[Info-vax] Alphaserver 1000A with external BA356 enclosure - 16 bit issues

[ChrisQ]

On 10/14/11 21:34, urbancamo wrote:
> Hi folks
>
> I didn't have much time this morning, but I did try the 16 bit
> personality module again with the position 1 switch set to ON.
> Note that the module has 8 switches, not 4 as suggested.
>
> There was no visible effect. I still get a continuous list:
>
> waiting for pkc0.7.0.2004.0 to poll...
>
> Note that the both the 8 bit and 16 bit interface cards are installed
> in the system, I'm not replacing one with the other.
>
> Regards, Mark.

You can't just do this stuff blind without checking the part numbers to
confirm which is lvd/hvd. At the very least, lvd drives connected to an
hvd controller will just shut down; worst case, fry the line receivers.
hvd was only a short blip in time terms, but there's quite a bit of old
dec and sun kit that use it and it isn't obvious as the external connectors
are the same. My advice would be to google etc for the docs, make sure the
interfaces and termination / setup at both ends are compatable, then you are
as sure as you can be that the error message isn't a hardware problem. Of
course, if youm already have fried the line receivers, all bets are off 
:-(.

Digital used to make a series of scsi translator boxes, with part numbers
beginning DWZZ*, which were mains powered and contained a pc with dozens of
chips. Quite usefull if you are working with the older kit...

Regards,

Chris