Compaq AlphaServer/AlphaStation DS10

things from boards above, but in an international language
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Morc Offline
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Compaq AlphaServer/AlphaStation DS10

Post by Morc »

A thread of (ir)relevant things surrounding the DEC/Compaq/HP AlphaServer and AlphaStation DS10 (codename WebBrick) machines. Also branded as AlphaStation XP900 and AlphaServer/AlphaStation VS10 and TS10 due to some weird marketing shenanigans.

To Be Filled By O.E.M.
The Specification Things:
CPU: Alpha 21264 64-bit - Tsunami EV67 @ 616MHz
Chipset: 21272 Tsunami (co-based on x86 Ali chipsets) + Ali Aladdin ATA-33 M5229 IDE controller + AcerLabs M1533 PCI-ISA bridge
RAM: up to 2GB
GPU: rare Compaq PowerStorm 350 32MB 3D accelerator (or a regular S3 Trio64 is also applicable)
Expansion slots: 3x 64bit PCI-X slots, 1x 32bit PCI slot, 2x undocumented ISA slots
Ports: 2x DIGITAL DE500b FE (21143 Tulip) NICs, 2x USB ports @ AcerLabs Aladdin-V M5237 USB controller, 2x COM ports, LPT parallel port, PS/2 for mouse and keyboard

The Chronological Things:
02.07.2025 - Found a guy locally selling Alpha hardware, went to take a look.
02.07.2025 - Bought two AlphaServers and two AlphaStations from said person.
02.10.2025 - ByteFEST 2025 - took one of the Alphas to ByteFEST, tried a bunch of stuff with Leandro, nearly managed to install Windows NT 4.0
17.10.2025 - first audio experiments with Leandro
31.12.2025 - experiments with Windows 2000 5.00.2128 and Windows Whistler 2001 5.00.2210
17.01.2026 - additional audio experiments at home
The stack of Alphas. Really a one of the sights of the year.
The stack of Alphas. Really a one of the sights of the year.
One of the Alphas we brought.
One of the Alphas we brought.
The Word Things:
The machine differences between the AlphaServers and AlphaStations are purely cosmetic and all of them report themselves as AlphaServer DS10 consistently.

USB related:
The USB ports are disabled in-firmware in SRM with no way of accessing them, neither from UNIX environments, nor from Windows NT. See This Post to learn more!
AlphaBIOS integrated USB switch doesn't change anything?

Windows NT related:
Sound problems (ES1370 works only in the first - top most PCI slot, albeit with IRQ conflicts, to be researched more)

Code: Select all

 PCI slots - from top to bottom
Slot 3 - IRQ 4 (works but stutters, COM1 conflict)
Slot 2 - IRQ 0 (doesn't want to install, System timer conflict)
Slot 1 - IRQ 12 (doesn't want to install, PS/2 mouse conflict)
Slot 0 - IRQ 8 (doesn't want to install, System CMOS/real time clock conflict)
Lack of ISA slots for more possible sound cards (maybe figure out the physical connector and a breakout or something?)
No support for SCSI booting and general issues with some stuff overall
NTFS issues?

AlphaBIOS SCSI/IDE related:
Drive size 33GB limit? There are release notes that mention bigger support but it doesn't seem to be the case?
Also make sure you have a 512b sector size on the drive and that AlphaBIOS doesn't say ***Off-Line*** on the said disk otherwise you won't be able to use it.
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Leandro Offline
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Windows NT 4.0 on The DS10™

Post by Leandro »

Prerequisites:
The HAL floppy
hal-ev6.zip
(224.99 KiB) Downloaded 57 times
Windows NT Workstation 4.0 CD
AlphaBIOS instead of UNIX mode (set os_type NT in SRM or just boot into it using nt or alphabios)
sanity and a fair bit of luck.

