topic Re: Alphastation 255 OS in Operating System - OpenVMS

Alphastation 255 OS

Nicolas Dumeige — Fri, 28 May 2004 05:21:37 GMT

Hello,

I just got an Alpha Station 255. One of the system disk was crashed, so I need to re-install the OS.

Does anyone how / where can I get the appriopriate Digital Unix / Tru64 / OpenVMS release for that workstation ?
I know I can still install Linux / NetBSD / OpenBSD on it but I rather not)

Cheers

Nicolas

Re: Alphastation 255 OS

Anton van Ruitenbeek — Fri, 28 May 2004 05:49:38 GMT

Nicolas,

Isn't VMS7.3-2 still runing on AS255 ?

AvR

Re: Alphastation 255 OS

Ralf Puchner — Fri, 28 May 2004 06:06:31 GMT

Maybe time to search for the installation cdrom of the OS, available by HP or take the one delivered with the machine.

Re: Alphastation 255 OS

Kris Clippeleyr — Fri, 28 May 2004 06:21:38 GMT

Nicolas,

As I recall, I even installed VMS V6.2-1H3 on one of those, so I presume higher releases (like 7.3-2) will pose no problem.
It is possible that you have to install one or two patches to get DECwindows up and running (at least that was the case for V6.2-1H3).
Simply, boot from the installation CD (be sure to set OS_TYPE console variable to VMS), and take it from there.
You can get the CD from http://www.openvmshobbyist.org/ together with the so-called hobbyist licenses.

Good luck & happy VMS-ing,

Kris

Re: Alphastation 255 OS

Willem Grooters — Fri, 28 May 2004 06:33:49 GMT

One thing to be sure about is the firmware release of the console. You'll need the latest anyway.

Willem

Re: Alphastation 255 OS

Ralf Puchner — Fri, 28 May 2004 12:10:23 GMT

Willem:

that is not true, you need the version qualified within the update guide of the firmware cd-rom for the specific os. So installing the newest version is not a good idea without reading the documentation telling you the version is supported with the os...

Re: Alphastation 255 OS

Antoniov. — Fri, 28 May 2004 12:55:01 GMT

Hi Nicolas,
some my customer has AS 400 and I've upgrated SRM/BIOS to install OpenVms V7.
AS 200/300/400 family may be locked on an unique OS; at console type
>>>SET OS_TYPE
and you can see what OS are supported by your hardware.
For OpenVms you need CD to boot and license PAK to run operating system. For 400 family you need follow license (until vms V7.2):
Product name: OPENVMS ALPHA BASE LIC ALPHASTATION 200
License type: System License
Part Number: QL-MT1AE-6L
Number of units: 12

Product name: DIGITAL NAS SERVER 200 V/A
License type: Traditional Standalone/first in VAXcluster
Part Number: QL-23EAE-AA

Hope this help.
Antonio Vigliotti

Re: Alphastation 255 OS

Martin P.J. Zinser — Fri, 28 May 2004 22:35:42 GMT

Hi Nicolas,

and if you really need new firmware, this can be found at

ftp://ftp.digital.com/pub/DEC/Alpha/firmware/archive/astn255.html

The last update is from 1999 though, i.e. there is a good chance you do have the latest one.

Greetings, Martin

Re: Alphastation 255 OS

Steve Reece — Sat, 29 May 2004 03:41:16 GMT

If this is a hobbyist system, you can get a Tru64 Enthusiast's kit from the Tru64 pages on HP's website. For a VMS hobbyist system, obtain licenses from www.montagar.com and the VMS distributions from the same place. You will, in the case of the VMS hobbyist, need to be a member of a subscribing DECUS/HP-Interex/HPUG chapter.

Hope this helps.

Steve

Re: Alphastation 255 OS

Nicolas Dumeige — Tue, 01 Jun 2004 02:47:45 GMT

Thank you all for the info you provided.

Cheers

Nicolas