4    Processor-Specific Notes

This chapter contains general notes that apply to all processors and specific notes that apply to the following systems:

Do not attempt to install Tru64 UNIX Version 5.1 without first reading the notes appropriate to your processor. Failure to read these notes can result in installation problems. Also, before you start your installation, be sure to review the hardware documentation that came with your system.

4.1    General Notes on Processors

The following sections apply to more than one processor type.

4.1.1    Upgrading Your Hardware

You can follow the instructions in the Installation Guide and those provided by your hardware and firmware documentation when you add new options or change your system hardware. However, if the new option is supported only in the newest version of Tru64 UNIX, you must perform the upgrade in the following sequence:

  1. Update your operating system software to Tru64 UNIX Version 5.1.

  2. Upgrade your firmware.

  3. Upgrade your hardware or install the new option.

  4. Follow the instructions in Chapter 2 of the Tru64 UNIX Installation Guide to rebuild your system kernel.

4.1.2    Floppy Disk Drives

Some of the software documentation states to use the floppy disk drive for certain procedures. However, some systems do not include floppy disk drives. If your system does not include a floppy disk drive, you will have to find an alternative to the documented procedure.

4.1.3    KZPSA Behind the PCI-to-PCI Bridge

On AlphaServer 1000A and 2100A class systems, updating the firmware on a KZPSA SCSI adapter is not supported when the adapter is behind the PCI-to-PCI bridge. See your hardware installation guide for further information. A later version of the console firmware will support this feature.

4.1.4    Qlogic ISP1040B CAM Errors

On systems with a Qlogic ISP1040B option, CAM errors like the following might occur when you boot the system: 

pci2000 at pci0 slot 8
isp0 at pci2000 slot 0
isp0: QLOGIC ISP1020A
cam_logger: CAM_ERROR packet
cam_logger: bus 0
isp_probe
NVRAM parameters invalid, using driver Fast10 defaults

To correct the error, you must use the eeromcfg utility to program the NVRAM with the proper set of parameters. The eeromcfg utility is provided in the /mnt-pnt/utility directory of the Alpha Systems Firmware Update CD-ROM. Consult the readme.txt file in that directory for information about how to use the utility.

4.1.5    DJ-ML200-xx PCI NVRAM Hardware Revision

The revision of the ML200-xx 2/4/8MB PCI NVRAM adapter must be revision E01.

4.1.6    Managing HSZ and HSG Hardware

You must use the StorageWorks Command Console (SWCC) Version 2.3 or higher to manage HSZ or HSG controllers. Versions prior to Version 2.3 are not supported for use on Tru64 UNIX Version 5.0, or later.

4.1.7    No Console-Level Multipath Support for Some Older Systems

The console firmware on the AlphaServer 1000, AlphaServer 1000A, and AlphaServer 2x00 systems does not support selecting multiple boot or dump devices for storage units located behind HSZ70, HSZ80, or HSG80 Raid Array controllers that are enabled for multiple-bus failover mode.

The console must have a visible path to the storage unit that it is booting from or to which it is dumping. If a controller, in multiple-bus failover mode, fails over to the other controller, all devices served by the failed controller are now visible on alternate paths. Therefore, before booting the system, reset the bootdef_dev console environment variable to a path that is visible to the boot device.

After the operating system has been booted, multipath support is fully functional.

4.2    AlphaServer 1000 and 1000A Systems

The following notes are specific to AlphaServer 1000 and 1000A systems.

4.2.1    EISA Configuration Utility Version 1.10

This note applies to users who utilize the onboard Cirrus VGA graphics controller.

The default setting for the VGA graphics controller when running the EISA Configuration Utility (ECU) Version 1.10 is Disabled. For previous versions, the default is Enabled.

When you run the ECU Version 1.10 for the first time on a system that was previously configured with an earlier version of the ECU, the setting for the onboard VGA graphics controller is automatically set to Disabled. To change the default value, run the ECU, select Step 3: View and edit details, and set the VGA graphic controller to Enabled before exiting. If you do not set the VGA graphic controller to Enabled prior to booting Tru64 UNIX, your X server will not start and your system will have generic console support when you boot Tru64 UNIX.

4.2.2    Graphics Resolution

The default graphics resolution for AlphaServer 1000A systems that contain built-in Cirrus video with 1 MB of video RAM is 1024x768. If the optional 512 KB of video RAM is not present, Tru64 UNIX supports resolutions of 640x480 (by default) or 800x600 only.

The default graphics resolution for AlphaServer 1000 systems that contain built-in Cirrus video with 512 KB of video RAM is 640x480. This configuration also supports 800x600 resolution.

To use 800x600 resolution, edit the following line in the /usr/lib/X11/xdm/Xservers file: 

:0 local /usr/bin/X11/X
 

Change the line to: 

:0 local /usr/bin/X11/X -screen0 800
 

To use 800x600 resolution for the CDE Session Manager, edit the following line in the /usr/dt/config/Xservers and Xservers.conf files: 

:0 Local local@console /usr/bin/X11/X :0
 

Change the line to: 

:0 Local local@console /usr/bin/X11/X :0 -screen0 800
 

Before editing these files for XDM or CDE, be sure that your system's monitor supports 800x600 resolution.

4.3    AlphaServer GS Systems

The following notes are specific to AlphaServer GS systems. For additional information on configuring an AlphaServer GS system in a cluster, see the TruCluster Server Hardware Configuration guide.

4.3.1    Offlining Certain CPUs Is Not Supported

Each quad building block (QBB) on an AlphaServer GS system has a processor that takes the interrupts for that QBB. At present, there is no mechanism to move interrupts to other processors, which means that you cannot take the processor off line. (See the psradm(8) and the offline(8) reference pages for more information).

If you attempt to take a processor off line, the following error occurs: 

# offline xx
offline: processor xx: Invalid argument

The affected processor numbers are typically evenly divisible by 4. For example 0, 4, 8, 12, 16, and so on.

4.4    Personal Workstation 433au, 500au, and 600au Systems

The following notes are specific to Personal Workstation class systems.

4.4.1    64-Bit PCI Option Cards

The 64-bit PCI slots, slots 4 and 5, are intended only for those cards listed in the Systems and Options Catalog as supported for slots 4 and 5. The console prevents system operation and displays the following error if an unsupported card is present in one of these slots (n): 

Illegal device detected on primary bus in physical slot n
Power down the system and remove the unsupported device from slot n

4.4.2    Incorrect Default Keyboard Mappings

If you use a PCXLA-NA keyboard on a Compaq Personal Workstation 433au, 500au, or 600au class system, the keys will not map properly unless you reconfigure the keyboard driver to use the correct keymaps.

You can do this by executing the following command: 


# sysconfig -r gpc_input kbd_scancode=2

If you prefer, you can use the sysconfigdb command to add the following entry to the /etc/sysconfigtab file: 

gpc_input:
kbd_scancode = 2

Note that if you use the sysconfig command to reconfigure the driver, you must execute the command each time you reboot the system. Using the sysconfigdb utility to make the change preserves the information across reboots, and no other user intervention is required.

4.5    Alpha VME and PCI/ISA (DMCC) Modular Single-Board Computers

For information about configuring the operating system on Alpha VME single-board computers (SBCs) and PCI/ISA EBMnn modular SBCs, see the System Configuration Supplement: OEM Platforms manual. (The PCI/ISA modular systems and components product family was formerly known as DIGITAL Modular Computing Components, or DMCC.)