topic Re: AlphaStation 500 CD ROM Boot Question in Operating System - OpenVMS

AlphaStation 500 CD ROM Boot Question

dB LEE — Thu, 04 Nov 2010 00:54:15 GMT

Hi Forum,
I have an AlphaStation 500 running OVMS 7.3 that I installed from CD several years ago.
The machine boots from DKA0: just fine but
I find that it will no longer boot from the
install CD. It will locate the boot block
and load the boot loader (?) but then just
hangs. I can mount the CD in OVMS7.3 so I
don't think it is the CD disk or drive. Perhaps
a system variable needs to be cleared?

I've attached
by machine variable list and console output from a boot attempt. Any suggestions ???

>>>show
auto_action HALT
boot_dev dka0.0.0.9.0
boot_file
boot_osflags 0,0
boot_reset OFF
bootdef_dev dka0.0.0.9.0
booted_dev dka0.0.0.9.0
booted_file
booted_osflags 0,0
bus_probe_algorithm new
char_set 0
console serial
controlp on
dump_dev
enable_audit ON
ewa0_arp_tries 3
ewa0_bootp_file
ewa0_bootp_server
ewa0_bootp_tries 3
ewa0_def_ginetaddr 0.0.0.0
ewa0_def_inetaddr 0.0.0.0
ewa0_def_inetfile
ewa0_def_sinetaddr 0.0.0.0
ewa0_def_subnetmask 0.0.0.0
ewa0_ginetaddr 0.0.0.0
ewa0_inet_init bootp
ewa0_inetaddr 0.0.0.0
ewa0_inetfile
ewa0_loop_count 3e8
ewa0_loop_inc a
ewa0_loop_patt ffffffff
ewa0_loop_size 2e
ewa0_lp_msg_node 1
ewa0_mode Twisted-Pair
ewa0_protocols BOOTP
ewa0_sinetaddr 0.0.0.0
ewa0_tftp_tries 3
ffauto OFF
ffnext OFF
graphics_page 0
graphics_type VIDEO
kbd_hardware_type PCXAL
language 36
language_name English(American)
license MU
mop_debug OFF
mop_password 00-00000000-00000000
mop_version 1
mopv3_boot OFF
os_type OpenVMS
pal OpenVMS PALcode V1.20-0, Tru64 UNIX PALcode V1.22-0
pci_parity off
pka0_host_id 7
pka0_mode ultra
pka0_soft_term on
quick_start OFF
scsi_poll ON
srm2ctrl
srm2dev
sys_serial_num
tga_sync_green 0
tt_allow_login 1
tta0_page 0
tta0_type VIDEO
tty_dev 0
version V7.2-2 Apr 4 2000 17:17:43
>>>
>>>
>>>boot dka400
(boot dka400.4.0.9.0 -flags 0,0)
block 0 of dka400.4.0.9.0 is a valid boot block
reading 969 blocks from dka400.4.0.9.0
bootstrap code read in
base = 14a000, image_start = 0, image_bytes = 79200
initializing HWRPB at 2000
initializing page table at 13c000
initializing machine state
setting affinity to the primary CPU
jumping to bootstrap code

....and no further activity after that.

Re: AlphaStation 500 CD ROM Boot Question

Steven Schweda — Thu, 04 Nov 2010 02:03:08 GMT

> [...] but then just hangs. [...]

> console serial

Are you using a serial console or the
workstation keyboard+graphics? If serial,
then which serial port? (Try the other one?)

If the system is talking/listening to a place
where you're not, then it may look dead/hung
while it waits for input elsewhere.

Re: AlphaStation 500 CD ROM Boot Question

Steven Schweda — Thu, 04 Nov 2010 02:59:47 GMT

On my (now seldom used) Digital Personal
Workstation 500a[u], I can get behavior like
that you described if I set the console to
serial, and connect a serial console terminal
to the upper 9-pin serial port ("[arrows]
2"). Everything's wonderful if I use the
lower port ("[arrows] 1").

Re: AlphaStation 500 CD ROM Boot Question

dB LEE — Thu, 04 Nov 2010 03:51:58 GMT

Hi Steve,
yes, I'm using a serial console...
And changing from the lower to the upper DB9 connector solved the problem.

I can't see the back of the machine well enough right now to read which is labeled #1 but probably the upper.

Thanks Much!

Re: AlphaStation 500 CD ROM Boot Question

Jon Pinkley — Thu, 04 Nov 2010 07:12:45 GMT

Steven Schweda always claims he has weak psychic powers, but perhaps he's been taking a remote viewing course he hasn't told us about. :-)

Re: AlphaStation 500 CD ROM Boot Question

Steven Schweda — Thu, 04 Nov 2010 10:34:42 GMT

> [...] weak psychic powers [...]

None needed here, only memory of past
experience. And then, taking the wise
counsel of Abraham Van Helsing (M.D., D.Ph.,
D.Lit., etc., etc. ) that "[...] knowledge is
stronger than memory, and we should not trust
the weaker", I fired up an old box to verify
what I thought that I had observed long ago.