OpenVMS 7.1 install on Alpha 1000A 5/400 RM

[Mike Gende]

Hey There,

We were looking to bring back a database app that ran on OpenVMS back in the 90s. So, we went out and picked up a computer to run that OS, an Alpha Server 1000A 5/400 RM. ($150 for server, 13 one gig drivers, and cabinet. All in good shape).

I used to live on VMS and RSX but its been years. I've been using Linux exclusively for some time. Here's my quest:

Is there any good doc specific to installing the OS on this box from CD?

I've done a SHOW DEVICE but can't discern which one is the CD. Advice?

Is there doc on booting from CD on this box's current VMS version (SHOW VERSION gives 4.8-74)?

I feel like a newbie again. Any pointers would be most appreciated.

Regards,

Mike

[Volker Halle · Accepted solution]

Mike,

welcome to the OpenVMS forum !

The CD drive on an AlphaServer 1000A would most probably be DKA400 (an RRD45 maybe ?).
Firmware V4.8-74 should be o.k. for V7.1, if you want to run higher versions of OpenVMS, you need to upgrade the firmware.

To install OpenVMS, just >>> B DKA400
then use 1) Upgrade, install ... OpenVMS

You need to use INITIALIZE mode and select a disk to receive the OpenVMS operating system.

The OpenVMS documentation is available online (see below) and installation hasn't changed much since V7.1.

http://h71000.www7.hp.com/doc/os82_index.html

Good luck,

Volker.

[Jan van den Ende]

Mike,

if you still have good backups from way back when, you can first try to restore the backups.

Using the CD to bring up the installation system, just backup your tapes to the drives.

Chances are that you will bring up a system fully configured for the application!

You might have to boot conversationally boot to set the SYSTEM password of course.

Success!

Proost.

Have one on me.

jpe

[Arch_Muthiah]

Hi,

if >>> sho dev -- cmnd shows any device start with DQxx, try to boot from that too.

you can see the current config using
>>> show config -- cmnd which shows little brief about the current SCSI and IDE controllers, you can find available disks and IDE device, this also helpful to choose CDROM device and free disk on which you install OS.

Archunan

[Robert_Boyd]

Mike,

At the site I work at there is an Alpha 1000A 5/500, so I may be able to answer some questions about your setup.

As was already mentioned -- look for an RRD device in the SHOW DEVICE output -- that will be your best bet for the CD reader.

You may want to make sure you've got the latest firmware installed on the box -- the latest I've found is SRM V5.7-80 Theoretically OpenVMS V7.1 should not have any trouble running on later firmware.

The CD ROM on my system is DKC500 and is listed as a DEC RRD47. There are 2 extra SCSI interfaces on the box, otherwise it would be DKA500.

Based on my experiences, I suggest you try the boot from CD, invoke the DCL mode, and use BACKUP to restore the system disk and see if you can get it to boot. There aren't really any special flags you need to set to boot the CD. >>> B DKA500 should be sufficient.

You should just for grins do a >>> SHOW PK*
and SHOW E* to make sure that all of the settings make sense.

Also make sure that the OS type variable is set to VMS. If the box was previously used for a variant of Unix it will need to be reset to VMS.

Best wishes,


Robert

[Mike Gende]

Thanks to everyone that replied, it really helped. As we speak, I'm installing. Again, many thanks but you've probably not heard that last from me!

Regards,

Mike

[Mike Gende]

Installation now underway.