Optional:
Drive formatting through AlphaBIOS, but can be nicely skipped in this instance

Installation Steps:
1. Put the CD and the HAL floppy in the machine and boot into AlphaBIOS
2. Select "Install Windows NT" from AlphaBIOS
3. Wait for the HAL prompt and select Compaq Professional Workstation XP1000 from the list.
IMG_3121.jpg

4. Load additional SCSI/IDE drivers from the HAL floppy, mainly the IDE driver, otherwise you will bugcheck on 7B due to missing install root
5. Format the drive as usual (pick smaller partition sizes and also do FAT instead of NTFS)
6. Continue as usual and end up on the desktop

Post-Install Steps:
1. Install the ethernet drivers (use DEC PCI Ethernet DC21142) twice to get both NICs
2. Get on the internet and take a picture of a certain site!
3. Install the latest Service Pack 6 and also the rest of the drivers (eg. the Compaq PowerStorm 350 (pbxgdac) driver and also the sound card drivers for the ES1370)
4. Install Compaq FX!32 to enhance your computing capabilities with x86 emulation!


The Alpha Machine on network + pinging
The Alpha Machine on network + pinging

The finished installation along with the PowerStack 350 3D accel GPU drivers on it
The finished installation along with the PowerStack 350 3D accel GPU drivers on it
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Windows Whistler 2001 5.00.2210 AXP64 on the DS10

Post by Leandro »

What would it take to get you AlphaPowered on Windows 2000?
What would it take to get you AlphaPowered on Windows 2000?

Prerequisites:
Windows Whistler 2001 5.00.2210 AXP64 CD
AlphaBIOS instead of UNIX mode (set os_type NT in SRM or just boot into it using nt or alphabios)
date and time set to the pre-timebomb
an old projector pointing at the ceiling due to more coolness factor possibilites
sanity and a fair bit of luck.

Whistler doesn't need any HAL floppies and works out of the box as far as things are considered.

Installation Steps:
1. Boot into AlphaBIOS and go into Hard Disk Setup
2. Add a fittingly "big" partition and format it to FAT in AlpbaBIOS (note 1: 2500MB was fine with 1GB of system ram, note 2: you don't need to make an another ARC partition if you already have one)
3. Save HDD changes
IMG_8562.jpg

4. Put the installation CD in the machine, open Utilities and open Run Maintenance Program
5. Set the Program Name to axp64\setupldr and Location to CD:
IMG_3286.jpg
5. You should be booting into the setup just normally.
Setup during the boot process.
Setup during the boot process.


You will encounter this rather interesting error though.
It blew up. Oops.
It blew up. Oops.
No worries though, the setup apparently did change something and you just need to restart from step 4.


The setup will now nicely proceed to the installer, select the newly created partition and don't reformat it.
IMG_8549.jpg
The boot picker with NT 4.0 and 2000 AXP on it.
The boot picker with NT 4.0 and 2000 AXP on it.
The goofy spraypainted boot logo
The goofy spraypainted boot logo
System Properties of the debug build
System Properties of the debug build
The one and only, the perfect site to try the thing.
The one and only, the perfect site to try the thing.
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Leandro Offline
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Windows 2000 5.00.2128 AXP32 on the DS10

Post by Leandro »

Prerequisites:
Windows 2000 5.00.2128 AXP32
AlphaBIOS instead of UNIX mode (set os_type NT in SRM)
NO SYMBIOS SCSI CARDS IN PCI SLOTS (caused bugchecks before but is fine now?)
sanity and a fair bit of luck.

Installation Steps:
1. Boot into AlphaBIOS and go into Hard Disk Setup
2. Add a fittingly 4095MB big partition and format it to FAT in AlpbaBIOS (note, you don't need to make an another ARC partition if you already have one)
3. Save HDD changes and return back to the menu
4. Select "Install Windows NT" from AlphaBIOS
5. You should be booting into the setup just normally.
6. Proceed as usual and you should end up on the desktop in a certain amount of time.

