Alpha Server 1000A 5/400 RM Boot Problems

[Raymond Napier]

I have an Alpha Server 1000A 5/400 RM running OpenVMS 6.2-1H3.

SRM = V4.8-74
ARC = V5.28
PALCODE = (Openvms) V1.19-4
(Dgital-Unix) V1.21-6

Serial ROM =V1.4

The system has been running for the past 6 years without any problems. My normal boot is from the DKA0 drive. The system began rebooting on its own about 3 days ago. Once the firmware initiates the boot from DKA0 the operating system drive is recognized but it fails to show a valid boot sector and fails to boot. The DKA500 CDROM was also used in an attempt for a boot device with the 6.2-1H3 OpenVMS CD with identical results, Not a valid boot block, FRU table disabled.

The following was performed from the SRM console:

>>> Set Bootdef_dev dka500
>>> Set Auto_Action halt
>>> Set bus_probe_algorithm new
>>> set boot_osflags 0,0
>>> init

The system now acts as if everything is ok with the firmware as before, but when booting form the DKA500 CDROM, I still get the "not a valid boot block, FRU table disabled"

Any suggestions, as both the DKA0 and DKA500 drives give the same results. The firmware update disk (3.9 release) has no problem with its booting, only the operating system. I do not want to install this version as it is older than the one I currently have installed (4.8). Any help you can give would be great.

Ray Napier

[Karl Rohwedder · Accepted solution]

Ray,

just a note: the last firmware for AS1000A was V5.7, see
http://ftp.digital.com/pub/Digital/Alpha/firmware/archive/as1000a.html

Since both the disk and the CD failed, it seems not to be a problem with the CD, but have you a tried another OS CD?

regards Kalle

[Vladimir Fabecic]

Hello
Few months ago I had simular problem.
Problem was caused by CPU daughter board.
But first do the following:
- Try to boot another machine from your DKA0
- Run ECU
There is also a posibility that you have problem with motherboard (SCSI controller).
Regards

[Raymond Napier]

Hello all, I do appreciate the suggestions for this particular boot problem I was having with my Alpha 1000A 5/400 RM server.

As suggested, the OS CD was removed and another inserted. This allowed the Alpha to boot from the CDROM. The DKA0 drive is having an Analyze/media/excersize run on it and will be re-loaded following its satisfactory format.

I was suspecting the SCSI controller, but the problem was actually the CD. The bad OS CD had no problem booting in another system. Kind of weird, but that is the nature of the beast.

Thanks

[Raymond Napier]

Thanks again, see my previous comment