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

[urbancamo]

On Oct 15, 3:34 pm, ChrisQ <m... at devnull.com> wrote:
> 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

Hi,

I'll look into the part number of the personality module more
carefully, BA35X-MH, as it only has a single bank of switches (the
module can be seen here: http://195.224.149.148/SB/Disk_Array_Case_4.jpg)

As for the previous question regarding pkc0.7.0.2004.0 to poll... -
this is the QLogic ISP10x0 controller to which the 16 bit personality
module is connected, so it's the new configuration that is causing the
problem.

Regards, Mark.