Post-Install Steps:
1. Install the Compaq PowerStorm 350 (pbxgdac) driver (since the NT 4.0 driver works here just fine so far)
The installed system with working GPU drivers and also networking.
The installed system with working GPU drivers and also networking.
msinfo32
msinfo32
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Leandro Offline
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RMC/SRM + AlphaBIOS Notes and Miscellaneous Info

Post by Leandro »

Code: Select all

RMC> status

       PLATFORM STATUS
Firmware Revision: V1.2
Server Power: ON
RMC Halt: Deasserted
RMC Power Control: ON
Power Supply: OK
System Fans: OK       CPU Fan: OK
Temperature: 39.0°C (warnings at 55.0°C, power-off at 60.0°C)
Escape Sequence: ^[^[RMC
Remote Access: Disabled
RMC Password: not set
Alert Enable: Disabled
Alert Pending: YES
Init String:
Dial String:
Alert String:
Com1_mode: SNOOP
Last Alert: AC Loss
Watchdog Timer: 60 seconds
Autoreboot: OFF
Logout Timer: 20 minutes
User String:

Code: Select all

>>>show
auto_action             BOOT
boot_dev                dk*0.0.0.14.0
boot_file
boot_osflags            A
boot_reset              OFF
bootbios
bootdef_dev             dk*0.0.0.14.0
booted_dev
booted_file
booted_osflags
char_set                0
com1_baud               9600
com1_flow               SOFTWARE
com1_mode               SNOOP
com1_modem              OFF
com2_baud               9600
com2_flow               SOFTWARE
com2_modem              OFF
console                 graphics
console_memory_allocation       old
controlp                ON
d_bell                  off
d_cleanup               on
d_complete              off
d_eop                   off
d_group                 field
d_harderr               halt
d_loghard               on
d_logsoft               off
d_omit
d_oper                  on
d_passes                1
d_quick                 off
d_report                full
d_runtime               0
d_softerr               halt
d_startup               off
d_status                off
d_trace                 off
d_verbose               0
dump_dev
enable_audit            ON
ewa0_arp_tries          3
ewa0_bootp_file
ewa0_bootp_server
ewa0_bootp_tries        3
ewa0_def_ginetaddr      0.0.0.0
ewa0_def_inetaddr       0.0.0.0
ewa0_def_inetfile
ewa0_def_sinetaddr      0.0.0.0
ewa0_def_subnetmask     0.0.0.0
ewa0_ginetaddr          0.0.0.0
ewa0_inet_init          bootp
ewa0_inetaddr           0.0.0.0
ewa0_inetfile
ewa0_loop_count         2
ewa0_loop_inc           d0
ewa0_loop_patt          ffffffffffffffff
ewa0_loop_size          100
ewa0_lp_msg_node        6
ewa0_mode               Twisted-Pair
ewa0_protocols          BOOTP
ewa0_sinetaddr          0.0.0.0
ewa0_tftp_blocksize     1024
ewa0_tftp_tries         3
ewb0_arp_tries          3
ewb0_bootp_file
ewb0_bootp_server
ewb0_bootp_tries        3
ewb0_def_ginetaddr      0.0.0.0
ewb0_def_inetaddr       0.0.0.0
ewb0_def_inetfile
ewb0_def_sinetaddr      0.0.0.0
ewb0_def_subnetmask     0.0.0.0
ewb0_ginetaddr          0.0.0.0
ewb0_inet_init          bootp
ewb0_inetaddr           0.0.0.0
ewb0_inetfile
ewb0_loop_count         2
ewb0_loop_inc           d0
ewb0_loop_patt          ffffffffffffffff
ewb0_loop_size          100
ewb0_lp_msg_node        6
ewb0_mode               FastFD (Full Duplex)
ewb0_protocols          BOOTP
ewb0_sinetaddr          0.0.0.0
ewb0_tftp_blocksize     1024
ewb0_tftp_tries         3
exdep_data              27
exdep_location          1
exdep_size              1
exdep_space             iic_rcm_temp
exdep_type              0
ffauto                  OFF
ffnext                  OFF
full_powerup_diags      ON
fwa0_arp_tries          3
fwa0_bootp_file
fwa0_bootp_server
fwa0_bootp_tries        3
fwa0_def_ginetaddr      0.0.0.0
fwa0_def_inetaddr       0.0.0.0
fwa0_def_inetfile
fwa0_def_sinetaddr      0.0.0.0
fwa0_def_subnetmask     0.0.0.0
fwa0_ginetaddr          0.0.0.0
fwa0_inet_init          bootp
fwa0_inetaddr           0.0.0.0
fwa0_inetfile
fwa0_loop_count         3e8
fwa0_loop_inc           a
fwa0_loop_patt          ffffffffffffffff
fwa0_loop_size          2e
fwa0_lp_msg_node        1
fwa0_protocols          BOOTP
fwa0_sinetaddr          0.0.0.0
fwa0_tftp_blocksize     1024
fwa0_tftp_tries         3
heap_expand             NONE
i                       g
j                       w
k                       g
kbd_hardware_type       PCXAL
language                0
language_name           none
license                 MU
memory_test             none
mfg_status              b5
N1
N2
N3
N4
N5
N6
N7
N8
oem_string
os_type                 NT
page_table_levels       3
pal                     OpenVMS PALcode V1.98-83, Tru64 UNIX PALcode V1.92-73
pci_parity              ON
prefetch_mode           ON
prompt                  >>>
reset_boot_arg0
reset_boot_arg1
reset_boot_arg2
rmc_halt                DISABLED
scsi_poll               ON
scsi_reset              ON
shutdown_temp           60
srm2ctrl
srm2dev
sys_serial_num          AY02207542
tt_allow_login          1
tty_dev                 0
user_def1
user_def2
version                 V7.1-1 Dec  7 2005 15:38:15
wwid0
wwid1
wwid2
wwid3

