alpha server is coming in ARC prompt directly not in SRM prompt

[bazigardu]

hi
I have faced a issue when my server(alpha ds20) is coming it is directly coming to ARC prompt not coming to SRM prompt ,i tried by halting the machine also,rebooted..CAn u tell me how to get the SRM prompt again..

[Rob Leadbeater]

Hi,

Take a look at the DS20 user guide here:

http://h18002.www1.hp.com/alphaserver/download/ds20_guide.pdf

In section 5.9 it says:

"It is necessary to switch to the SRM console to boot DIGITAL UNIX or OpenVMS or to run firmware-based diagnostics. To switch from AlphaBIOS to the SRM console, press the Reset button on the control panel, wait 5 seconds, and press the Halt button. Alternatively, select DIGITAL UNIX (SRM) or
OpenVMS (SRM) from the Advanced CMOS Setup screen and reset the system."

Hope this helps,

Regards,

Rob

[Steven Schweda]

If it changed from SRM to ARC spontaneously,
the NVRAM battery may be dead. Replacing a
dead NVRAM battery can help prevent this
problem from recurring.

[Mark...]

Hi,

DS20 and a few other alphas do not have latching halt button.

EASY way to halt this type of alpha at console:
1: if at arc press reset button or if powered off, then turn it on
2: Keep - press/release/press/release/press/release/etc the HALT button while the system goes through power on self test [POST]
NOTE: DO NOT hold in the halt button - you will be there a longgggggggggggg time!
3: eventually, should be less than a minute, the system WILL halt at the P00> prompt
4: enter the following cmd
P00> show os* You will probably find that it is set to WNT
5: change this to unix or vms
P00> set os_type unix or openvms
then do show os* again to check variable is altered - that's it.

6: Also check "auto_action" variable and maybe set to "halt" if you don't want it to auto boot unix or vms.

Mark...