RE: Weirdness with AlphaPC 164: installing SRM firmware, etc.

[Rich Payne <rdp talisman alphalinux org>]

On Fri, 10 Dec 1999, Holvoet, Kristian wrote:

> Hi,
> 
> I have a AlphaPC 164 (bought off e-bay from sysmerica, like several others on
> this topic.) However, mine came with ARC, not AlphaBios (or are they the same
> thing?). I have switched many times between ARC and SRM while trying different
> installations and hardware (this is my first Alpha and has become my hobby...)
> Perhaps you can go from AlphaBios->ARC->SRM. 

AlphaBIOS was the 'replacement' for ARC. I think you'll find the two are
very similar, AlphaBIOS just looks a little prettier.
 
> Regarding the floppy problem, I have a cable that has only one connector, and
> I've never had a problem with either ARC or SRM. I don't remember where / when I
> got it (maybe a baby? They do seem to be breeding in my cables/rails/cut-outs
> box...) Perhaps a local dealer has them.
> 
> With respect to the CD-ROM, until Linux or NT load, ARC it sees my IDE CD-ROM as
> a SCSI drive. I not real sure how the whole IDE thing works on the Alpha.

Correct, IDE devices are reported as SCSI, that's normal.

> I think you'll still have problems, though when you get the SRM installed.
> Unless I am mistaken, SRM doesn't support Adaptec 294x controllers. Actually, it
> may be Adaptec in general. I've tried 2906, 2930CU and 2940 (not 2940U, 2940UW,
> 2940U2W), and the SRM hasn't recognized any of them. If you can boot from some
> other device, though, I think you'll be okay (at least accroding to Win NT and
> Linux docs / READMEs.)

Hmmm....I know the later SRMs for some platofrms do support some adaptec
controllers. I'm not sure about the PC164 though, do you know which
version of SRM this is?

--rdp

Rich Payne
rpayne@alphalinux.org			www.alphalinux.org