topic Re: 3X-DEPVZ-AA runs only runs 1024x768 resolution in Operating System - OpenVMS

3X-DEPVZ-AA runs only runs 1024x768 resolution

Jansen_8 — Tue, 27 Jan 2015 13:41:46 GMT

Hi all,

I have a DS10L with a 3X-DEPVZ-AA combi-card (SCSI/Ethernet/Graphics). The machine runs OpenVMS 8.4.

The only resolution I seem to get from the card is 8-bit 1024x768 . I tried to edit either sys$manager:decw$device_config_gz.com (as I always do and up to now worked for other cards) or sys$manager:decw$private_server_setup.coim to set it to 24 bits 1280x1024 (70Hz).. But no success.

What do I overlook?

Regards

Jouk

Re: 3X-DEPVZ-AA runs only runs 1024x768 resolution

Hoff — Tue, 27 Jan 2015 14:23:02 GMT

https://groups.google.com/d/msg/comp.os.vms/mMRl8E_9PBI/vGSFsyYNpxoJ

Re: 3X-DEPVZ-AA runs only runs 1024x768 resolution

Jansen_8 — Wed, 28 Jan 2015 09:09:51 GMT

Thanks Hoff, that resulted in black screen and a machine that give 6 beeps and the most left orange led up when powering the machine up.

Most things in the discussion quoted by Hoff I already did. I just tried the last thing : setting the dpi to 100 and the visual type to 4. This resulted in a "machine check" when starting up the graphic device, crashing the machine.

Even when I took out the 3X-DEPVZ-AA, I only got the 6 beeps (memory error?).

I placed the 3X-DEPVZ-AA in another DS10L. It worked as before : only 1024x768 resolution.

So I think I have to give up (I do not want to loose another machine...)

Regards

Jouk

Re: 3X-DEPVZ-AA runs only runs 1024x768 resolution

Hoff — Wed, 28 Jan 2015 23:10:23 GMT

Are you sure that both this board and this box both work? Seems the board might, but the box doesn't.

Machine checks are usually either low-level software or firmware errors, or are hardware errors. Beep codes are unhappy SRM firmware; it's found something that it doesn't like. Six beeps is a memory error, or a checksum error. If you've removed the board and you're still getting console errors, then re-seat the memory and the other giblets as a starting point, try again, and — failing that cure — then work your way through the usual troubleshooting procedures. Memory would be the first and most obvious culprit for swappage, then maybe the power supply or the main board.

Might try reloading the SRM firmware just for grins, too; this box has a failsafe loader jumper. I'd not expect that to fix this, but I've seen weirder. Failed hardware or corroded hardware connections seem more likely.

Wouldn't be the first failed DS10L box I've encountered; they're pretty old. One I was dealing with had its thermal paste dry out, and that box tended to overheat.

Unless you're married to Alpha for some reason, consider rolling in a somewhat newer Itanium box. They're generally also cheaper and faster than Alpha boxes, too.

Re: 3X-DEPVZ-AA runs only runs 1024x768 resolution

Jansen_8 — Thu, 29 Jan 2015 14:18:39 GMT

Definitely the "old" box did not work. I will figure out later what parts are reusable.

As stated before I placed the 3X-DEPVZ-AA in another DS10L. It works but only in 8 bit 1024x768 mode.

Below are the content of DECW$DEVICE_CONFIG_GZ.COM and the error message I get:

