[Info-vax] Modding a DS10-L

[John E. Malmberg]

On 3/15/2012 6:22 PM, Rich Jordan wrote:
> On Mar 15, 5:52 pm, "John E. Malmberg"<wb8... at qsl.network>  wrote:
>> On 3/15/2012 12:09 PM, Rich Jordan wrote:
>>
>>> One of my two hobbyist DS10L systems has bit it; the main logic board
>>> is dead and it just isn't cost feasible to repair/replace right now.
>>
>> B-Cache errors?
>>
>> Not confirmed as applicable to a DS10, but they are similar boxes.
>>
>> http://labs.hoffmanlabs.com/node/441
>
> Actually I've been perusing Hoffman Labs because I finally remembered
> FSL instead of SROM for the AS200 (I did one once and it worked).  So
> in case its corrupted flash I tried an FSL with a valid freshly made
> firmware floppy.  UNfortunately no change.  Environment light
> (leftmost) flashes 16 times during POST, then 6 beeps, then
> environment light on solid yellow, power light solid green, others
> dark.  The floppy drive never twitched so I don't think its getting to
> the point of checking for firmware corruption.

To quote HoffmanLabs.com:

11-Nov-2008 — AlphaServer DS15 series B-Cache errors can be tied back to 
a failed Dallas and to the validity of the NVRAM EEPROM contents of the 
FRU tables within the system; a magic sequence that can rebuild the FRU 
tables (jumper J22 to 15/16 to allow the box to power up, then >>> 
buildfru -S HMB 00 80 08 02 01 E8 03 01 00) is discussed in ITRC 
threadId=1256015.

Unfortunately the links to ITRC all got broken with the move to the new 
forums.

There is also some things to try on a DS10/DS10L, with a note that if 
this is the issue, a sequence from a working DS10/10L is probably needed 
before attempting to fix the broken one.

Nothing involved a boot floppy, but did involve installing a jumper to 
bypass some POST tests to allow you to get to a console prompt.

-John
wb8tyw at qsl.network
Personal Opinion Only