[Info-vax] DEC Multia (UDB) issues

[Hans Vlems]

On Aug 23, 10:16 pm, John Wallace <johnwalla... at yahoo.co.uk> wrote:
> On Aug 22, 11:59 pm, MG <marcog... at SPAMxs4all.nl> wrote:
>
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>
>
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> > 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
>
> "wait until some cheal Wintel laptop comes buy, to take out the 2.5"
> PATA/IDE disk out and use that"
>
> Careful. VMS and IDE don't go together like VMS and SCSI. I'd be
> pleasantly surprised if IDE disks would work in an Alpha Multia; they
> certainly didn't early in Multia's lifetime.- Hide quoted text -
>
> - Show quoted text -

The 2,5" HD in my Multia is a SCSI device. The interface may be
mistaken for IDE though.
Hans