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    Last Release: March 2000

AlphaServer 800 & Digital Server 3300 Systems

Firmware Release Notes and AlphaServer 800 User's Guide

Please read the firmware release notes before updating firmware.

Firmware Release Notes alpha800_v58_fw_relnote.pdf 
User's Guide AlphaServer 800 User's Guide
Firmware V5.8 was the last release for this system.

Choose a Method to Update Firmware

Update MethodRequirements Description
BOOTP Network Tru64Unix Server Update firmware from a network using BOOTP protocol
MOP Network OpenVMS Server Update firmware from a network using MOP protocol
System Disk OpenVMS System Update firmware by copying firmware files to system disk then booting the firmware update utility on system disk
Floppy Disk Tru64Unix or
Windows System		 Create a bootable firmware update floppy disk

Make a Bootable CD to Update Console and I/O Option Firmware

Updating firmware via a bootable CD will enable you to more quickly
update console and I/O option firmware (than using floppy diskette).

AlphaServer 800 Only       as800_v5_8.iso
  • Copy the iso image to a Windows PC or to a system with CD writing abilities
  • Record the .iso image to CD-ROM using recording software
  • Boot the CD-ROM to invoke the firmware update utility (e.g. boot dqa0)
  • Press the "ENTER" key when prompted for the bootfile name.(e.g Bootfile: [ENTER])
  • Update firmware
  • Exit from the firmware update utility

Update Firmware from Floppy Disk

Create a bootable floppy disk from Tru64UNIX
Create a bootable floppy disk from Windows

BOOTP Network Update - Tru64UNIX

Firmware Image     as800_v5_8.exe

Download the firmware image to a BOOTP Server.
Register the Ethernet MAC address of the client with the TRU64Unix administrator.
Then invoke BOOTP from the client (e.g. P00>>> boot eia0)

Consult your administrator for additional information on BOOTP booting.
Note - There is no BOOTP support to update I/O option firmware.

OpenVMS MOP Network Update

Firmware Image      as800_v5_8.sys
Download the firmware image to the MOP directory on an OpenVMS system. Apply this command to the downloaded file to ensure the file is in the proper fixed record format for MOP booting:

$ set file/attr=(rfm:fix,lrl:512,mrs:512,rat:none) file-name.sys

Consult your administrator for additional information on OpenVMS MOP booting.

System Disk Firmware Update - OpenVMS

Firmware Image          as800_v5_8.exe

  • Download the firmware image to an OpenVMS system then enter the following commands:
    $ rename  firmware image  to fwupdate.exe
    $ set file/attr=(rfm:fix,lrl:512,mrs:512,rat:none) fwupdate.exe
    $ copy/contiguous fwupdate.exe dka0:[sys0.sysexe]            (replace dka0 with the system disk name)
  • Shut down the operating system, to get to the console prompt
  • Boot the update utility: >>> boot dka100 -flags 0,a0             (replace dka100 with the system disk name.)
  • Enter the following after the Bootfile: prompt:      Bootfile: [sys0.sysexe]fwupdate.exe
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