++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

                    +      Firmware README-First !!!     +

                    ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++



1. Please CAREFULLY read this readme file IN ITS ENTIRETY.



    --> V5.3-1 firmware introduced the relocation of AlphaBIOS.  The

        requirement to run the update utility twice if the firmware is

        updated via any method other than booting the CD lfu image still

        applies to systems being updated to V6.0 that are currently installed

        with any version of firmware prior to V5.3-1.   Please review the

        release notes for update information.



    --> If the base level firmware on the systems being updated is 5.1 or

        earlier, you must first update to 5.3 firmware before updating

        to 5.4 or later firmware.  Please see release notes for details.





2. When updating console firmware, it is recommended that you update both the

   SRM and AlphaBIOS consoles at the same time to insure compatibility between

   versions.



3. Helpful Hints on using the UPDATE and LIST commands



   UPD> update srm*      to update the SRM console firmware.

   UPD> update alpha*    to update the AlphaBIOS console.

   UPD> update *         to update all firmware in your system.

   UPD> update * -all    to update all firmware in your system without having

                         to confirm each update.

   UPD> list             to display adapters in your system that are supported 

                         by the Loadable Firmware Utility [LFU].

   UPD> readme           to display this readme file you are reading now.





4. Latest Firmware Update Revisions



   The latest Firmware Update Bootfile "AS1200_V6_0.EXE" on this Alpha 

   Firmware CD was first released on the V6.0 CD. It contains V6.0 SRM 

   Console, and has the following components:

   (* = CHANGED or NEW since the previous release)



    --> SRM console V6.0-4 *

    --> XSROM V6.0 *

    --> OpenVMS PALcode V1.21-2

    --> DIGITAL UNIX PALcode V1.23-2

    --> AlphaBIOS console V5.70-0 

    --> CIPCA FW version A420   

    --> DEFPA FW version V3.20 

    --> ISP1020 FW version V5.57 (included in SRM console)

    --> KZPSA FW version A12





5. Firmware Enhancements and New Features (SRM and AlphaBIOS Consoles)



    --> Device recognition added for the DE602-BA network adapter.

    --> Modified mopdl driver to fix a hang of the mop process when booting

        was issued via an FDDI controller.

    --> Code changes to fix Probe Timeout Failures on KGPSA devices.

    --> Code changes to fix a failure to write crash dumps to disks connected

        via a CIPCA.

    --> Update firmware for the Memory Channel adapter (CCMAB) is no longer

        supplied nor supported with firmware releases.



6. Firmware Release Notes



   The complete set of FW release notes for this platform can be found

   on this FW Update CD, in the following directories:



   --> On an OpenVMS System:

       [DOC]ALPHA1200_V60_FW_RELNOTE.PS   (PostScript file)

       [DOC]ALPHA1200_V60_FW_RELNOTE.PDF  (PDF file)



   --> On a Digital UNIX System:

       /DOC/ALPHA1200_V60_FW_RELNOTE.PS   (PostScript file)

       /DOC/ALPHA1200_V60_FW_RELNOTE.PDF  (PDF file)



   --> On a Windows NT System:

       \DOC\ALPHA1200_V60_FW_RELNOTE.PS   (PostScript file)

       \DOC\ALPHA1200_V60_FW_RELNOTE.PDF  (PDF file)