troika-jj) ty DECW$DEVICE_CONFIG_GZ.COM
$ !
$ !****************************************************************************
$ !* *
$ !* COPYRIGHT � 1999 BY *
$ !* DIGITAL EQUIPMENT CORPORATION, MAYNARD, MASSACHUSETTS. *
$ !* ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. *
$ !* *
$ !* THIS SOFTWARE IS FURNISHED UNDER A LICENSE AND MAY BE USED AND COPIED *
$ !* ONLY IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE TERMS OF SUCH LICENSE AND WITH THE *
$ !* INCLUSION OF THE ABOVE COPYRIGHT NOTICE. THIS SOFTWARE OR ANY OTHER *
$ !* COPIES THEREOF MAY NOT BE PROVIDED OR OTHERWISE MADE AVAILABLE TO ANY *
$ !* OTHER PERSON. NO TITLE TO AND OWNERSHIP OF THE SOFTWARE IS HEREBY *
$ !* TRANSFERRED. *
$ !* *
$ !* THE INFORMATION IN THIS SOFTWARE IS SUBJECT TO CHANGE WITHOUT NOTICE *
$ !* AND SHOULD NOT BE CONSTRUED AS A COMMITMENT BY DIGITAL EQUIPMENT *
$ !* CORPORATION. *
$ !* *
$ !* DIGITAL ASSUMES NO RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE USE OR RELIABILITY OF ITS *
!* SOFTWARE ON EQUIPMENT WHICH IS NOT SUPPLIED BY DIGITAL. *
$ !* *
$ !* *
$ !****************************************************************************
$ !
$ ! If no devices are present, then exit
$ !
$ if .not. f$getdvi("GZA0", "EXISTS") then exit
$
$ configure_gz:
$
$ !
$ ! Resolutions up to 1280x1024 support 60, 65, 70, 75, and 85Hz.
$ ! Higher resolutions only support up to 75Hz. The default
$ ! is based on the refresh tested on the monitor that the card was
$ ! intended to ship with. Lower frequencies may show interference
$ ! depending on the system, and the environment. Note that the highest
$ ! refresh rate available depends on the monitor. Each head may have
$ ! it's own refresh rate.
$ !
$ ! The refresh rate default is 70Hz.
$ !
$ ! define/exec/system/nolog decw$server_refresh_rate 70,70,70,70,70,70,70,70
$ !
$ ! The available depth and resolution is monitor dependent. Each
$ ! head can have its own pixel depth.
$ !
$ ! Pixel depth default is 8BPP. It can be changed to 24 BPP.
$ !
$ define/exec/system/nolog decw$server_pixel_depth 24,24,24,24,24,24,24,24
$ !
$ ! Modes available (depending on how much video memory, and the
$ ! monitor capable of supporting it, refresh rates below 70Hz
$ ! are generally discouraged as they tend to show "flicker"
$ ! depending on the lighting source, and surrounding equipment):
$ !
$ ! 640 x 480 60, 65, 70, 75, and 85Hz
$ ! 800 x 600 60, 65, 70, 75, and 85Hz
$ ! 1024 x 768 60, 65, 70, 75, and 85Hz
$ ! 1152 x 1024 60, 65, 70, 75, and 85Hz
$ ! 1280 x 1024 60, 65, 70, 75, and 85Hz
$ ! 1600 x 1200 8-bit only 60, 65, 70, 75Hz
$ ! 1600 x 1280 8-bit only 60, 65, 70Hz
$ !
$ ! 1920 x 1200 8-bit only 60, 65, 70Hz
$ !
$ ! The default resolution is 1024x768 (first element)
$ !
$ xsizes = "1024,640,800,1024,1152,1280,1600,1600,1920"
$ ysizes = "768,480,600,768,870,1024,1200,1280,1200"
$ !
$ decw$xsize_in_pixels == f$element(5, ",", xsizes)
$ decw$ysize_in_pixels == f$element(5, ",", ysizes)
$ decw$virtual_pages == 400000
$ !
$ ! The noise level logical causes the server to display information
$ ! during screen initialization. It does not effect the performance
$ ! of the server during operation, but does provide valuable information
$ ! if problems arise.
$ !
$ ! The auto remove logical will cause the VGA console window (VGA text
$ ! mode console) to be removed after 'n' seconds. If the value is zero,
$ ! it will never be removed. Because the server is prevented from running
$ ! when the VGA text console is present, this feature is provided to let
$ ! things proceed... especially when nobody is around to hit ^F2.
$ !
$ seconds = 5*60 ! 5-minute default time
$
$ define/sys/nolog decw$server_noise_level 1
$ define/sys/nolog decw$server_auto_console_remove 'seconds'
$
$ @sys$manager:decw$device_config_common GZ
$
$ exit

