From owner-freebsd-alpha Thu Jul 25 14: 4:46 2002 Delivered-To: freebsd-alpha@freebsd.org Received: from mx1.FreeBSD.org (mx1.FreeBSD.org [216.136.204.125]) by hub.freebsd.org (Postfix) with ESMTP id 6700237B400 for ; Thu, 25 Jul 2002 14:04:42 -0700 (PDT) Received: from freebie.xs4all.nl (freebie.xs4all.nl [213.84.32.253]) by mx1.FreeBSD.org (Postfix) with ESMTP id F137143E65 for ; Thu, 25 Jul 2002 14:04:39 -0700 (PDT) (envelope-from wkb@freebie.xs4all.nl) Received: from freebie.xs4all.nl (localhost [127.0.0.1]) by freebie.xs4all.nl (8.12.5/8.12.2) with ESMTP id g6PL4Ym1000987; Thu, 25 Jul 2002 23:04:35 +0200 (CEST) (envelope-from wkb@freebie.xs4all.nl) Received: (from wkb@localhost) by freebie.xs4all.nl (8.12.5/8.12.5/Submit) id g6PL4YwU000986; Thu, 25 Jul 2002 23:04:34 +0200 (CEST) Date: Thu, 25 Jul 2002 23:04:34 +0200 From: Wilko Bulte To: Chris Brotherton Cc: Mike Cochran , freebsd-alpha@FreeBSD.ORG Subject: Re: Will my machine run freeBSD? Message-ID: <20020725230434.A972@freebie.xs4all.nl> References: <00bc01c2341b$80c32830$6e787043@salamundi.com> <3D406582.5040700@evilelement.net> Mime-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: text/plain; charset=us-ascii Content-Disposition: inline User-Agent: Mutt/1.2.5i In-Reply-To: <3D406582.5040700@evilelement.net>; from chris@evilelement.net on Thu, Jul 25, 2002 at 02:54:26PM -0600 X-OS: FreeBSD 4.6-STABLE X-PGP: finger wilko@freebsd.org Sender: owner-freebsd-alpha@FreeBSD.ORG Precedence: bulk List-ID: List-Archive: (Web Archive) List-Help: (List Instructions) List-Subscribe: List-Unsubscribe: X-Loop: FreeBSD.org On Thu, Jul 25, 2002 at 02:54:26PM -0600, Chris Brotherton wrote: > > > Mike Cochran wrote: > > Howdy, > > > > > > > > I have freebsd installed on an old intel machine, and I am enjoying > > working with the OS from a hobbyist's perspective. I'm kinda bored with > > x86 and want to pick up an old alphaserver. I have access to an older > > alpha machine, a (compaq) "Digital Ultimate Workstation 533a" that I can > > pick up for VERY cheap. So I'd like to try installing freeBSD on this > > unused alpha if possible. > > > > > > > > This alpha, which is basically an alphaserver 1200, originally shipped > > with NT and I'm sure it boots into alphabios. There is another version > > of the machine that shipped with digital unix or vms that is called the > > 533au. > > > > > > > > My question is: Is there a setting in the firmware that allows you to > > choose between alphabios and srm? If not, can I update/change the > > firmware on this "Digital alpha workstation 533a" to load the firmware > > that supports digital unix, and therefore possibly freeBSD or failing > > that, some other linux, as well? > > > > > > > > Any help would be very cool. This is a new area to me, I've never played > > around on these machines before, and I don't even have one in front of > > me to know if my question even makes sense. > > > > > > > > Thanks, > > > > > > > > Mike > > > Mike, > > Many of the "a" series came with adaptec SCSI controllers. These > controllers cannot be booted from when using the SRM console (SRM is > required for FreeBSD). The "au" series came with Qlogic SCSI > controllers that are bootable. However, some of the newer "a" series > have Qlogic onboard SCSI controllers. These machines are easy to pick > out because they have USB. Long story short, if you have an adaptec > SCSI controller you will not be able to boot from it, but I have heard > it is possible to boot from an IDE drive and use the SCSI drives as storage. You are confusing a Personal Work Station (PWS aka Miata) with the Ultimate Workstation (UWS aka AlphaStation/Server 1200 aka Tincup). But you are right in the sense that it is very useful to check the system config for the SCSI HBA. Wilko -- | / o / /_ _ wilko@FreeBSD.org |/|/ / / /( (_) Bulte Arnhem, the Netherlands To Unsubscribe: send mail to majordomo@FreeBSD.org with "unsubscribe freebsd-alpha" in the body of the message