===== EB64+ ===== ^ EB64+ ^^ ^ CPU | [[wp>Alpha_21064|21064]] (EV4), [[wp>Alpha_21064#Alpha_21064A|21064A]] (EV45), 150 to 275 MHz | ^ Core logic | [[hardware:chipsets#21071_and_21072|21072]] (APECS) | ^ Memory | 8 SIMM slots, parity FPM DRAM, up to 512 MiB | ^ Buses | 32-bit PCI, ISA | ^ Form factor | Full-size AT | ^ Onboard I/O | NCR 53C810 SCSI, 21040 Ethernet, floppy, 2 serial, parallel, keyboard, mouse | ^ Firmware | ARC (last 4.49-7), SRM, MILO | ^ Kernel option | ''CONFIG_ALPHA_EB64P_CH'' | ^ Linux | Linux 6.9 and earlier | The DECchip 21064 and DECchip 21064A Alpha AXP PCI Evaluation Board (EB64+) is an evaluation and development board for systems based on the 21064 or 21064A microprocessor and the 21072 chipset, released in 1994. Aspen Systems sold a closely related board as the Alpine (see [[#clones_and_oem_systems|Clones and OEM Systems]]). The EB64+ is a different board from the [[hardware:motherboards:pc64|AlphaPC 64]] (Cabriolet), which was derived from it. Because Linux handles both with the same code, the names are often used interchangeably on mailing lists. ==== Specifications ==== * 21064 or 21064A CPU running at 150 MHz to 275 MHz [(>{{wiki:hardware:motherboards:eb64plus:eb64plus_user_guide.pdf?linkonly|DECchip 21064 and DECchip 21064A Alpha AXP PCI Evaluation Board User's Guide}})] * 21072 chipset (1x 21071-CA cache/memory controller, 1x 21071-DA PCI bridge, 4x 21071-BA data slices) * 512 KiB, 1 MiB, or 2 MiB Bcache * 8x 72-pin 36-bit SIMMs (32 data bits, 1 parity bit, 3 unused bits) in two banks of four, supports 16 MiB to 512 MiB of 70 ns or faster FPM DRAM, 128-bit data bus * PCI bus running at 25 MHz to 33 MHz * 1x 32-bit PCI slot plus 1x shared PCI/ISA slot * 2x ISA slots plus 1x shared ISA/PCI slot * Intel 82378ZB or 82378IB PCI-to-ISA bridge * NCR 53C810 SCSI, internal and external headers on motherboard * DECchip 21040 Ethernet with 10BASE-T and 10BASE2 interfaces * National 87312 combination controller: floppy, 2x serial ports, parallel port * Intel 8242 keyboard and mouse controller * 512 KiB UVPROM containing the debug monitor * Standard full-size PC AT board, 33.02 cm x 30.48 cm (13.0 in x 12.0 in) [(>{{wiki:hardware:motherboards:eb64plus:eb64plus_user_guide.pdf?linkonly|DECchip 21064 and DECchip 21064A Alpha AXP PCI Evaluation Board User's Guide}}, p. 5-2)] * Standard PC power supply (not included) The EB64+ has two ROMs, one of which contains the Windows NT ARC firmware and the other contains the Evaluation Board Debug Monitor. ==== Memory ==== SIMMs are installed in two banks of four. Jumpers select the Bcache size and whether the Bcache uses 10 ns or 15 ns SRAM timing; main memory needs no jumpers. True parity SIMMs are required; "logic parity" SIMMs, which generate the parity bit with logic instead of storing it, do not work. [(>[[https://github.com/alphalinux/mailing-list-archives/blob/main/axp-list-mbox/2007-February.mbox#L391|"Ram questions"]], Tony Hoover, axp-list, 28 Feb 2007)] ==== Firmware ==== The firmware is stored in UV EPROMs rather than flash, so it cannot be updated in place. DEC's ARC firmware release notes state that updating the firmware on an EB64+ requires obtaining an updated