Code: Select all

>>>show config
                        AlphaServer DS10 617 MHz

SRM Console:    V7.1-1
PALcode:        OpenVMS PALcode V1.98-83, Tru64 UNIX PALcode V1.92-73

Processors
CPU 0           Alpha EV67 pass 2.6 617 MHz
                SROM Revision: V1.18.208
                Bcache size: 2 MB

Core Logic
Cchip           DECchip 21272-CA Rev 2
Dchip           DECchip 21272-DA Rev 2
Pchip 0         DECchip 21272-EA Rev 2

TIG             Rev 2.1
Arbiter         Rev 7.30 (0xfe)

MEMORY

Array #       Size     Base Addr
-------    ----------  ---------
   0         512 MB    000000000
   1         512 MB    020000000

Total Bad Pages = 0
Total Good Memory = 1024 MBytes


PCI Hose 00
     Bus 00  Slot 07: Acer Labs M1543C
                                                         Bridge to Bus 1, ISA
     Bus 00  Slot 09: DE500-BA Network Controller
                                   ewa0.0.0.9.0          08-00-2B-86-E5-EB
     Bus 00  Slot 11: DE500-BA Network Controller
                                   ewb0.0.0.11.0         08-00-2B-86-E3-52
     Bus 00  Slot 13: Acer Labs M1543C IDE
                                   dqa.0.0.13.0
                                   dqa0.0.0.13.0          CD-224E
                                   dqb0.0.1.13.0          ST320014 A
                                   dqb1.1.1.13.0          IBM-DJNA -352030
     Bus 00  Slot 14: DEFPA
                                   fwa0.0.0.14.0         00-60-B0-58-3F-CC
     Bus 00  Slot 16: PowerStorm 350
                                   vga0.0.0.16.0


ISA
Slot    Device  Name            Type         Enabled  BaseAddr  IRQ     DMA
0
        0       MOUSE           Embedded        Yes     60      12

