Alphastation 255 OS

[Nicolas Dumeige]

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

[Anton van Ruitenbeek]

Nicolas,

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

AvR

[Ralf Puchner]

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

[Kris Clippeleyr]

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

[Willem Grooters]

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

Willem

[Ralf Puchner]

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...

[Antoniov.]

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

[Martin P.J. Zinser]

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

[Steve Reece]

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

[Nicolas Dumeige]

Thank you all for the info you provided.

Cheers

Nicolas