ROM from the system vendor, whereas the AlphaPC 64 can be updated with ''fwupdate.exe''. [(>[[https://github.com/alphalinux/mailing-list-archives/blob/main/axp-list-mbox/1998-August.mbox#L10567|"help with firmware file"]], dca2, axp-list, 5 Aug 1998)] The last ARC release for the EB64+ and AlphaPC 64 was 4.49-7. [(>[[https://github.com/alphalinux/mailing-list-archives/blob/main/debian-alpha-mbox/1999-July.mbox#L4802|"Re: firmware upgrade?"]], Phil Oleson, debian-alpha, 23 Jul 1999)] An SRM console also exists for the EB64+. DEC distributed SRM consoles for its evaluation boards (EB64, EB64+, EB66, EB66+, Cabriolet, EB164, PC164, LX164, SX164) as part of its evaluation board software development kit. [(>[[https://github.com/alphalinux/mailing-list-archives/blob/main/axp-list-mbox/1998-January.mbox#L3642|"Re: SRM license issues"]], Jay Estabrook, axp-list, 6 Jan 1998)] [(>[[https://github.com/alphalinux/mailing-list-archives/blob/main/axp-list-mbox/1997-October.mbox#L21485|"Re: Milo booting other OSes?"]], Jay Estabrook, axp-list, 29 Oct 1997)] ==== Linux ==== Linux 6.9 was the last version to support the EB64+; Linux 6.10 removed support for processors older than the EV56 (21164A). [(>[[https://git.kernel.org/torvalds/c/a4184174be36|"alpha: drop pre-EV56 support"]], Linux 6.10)] Kernels up to 6.9 support it with ''CONFIG_ALPHA_EB64P_CH'' (the "EB64+" system type) or a generic kernel. [(>[[https://git.kernel.org/pub/scm/linux/kernel/git/torvalds/linux.git/tree/arch/alpha/Kconfig?h=v6.9|arch/alpha/Kconfig]], Linux 6.9)] The kernel uses the same machine vector for the EB64+ and the Cabriolet, and distinguishes the two at boot. [(>[[https://github.com/alphalinux/mailing-list-archives/blob/main/axp-list-mbox/2002-November.mbox#L5583|"Re: [PATCH] [RESENT] compilation warnings 4/6"]], Richard Henderson, axp-list, 8 Nov 2002)] Linux can be booted either from the ARC console using MILO (image name ''eb64p'') [(>[[https://github.com/alphalinux/mailing-list-archives/blob/main/axp-list-mbox/1998-March.mbox#L30004|"Re: AlphaServer 800"]], Jay Estabrook, axp-list, 25 Mar 1998)] [(>[[https://github.com/alphalinux/mailing-list-archives/blob/main/axp-list-mbox/2004-September.mbox#L5923|"Alpha Core ISO Images"]], Jay Estabrook, axp-list, 29 Sep 2004)], or from an SRM console, if one is installed, with aboot. [(>[[https://github.com/alphalinux/mailing-list-archives/blob/main/debian-alpha-mbox/2016-March.mbox#L1|"Re: can't boot kernel 4.x on SX164"]], Alex Winbow, debian-alpha, 1 Mar 2016)] In kernels up to 6.9, the onboard devices use these drivers: * SCSI (NCR 53C810): ''sym53c8xx''. [(>[[https://git.kernel.org/pub/scm/linux/kernel/git/torvalds/linux.git/tree/drivers/scsi/sym53c8xx_2/sym_glue.c?h=v6.9|drivers/scsi/sym53c8xx_2/sym_glue.c]], Linux 6.9)] * Ethernet (DECchip 21040): ''de2104x''; the ''tulip'' driver does not list the 21040's PCI ID. [(>[[https://git.kernel.org/pub/scm/linux/kernel/git/torvalds/linux.git/tree/drivers/net/ethernet/dec/tulip/de2104x.c?h=v6.9|drivers/net/ethernet/dec/tulip/de2104x.c]], Linux 6.9)] [(>[[https://git.kernel.org/pub/scm/linux/kernel/git/torvalds/linux.git/tree/drivers/net/ethernet/dec/tulip/tulip_core.c?h=v6.9|drivers/net/ethernet/dec/tulip/tulip_core.c]], Linux 