        1       KBD             Embedded        Yes     60      1

        2       COM1            Embedded        Yes     3f8     4

        3       COM2            Embedded        Yes     2f8     3

        4       LPT1            Embedded        Yes     3bc     7

        5       FLOPPY          Embedded        Yes     3f0     6       2

Code: Select all

>>>help
NAME
         help
FUNCTION
         Display information about console commands.
SYNOPSIS
         help [<command>...]
                       Command synopsis conventions:
                       <item> Implies a placeholder for user specified item.
                       <item>... Implies an item or list of items.
                       [] Implies optional keyword or item.
                       {a,b,c} Implies any one of a, b, c.
                       {a|b|c} Implies any combination of a, b, c.

The following help topics are available:

alloc           assign_hw       boot            break           buildfru
cat             check           chmod           clear           clear password
clear_error     cmp             continue        crash           debug1
deposit         dynamic         echo            edit            element
eval            examine         exer            exit            false
find_field      free            gct             gctverify       grep
halt            hd              help            info            initialize
isacfg          isp1020_edit    kill            kill_diags      lfu
line            login           lpinit          ls              man
mc_cable        mc_diag         memexer         memtest         migrate
more            net             nettest         prcache         ps
restore_nvram   rm              run             sa              save_nvram
semaphore       set             set host        set password    set secure
shell           show            show bios       show cluster    show config
show cpu        show fru        show hwrpb      show iobq       show map
show memory     show power      show_status     sleep           sort
sound           sp              srom21143_edit  start           stop
sys_exer        test            tr              true            uptime
wc              wwidmgr
>>>ls
add_de205       alloc           alphabios       arc             assign_hw
b               bar             boot            bootp           break
buildfru        c               cat             check           chmod
clear           clear_error     cmp             continue        crash
d               debug1          decode          deposit         dqa0.0.0.13.0
dqb0.0.1.13.0   dqb1.1.1.13.0   dva0.0.0.0.0    dynamic         e
echo            edit            eerom           el              element
eval            ewa0.0.0.9.0    ewb0.0.0.11.0   examine         examine_render
exer            exit            false           fat             find_field
flash           fpr             free            fsrom           fwa0.0.0.14.0
fwupdate        galaxy          gct             gctverify       gpr
grep            h               halt            hd              help
hwrpbtta0       iic_mst         iic_rcm_nvram0  iic_rcm_nvram1  iic_rcm_nvram2
iic_rcm_nvram3  iic_rcm_nvram4  iic_rcm_nvram5  iic_rcm_nvram6  iic_rcm_nvram7
iic_rcm_temp    iic_smb0        iic_system0     iic_system1     info
init            ipr             isacfg          iso9660         iso9660_raw
isp1020_edit    jtopal          kill            kill_diags      lfu
line            login           lp_nodes_ewa0   lp_nodes_ewb0   lpinit
ls              man             mc_cable        mc_diag         memexer
memtest         mfgtest         migrate         mopdl           more
ndbr            net             nettest         ni_db_ewa0      ni_db_ewb0
ni_db_fwa0      nl              nt              ntrom           nvram
para            pcicfg          pciio           pcimem          pmem
prcache         ps              psr             psr_render      pwrup
rca0            rcb0            rcu             readme          restore_nvram
rm              run             sa              save_nvram      se
semaphore       set             set_flag        sh              shell
sho             show            show_status     showit          sleep
sort            sound           sp              srmrom          srom
srom21143_edit  start           stop            sym             sys_exer
tee             test            testmem         tftp            toy
tr              true            tt              tta0            tta1
uptime          vga0            vmem            vmem_render     wc
wwidmgr

Code: Select all

>>>man isacfg
NAME
         isacfg
FUNCTION
         sets or shows user inputted isa configuration data.
SYNOPSIS
         isacfg ([-slot <slot#>]
                       [-dev <device#>]
                       [-all|-rm|-mk|-mod|-init] [-<field> <value>]

