AlphaServer DS10 Graphics Card options

[mrbovan]

I have a DS10 that was delivered virgin and without a video card option. I loaded OpenVMS v7.3.1 and various layered products via serial VT console. Subsequent to the initial OS/layered products install I received a 3Dlabs OXYGEN VX1 PCI Graphics Controller (SN-PBXGF-AB) that I cannot get the system use (PC remains dark) despite the fact that the card is recognized at POST and DECWINDOWS is started at boot. Help Please.

[Rick Retterer]

Hi,
You will want to pull down and install the latest patches for 7.3-1 which contains the device drivers for the VX1 Graphics card.

You will want to install all of the level 1 patches for 7.3-1.

Cheers,
Rick Retterer

[mrbovan]

Ok ... forgive me but how/where do I go to get the patch(s) and what do you mean by "level 1 patches" ?

[mrbovan]

OK so after some blind digging around I found a site (http://www.openvms.org/stories.php) that had a link to OpenVMS patches. I grabbed VMS731_PCSI-V0200, VMS731_UPDATE-V0600 and VMS731_GRAPHICS-V0400 and followed the requisite installation directions.

Re-booted as necessary

Still nothing.

Is there something else that I need?
Could it be that the video card is faulty?

[Mark...]

Hi,
Had a quick look in quickspecs and it seems to be supported.
What version of firmware are you running? If it is old then I would suggest that you update to the latest version. Check out:
http://ftp.digital.com/pub/DEC/Alpha/firmware/
You will be able to download the latest f/w for a ds10. If your f/w code is really old then you may need to upgrade in steps - read ALL the release notes from your start version to end version to verify.
Mark...

[Pieter 't Hart]

Hi there,

VMS has been a long time for me but for TRU64 you need to set console variable to graphics?

had some occasions where DECwindows starts in too high reolution/frequency so the monitor does not accept the signal.
you can try another monitor first