[Info-vax] DEC Multia (UDB) issues

[Hans Vlems]

On Aug 23, 12:59 am, MG <marcog... at SPAMxs4all.nl> wrote:
> On 23-8-2011 0:23, John Wallace wrote:
>
> > There's a Multia service manual athttp://www.alphalinux.org/docs/udb-manual.pdf.gz
>
> Thank you, I'll download that for safe keeping.  (Always good to have.)
>
> > It confirms that console settings will be lost when the battery is
> > dead. Sadly the manual also illustrates that the battery is not an off-
> > the-shelf coin cell in the Alpha Multia (I had been thinking it was -
> > maybe I had it confused with the Intel UDB, which did have a standard
> > coin cell, but obviously didn't run VMS). Someone willing to improvise
> > with a soldering iron could probably sort the battery.
>
> Too bad.  So, yes, the latter 'option' will be the only one (besides
> replacing the NVR/TOY completely).
>
> > Obviously VMS isn't supported on Multia anyway. In an Alpha-centric
> > setup, clustering the Multia might have been worth some thought, but
> > booting an old Multia-compatible Alpha VMS version as a satellite in
> > an IA64-centric setup (ie more recent VMS) probably isn't a bright
> > idea at all (even if it stood much chance of working).
>
> I don't mind simply using an older version of VMS.  The biggest problem
> for now is that I'd need to find something to house a SCSI disk in.  I
> have plenty of spare SCSI disks, cables, terminators and so on, but
> simply not enough enclosures.
>
> It has also crossed my mind to just wait until some cheal Wintel laptop
> comes buy, to take out the 2.5" PATA/IDE disk out and use that.  But,
> I'm not extremely comfortable with just letting it rest on the main-
> board...  (Especially since the Multia has infamous cooling problems.)
>
> > Back to the RRD43 - it should work as a load device, subject to
> > correct SCSI config. Non-DEC stuff may work, subject to things like
> > block size and other settings.
>
> The Yamaha, to my great surprise, worked.  Well, it was detected with
> the correct brand/model name information in the SRM.  I didn't expect
> that, so that was a pleasant surprise.
>
> > Are you using an actual pressed VMS CD, or a CD-R? Some much older CD
> > drives weren't good at reading CD-R media.
>
> CD-R, prepared at 1x speed at the time.  In my AlphaServer 1000 (an
> even older system, isn't it?) it worked just fine.
>
> I think the boot floppy boot-strapping method will have to do for now.
> If that won't work, I think it's safe to say that there's (also?) some-
> thing wrong on the hardware end.
>
> > What's inspiring you to do this Multia thing? You might be impressed
> > by running VMS on a box that size, but you probably won't be impressed
> > with the performance.
>
> That's a very good question.
>
>    First of all, anything with the trusty "[d|i|g|i|t|a|l]" branding is
> bound to catch my attention.  Plus, I was surprised to find out that
> DEC made its own Alpha-powered thin-client.  I ran NetBSD on a Java-
> Station-NC "Krups" for years (via DHCP/bootp and TFTP net-booting) and
> really liked the machine.  I thought with an Alpha, this would be even
> more interesting.
>
>    Secondly, ever since I sold my AlphaServer 1000 --- no matter how
> riddled with glitches and defects --- I missed an Alpha system and
> the Multia was being offered on a local auction site.  I knew of the
> limitations, but considering the price it was something of later worry
> for me.  The system itself is in great physical condition, only the
> vertical mounter was damaged during transport (the 'lips' snapped off,
> but I managed to glue them with an appropriate glue).
>
>    Thirdly, in June I was expecting to lay my hands on a DS10.  Due to
> some difficulties, the person who promised me one wasn't able to get
> to it and since then --- in the meantime, as I described above ---
> came across the Multia.
>
> I'm not at all sorry I bought it though, it looks great and even if
> running VMS on it isn't ideal, I'll find another use.  (Preferably
> VMS though!)
>
> > Have fun anyway!
>
> Thank you, also for all the help!
>
>   - MG

Running VMS on a Multia is not that difficult, even I managed to make
it work. My Multia came
with just 40 MB main memory IIRC and though VMS will boot and run in
that limited space it halted
within half an hour. The memory was expanded to 256 MB with memory
boards with a height that only
just fitted with the box closed. Well, you read about its cooling/
airflow issues so the memory was
reduced to 4 x 32 MB boards. It shares memory boards with the
AlphaServer 1000A 5/xxx models.
VMS was installed on a Toshiba MK1924FBV disk, at 543 MB somewhat
small.
Later on the system disk was copied to an external RZ28 drive in a
BA35x cabinet.
This works well, though its built in 10 Mb/s ethernet adapter slows it
down.
Hans