>>>isacfg -slot 0

=============================================================
entry adr: 3ff7d700
handle: MOUSE
etyp: 2
slot: 0
dev: 0
enadev: 1
totdev: 6
iobase0: 60   iobase1: 8000000000000000
iobase2: 8000000000000000   iobase3: 8000000000000000
iobase4: 8000000000000000   iobase5: 8000000000000000
membase0: 8000000000000000   memlen0: 8000000000000000
membase1: 8000000000000000   memlen1: 8000000000000000
membase2: 8000000000000000   memlen2: 8000000000000000
rombase: 8000000000000000   romlen:   8000000000000000
dma0: 80000000          irq0: c
dma1: 80000000          irq1: 80000000
dma2: 80000000          irq2: 80000000
dma3: 80000000          irq3: 80000000
=============================================================

=============================================================
entry adr: 3ff7d7c8
handle: KBD
etyp: 2
slot: 0
dev: 1
enadev: 1
totdev: 6
iobase0: 60   iobase1: 8000000000000000
iobase2: 8000000000000000   iobase3: 8000000000000000
iobase4: 8000000000000000   iobase5: 8000000000000000
membase0: 8000000000000000   memlen0: 8000000000000000
membase1: 8000000000000000   memlen1: 8000000000000000
membase2: 8000000000000000   memlen2: 8000000000000000
rombase: 8000000000000000   romlen:   8000000000000000
dma0: 80000000          irq0: 1
dma1: 80000000          irq1: 80000000
dma2: 80000000          irq2: 80000000
dma3: 80000000          irq3: 80000000
=============================================================

=============================================================
entry adr: 3ff7d890
handle: COM1
etyp: 2
slot: 0
dev: 2
enadev: 1
totdev: 6
iobase0: 3f8   iobase1: 8000000000000000
iobase2: 8000000000000000   iobase3: 8000000000000000
iobase4: 8000000000000000   iobase5: 8000000000000000
membase0: 8000000000000000   memlen0: 8000000000000000
membase1: 8000000000000000   memlen1: 8000000000000000
membase2: 8000000000000000   memlen2: 8000000000000000
rombase: 8000000000000000   romlen:   8000000000000000
dma0: 80000000          irq0: 4
dma1: 80000000          irq1: 80000000
dma2: 80000000          irq2: 80000000
dma3: 80000000          irq3: 80000000
=============================================================

=============================================================
entry adr: 3ff7d958
handle: COM2
etyp: 2
slot: 0
dev: 3
enadev: 1
totdev: 6
iobase0: 2f8   iobase1: 8000000000000000
iobase2: 8000000000000000   iobase3: 8000000000000000
iobase4: 8000000000000000   iobase5: 8000000000000000
membase0: 8000000000000000   memlen0: 8000000000000000
membase1: 8000000000000000   memlen1: 8000000000000000
membase2: 8000000000000000   memlen2: 8000000000000000
rombase: 8000000000000000   romlen:   8000000000000000
dma0: 80000000          irq0: 3
dma1: 80000000          irq1: 80000000
dma2: 80000000          irq2: 80000000
dma3: 80000000          irq3: 80000000
=============================================================

=============================================================
entry adr: 3ff7da20
handle: LPT1
etyp: 2
slot: 0
dev: 4
enadev: 1
totdev: 6
iobase0: 3bc   iobase1: 8000000000000000
iobase2: 8000000000000000   iobase3: 8000000000000000
iobase4: 8000000000000000   iobase5: 8000000000000000
membase0: 8000000000000000   memlen0: 8000000000000000
membase1: 8000000000000000   memlen1: 8000000000000000
membase2: 8000000000000000   memlen2: 8000000000000000
rombase: 8000000000000000   romlen:   8000000000000000
dma0: 80000000          irq0: 7
dma1: 80000000          irq1: 80000000
dma2: 80000000          irq2: 80000000
dma3: 80000000          irq3: 80000000
=============================================================

