Tigon3 card to speed things up but apparently it won't be that easy as I need non-free firmware to use it -might just get a cheapo Realtek GigE instead!

Does a GigE NIC make a difference for your VNC connection?

At this time the shipped Linux kernel was v3.16.x. Some time later v4.x.x kernels were made available, but they don't work with my Alpha gear (sadly all pre EV6). But these kernels might work with your 21264C CPU though. If needed, the older v3.16.x Alpha kernel is still available from backup.parisc-linux.org.

Any luck with the v4.x.x kernels?

Oh, and BTW, happy New Year!

[zahal]

Does a GigE NIC make a difference for your VNC connection?

Yes it does! A lot more fluid. The Tigon3 card eventually started working. But then I switched that card for a dual Intel GigE card and it does seems to be even better. Did not benchmark the Tigon3 in order to compare, but it certainly seems like networking is faster with the Intel card. One problem that did surface when I started using the GigE cards whas that VNC would disconnect at all times making it unusable. I googled up and the solution is to set encoding to RAW.

Any luck with the v4.x.x kernels?

Oh, and BTW, happy New Year!

I installed a 4.x.x kernel but it bombed during startup. I ended up downloading the 4.8.15 source code and compiling the kernel for the Titan motherboard. It's been over a decade since I last compiled a kernel! It has been working fine with 4.8.15 now.

I'll try Gentoo again, since the Stage 3 archives for Alpha have been updated 3 times since I tried to install it. Hopefully the compiler has been updated in order to generate code optimized for newer Alpha processors.

Best luck to all in 2017. We'll all need it as it does look like finally things will get unhinged this year. Keep stackin' and packin'!