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                    +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++         
                    +    AlphaStation 500 Firmware    +
                    +          README-First !!!       +
                    +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

        1. Latest Firmware Update Revisions

             The latest Firmware Update Bootfile "AS500_V72_2.EXE" on this
             Alpha Firmware CD,  contains the SRM Console V7.2-2, which
             has the following components (* = CHANGED since last release) :
                        
                              APU  7.2     
                              SRM  7.2-2   
                              ARC  4.58 
               PCI Update Utility  7.2     
                      VMS PALcode  1.20-0  
                     UNIX PALcode  1.22-0  

        2. Firmware Enhancements and New Features

             Console V7.2-2 has the following enhancements :

             - Do boot reset for all boots if boot_reset EV set to ON
             - Added date to "show config" console firmware display
             - Changed Ethernet driver for the onboard 21143 chip to fix
               auto-negotiation
             - Improved driver startup/shutdown to only start the driver being
               used when booting
             - Fixed auto-negotiate satellite booting problem.
             - Fixed problem with double MOP trigger boot with Phase 5 DECNet.
             - Changed MOP trigger boot for boot_reset.
             - Removed use of console password for MOP trigger boot.
             - Fixed Inconsistent boot driver state error after boot reset.
             - Added halt reprompt to get prompt when trigger boot and 
               shutdown.
             - Added new Environment Variables (EVs) for MOP trigger booting
                (See Firmware Release Notes)
             - Added Pause Screen capability to capture screen output that is 
               more than a page long (See Firmware Release Notes)
             - Added FORE ATM adapters to console recognition.
             - Fixed printout of PAL version.
             - Improved Console Banner.
             - Added ELSA_VGA reset.
             - Fixed potential machine check on power-up

        3. AlphaStation 500 Firmware Release Notes

             If you wish to read the complete Firmware Release Notes 
             for the AlphaStation 500, they can be found on this 
             Alpha Systems Firmware Update CD, in the following 
             directories (note that the AlphaStation 500 and 600 share
             the same release notes) :

             On an OpenVMS System:
             [DOC]ALPHA500_V72_FW_RELNOTE.PS     (PostScript file)
             [DOC]ALPHA500_V72_FW_RELNOTE.PDF    (PDF file)

             On a Digital/Tru64 UNIX System:
             /DOC/ALPHA500_V72_FW_RELNOTE.PS     (PostScript file)
             /DOC/ALPHA500_V72_FW_RELNOTE.PDF    (PDF file)

             On a Windows NT System:
             \DOC\ALPHA500_V72_FW_RELNOTE.PS     (PostScript file)
             \DOC\ALPHA500_V72_FW_RELNOTE.PDF    (PDF file)
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