=============================================================
entry adr: 3ff7dae8
handle: FLOPPY
etyp: 2
slot: 0
dev: 5
enadev: 1
totdev: 6
iobase0: 3f0   iobase1: 8000000000000000
iobase2: 8000000000000000   iobase3: 8000000000000000
iobase4: 8000000000000000   iobase5: 8000000000000000
membase0: 8000000000000000   memlen0: 8000000000000000
membase1: 8000000000000000   memlen1: 8000000000000000
membase2: 8000000000000000   memlen2: 8000000000000000
rombase: 8000000000000000   romlen:   8000000000000000
dma0: 2         irq0: 6
dma1: 80000000          irq1: 80000000
dma2: 80000000          irq2: 80000000
dma3: 80000000          irq3: 80000000
=============================================================
Disabling ISA bridge devices from SRM:

Code: Select all

>>>isacfg -slot 0 -dev 4 -mod -enadev 0
type >>>init to use these changes
note: changing things here doesn't affect AlphaBIOS at all

AlphaBIOS
AlphaBIOS - PCI Configuration
AlphaBIOS - PCI Configuration
AlphaBIOS - ISA Configuration
AlphaBIOS - ISA Configuration
AlphaBIOS - Integrated Peripherals
AlphaBIOS - Integrated Peripherals
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Morc Offline
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Making USB work on the Compaq AlphaServer DS10

Post by Morc »

YES! The embedded AcerLabs USB M5237 controller of the DS10 is disabled by default on recent versions of SRM and you need to perform *some "tricks"*. Beware that it's unstable and has reasons why it got killed off in the first place. Oops :trol:.

SRM versions up until v5.7 had USB controller enabled in them until they started disabling it since v5.8. It seems like that having the Ali USB controller enabled doesn't break stuff in itself, but that the DE500b NICs start misbehaving and BSODing the machine after the first reboot of the Windows install.

(possible workaround idea by reverting whatever changes are being done by the drivers or whatever to make it boot each time?)

Prerequisites:
DEC Alpha Firmware Update CD-ROM (Mid-2000) burned to a... CD
a DS10 with a CD-ROM drive and without working USB!

SRM+AlphaBIOS downgrade steps:
1. Boot into SRM (hold the halt button if set to AlphaBIOS as default)
2. Type boot dqa0 (or whatever your CD-ROM uses as the device name)
3. Skip the fw update text and wait for the Bootfile: prompt where you can use the default one
5. Wait for it to reboot and perform the update command on the UPD> prompt
6. Continue with all downgrade warnings and wait for it to update
Continuing through the downgrade warnings, don't be scared.
Continuing through the downgrade warnings, don't be scared.
7. Reboot the machine with the exit command

AlphaBIOS pages:
Some of the visible changes in AlphaBIOS
AlphaBIOS 5.70 (DS10 Beta3) 990909.0931
AlphaBIOS 5.70 (DS10 Beta3) 990909.0931
PCI Configuration, now with the AcerLabs USB M5237 controller
PCI Configuration, now with the AcerLabs USB M5237 controller

SRM "show config" output:

Code: Select all

>>>show config
                        COMPAQ AlphaServer DS10 616 MHz

SRM Console:    V5.6-3
PALcode:        OpenVMS PALcode V1.69-59, Tru64 UNIX PALcode V1.62-54

Processors
CPU 0           Alpha 21264-0 616 MHz   SROM Revision: V1.18.208
                Bcache size: 2 MB

Core Logic
Cchip           DECchip 21272-CA Rev 2
Dchip           DECchip 21272-DA Rev 2
Pchip 0         DECchip 21272-EA Rev 2

TIG             Rev 2.1
Arbiter         Rev 7.30 (0xfe)

MEMORY

Array #       Size     Base Addr
-------    ----------  ---------
   0         512 MB    000000000
   1         512 MB    020000000