From : DECW$SERVER_0_ERROR.LOG:

Permedia2: Init Screen Number 0
x2dGetCPU: CPU type = 11
x2dGetCPU: System Type: AlphaServer DS10L 617 MHz
x2dGetCPU: System Memory Size: 131072 (pages) -- 1024 MB
x2dVMS_OpenScreen: Call vmsInitDeviceData
x2dVMS_OpenScreen: Opening device GZA0
x2dVMS_OpenScreen: Controller Number 0
x2dVMS_OpenScreen: Default Width = 1024, Default Height = 768
x2dVMS_OpenScreen: Default Depth = 8
x2dVMS_OpenScreen: Swizzle Shift 0
Permedia2: User specified pixel depth: 24
Permedia2: Set the Default Visual Class
Permedia2: Failed to Set Screen Parameters: Status: 0x14, Screen X 1280, Screen Y 1024, vsync 70 Hz, density 100, depth 24 (32 bpp)
Permedia2: Try falling back to 70Hz
Permedia2: Failed to Set Screen Parameters: Screen X 1280, Screen Y 1024, vsync 70 Hz, density 100
Permedia2: Try falling back to 1024 x 768, @70Hz, depth 8
Permedia2: Screen X 1024, Screen Y 768, vsync 70 Hz, depth 8, density 100
Permedia2: Map the Frame Buffer in dense (flat) IO space
Permedia2: Map the CSRs in dense (flat) IO space
Permedia2: FB PFN: 0x40000800
Permedia2: FB VA: 0x00C00000
Permedia2: FB Aperture Size: 0x00800000 (8 MB)
Permedia2: FB Memory Size: 0x00400000 (4 MB)
Permedia2: FB Pagelets: 0x00004000
Permedia2: CSR PFN: 0x40001110
Permedia2: CSR VA: 0x01400000
Permedia2: CSR Size: 0x00020000 (128 KB)
Permedia2: CSR Pagelets: 0x00000100
Permedia2: Set driver geometry to match user setup
Permedia2: Create screen private structure
Permedia2: No user flags specified
Permedia2: Offscreen scanlines = 3328
Permedia2: Init the common x2d screen
x2dCommon: Add 8-bit screen format
x2dCommon: Call x2dInitVisuals
x2dCommon: Visuals Information:

Re: 3X-DEPVZ-AA runs only runs 1024x768 resolution

Jansen_8 — Thu, 29 Jan 2015 14:24:36 GMT

Actually I'm "maried" to VMS... For the moment I use both Alpha & Itanium. The advantage of Alpha for a hobbyist is that the boxes are much smaller and less noisy..

Re: 3X-DEPVZ-AA runs only runs 1024x768 resolution

Hoff — Fri, 30 Jan 2015 01:16:56 GMT

Consider scrounging an Itanium zx2000 box, if you can find one.

Specs indicate that Trifecta configuration should work, so there's probably a software bug here, or that card isn't quite right, or there's something off in the local configuration.

Officially, the following are supported:

1280 x 1024 @24 bit @60, 65, 70 & 75Hz
1024 x 768 @24 bit @60, 65, 70, 75, 85Hz
800 x 600 @24 bit @60, 65, 70, 75, 85Hz
640 x 480 @24 bit @60, 65, 70, 75, 85Hz

Beyond checking the logs for any hardware errors that've been logged, confirming the system parameters are sufficient for VMS and DECwindows, and you've got enough physical memory, I don't have any other suggestions. Well, just run it at 1024 x 768, or try working your way up to see how high that card will go, or swap the card for a different graphics card.

AlphaServer DS10L is slot-limited, obviously.

Sorry...