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Re: PKA0 OFFLINE: ROM checksum read error

 
Alex Chupahin
Super Advisor

PKA0 OFFLINE: ROM checksum read error

Hello!
When I starts an OpenVMS installation CD
on SCSI cdrom connected to SCSI card Symbios
Logic sym53c875 with ROM Tekram Rev170 S=C100 390U/F
(detected by OpenVMS as Intraserver PKW 2.1.22)

After OpenVMS Alpha Operating system title I see

SCSI Chips is Sym53C875, operating mode is SE ULTRA SCSI
PKA0 OFFLINE: ROM checksum read error

Anybody can help?
6 REPLIES 6
Karl Rohwedder
Honored Contributor

Re: PKA0 OFFLINE: ROM checksum read error

I would assume a hardware error and try another SCSI controller.

regards Kalle
Steven Schweda
Honored Contributor

Re: PKA0 OFFLINE: ROM checksum read error

As I recall, that's the complaint you get
when you try to use a generic IntraServer
card instead of the official VMS-supported
(more expensive) IntraServer card.

I believe (assume?) that this is how
IntraServer gets paid for their development
work on the VMS device driver. (There was a
copyright notice somewhere, too, wasn't
there?)
Alex Chupahin
Super Advisor

Re: PKA0 OFFLINE: ROM checksum read error

It seems, they are using unsupported card (because Tru64 unix says the same error, but still boots and working fine.

Is there any way to start OpenVMS with such hardware?
Or is there a chance to get proper ROM for this card?

Another question. I tried AHA2940uw controller (it seems without ROM). It recognised by SRM,
SCSI CDROM but cant boot anything.
Alex Chupahin
Super Advisor

Re: PKA0 OFFLINE: ROM checksum read error

"Cant boot anything", of course dumb words.

Adapter AHA is recognized by SRM, SCSI CDROM is detected. when started by boot dka400, CDROM devices just spinning up and system freezes.

Hoff
Honored Contributor

Re: PKA0 OFFLINE: ROM checksum read error

This appears to be the generic version of the SCSI card and not the supported IntraServer version of the SCSI card. The SCSI card may be functionally perfect, but it's not the specific widget that the driver is coded to expect; to require.

This is one of the few cases I'm aware of in OpenVMS where a driver or other component is effectively locked to a specific device.

Short of writing a driver or cracking the existing driver code or munging the firmware (most of which are not fodder for discussion here, and none are approaches I would recommend), or paying HP (or the IntraServer folks?) for a custom driver, no, the OpenVMS driver won't chat with this device. Or use this card for a platform that has the drivers needed for it, and swap in the expected version of this model of SCSI card, or swap in a card supported by another SCSI port driver.

Steven Schweda
Honored Contributor

Re: PKA0 OFFLINE: ROM checksum read error

> I tried AHA2940uw controller [...]

Keep going. Depending on your system type
(and probably other variables), you might
have better luck when you get to a Qlogic
card which looks like a KZPBA-CA/CX.