Total Bad Pages = 0
Total Good Memory = 1024 MBytes


PCI Hose 00
     Bus 00  Slot 01: Acer Labs M1543C USB

     Bus 00  Slot 07: Acer Labs M1543C
                                                         Bridge to Bus 1, ISA
     Bus 00  Slot 09: DE500-BA Network Controller
                                   ewa0.0.0.9.0          08-00-2B-86-E5-EB
     Bus 00  Slot 11: DE500-BA Network Controller
                                   ewb0.0.0.11.0         08-00-2B-86-E3-52
     Bus 00  Slot 13: Acer Labs M1543C IDE
                                   dqa.0.0.13.0
                                   dqa0.0.0.13.0          CD-224E
                                   dqb0.0.1.13.0          ST320014 A
                                   dqb1.1.1.13.0          IBM-DJNA -352030
     Bus 00  Slot 14: DEC PCI FDDI
                                   fwa0.0.0.14.0         00-60-B0-58-3F-CC
     Bus 00  Slot 16: PowerStorm 350



ISA
Slot    Device  Name            Type         Enabled  BaseAddr  IRQ     DMA
0
        0       MOUSE           Embedded        Yes     60      12
        1       KBD             Embedded        Yes     60      1
        2       COM1            Embedded        Yes     3f8     4
        3       COM2            Embedded        Yes     2f8     3
        4       LPT1            Embedded        No      3bc     7
        5       FLOPPY          Embedded        Yes     3f0     6       2

W2k 5.00.2128 proof:
All of this now lets you to boot into Windows and see the fun of working USB!
ALi PCI to USB Open Host Controller installing from the W2k inbox drivers
ALi PCI to USB Open Host Controller installing from the W2k inbox drivers

Working USB Mass Storage on DS10
Working USB Mass Storage on DS10
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Morc Offline
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Making sound work on NT on the DS10? [Partial Fail, more R&D needed]

Post by Morc »

NOTICE: We still didn't get to properly resolve the audio situation, incomplete information in front of your eyes.

To make sound work on the NT for the Alpha processors you need atleast:
1. built in WSS card (a case for some Alpha workstations)
2. an ISA audio card
3. a PCI audio card
4. have a different one on the board (usually ES18xx on some Alpha workstations)

Considering that the DS10 was more of a server than a workstation, it lacks any WSS cards, any built-in Ensoniq cards nor ISA slots, the only option is to use a PCI card.

As for PCI cards, the supported list is as follows:
1. Ensoniq AudioPCI ES1370 (warning: no ES1371 nor ES1373!)
2. Lynx Studio Technology LynxONE

Trying to get the ES1370 to work
We currently have three known driver versions for the Ensoniq AudioPCI ES1370:
4.00.16, 4.00.23 [Revision: 49], 4.00.26 [Revision: 198]

The ES1370 is currently working* only** in the top most slot (Slot 3 - IRQ 4) in the DS10.

*Issue being that the card is getting IRQs from a lower range 0-12 and that makes it conflict with various system devices before it gets a chance to properly work.

**The top slot is the only "plug and play" one which sadly has audio stutters, indicating at a IRQ conflict.
Potential mitigation is to apparently use a PCI Configuration Tool that was officially released by Compaq/DEC for the Alpha computers with the NT 4. Only issue being that the tool doesn't let you to change the IRQ above 0x0F, which significantly ruins the possibilities of moving the IRQ of the card higher.
The PCI Configuration Tool also lets you to temporarily get the card to work in other PCI slots than the top one by reassigning the IRQ to one, that seems to work with the stutters.
Example with the card in a different than the top slot
Example with the card in a different than the top slot
The card in the top slot with IRQ 4
The card in the top slot with IRQ 4
In case of a tougher conflict, a funny bugcheck appears:
20260117_011509.jpg

More to come later I guess....

Trying to get the LynxONE to work
This is a funny card. We managed to get two pieces on Superbuy.

There should be atleast one known driver version for these LynxONE cards. For Intel and for Alphas.

We still don't have these cards at home yet, so we'll see later...

More to come later....
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