6.9)] * Serial ports (PC87312): ''8250'', at the standard PC addresses listed in the Alpha serial port table. [(>[[https://git.kernel.org/pub/scm/linux/kernel/git/torvalds/linux.git/tree/arch/alpha/include/asm/serial.h?h=v6.9|arch/alpha/include/asm/serial.h]], Linux 6.9)] * Parallel port: ''parport_pc''; floppy: ''floppy''; keyboard and mouse: ''i8042''. [(>[[https://git.kernel.org/pub/scm/linux/kernel/git/torvalds/linux.git/tree/drivers/parport/parport_pc.c?h=v6.9|drivers/parport/parport_pc.c]], Linux 6.9)] [(>[[https://git.kernel.org/pub/scm/linux/kernel/git/torvalds/linux.git/tree/drivers/block/floppy.c?h=v6.9|drivers/block/floppy.c]], Linux 6.9)] [(>[[https://git.kernel.org/pub/scm/linux/kernel/git/torvalds/linux.git/tree/drivers/input/serio/i8042.c?h=v6.9|drivers/input/serio/i8042.c]], Linux 6.9)] ==== Known issues ==== * **Clock battery:** the Dallas DS1287A time-of-year clock contains a sealed lithium cell that keeps the clock and its RAM running without power, [(>{{wiki:hardware:motherboards:eb64plus:eb64plus_user_guide.pdf?linkonly|DECchip 21064 and DECchip 21064A Alpha AXP PCI Evaluation Board User's Guide}}, pp. 1-4, 3-43, 3-44)] so the chip itself must be replaced once the cell is exhausted. For a replacement part, see [[hardware:motherboards:axppci33#known_issues|AXPpci 33: Known issues]]. See also [[hardware:systems#common_problems|Systems: Common problems]]. ==== Clones and OEM systems ==== Aspen Systems sold the Alpine, a close clone of the EB64+ with 3 PCI and 3 ISA slots. [(>[[https://github.com/alphalinux/mailing-list-archives/blob/main/axp-list-mbox/1996-May.mbox#L8890|"setting the record straight"]], Randy Perry, axp-list, 12 May 1996)] [(>[[https://github.com/alphalinux/mailing-list-archives/blob/main/axp-list-mbox/1997-July.mbox#L33791|"Re: axp 275 Install Lockup"]], David A Rusling, axp-list, 29 Jul 1997)] Unlike the EB64+, the Alpine has a single ROM, which contains the Windows NT ARC firmware. [(>[[https://stason.org/TULARC/pc/motherboards/A/ASPEN-SYSTEMS-INC-Alpha-ALPINE.html|"ASPEN SYSTEMS, INC. Alpha ALPINE"]], The Motherboard Collection)] The ROM is a socketed EPROM rather than flash, and Aspen supplied replacement firmware PROMs, including one containing SRM. [(>[[https://github.com/alphalinux/mailing-list-archives/blob/main/axp-list-mbox/1997-July.mbox#L33958|"Re: axp 275 Install Lockup"]], Maurice W. Hilarius, axp-list, 29 Jul 1997)] [(>[[https://github.com/alphalinux/mailing-list-archives/blob/main/debian-alpha-mbox/2002-September.mbox#L6137|"Re: EB64+"]], Noah Ackerman, debian-alpha, 9 Sep 2002)] Like the EB64+, it has onboard NCR 53C810 SCSI. ==== Conflicting information ==== The following sources conflict with each other or with the account given above. They are listed here for further investigation. * **Aspen Telluride** * [[https://github.com/alphalinux/mailing-list-archives/blob/main/axp-list-mbox/1996-June.mbox#L10560|"DEC systems equivalents to Aspen Systems"]], Brian Cruikshank, axp-list, 21 Jun 1996: "Telluride PC64" * [[https://github.com/alphalinux/mailing-list-archives/blob/main/axp-list-mbox/1996-May.mbox#L8890|"setting the record straight"]], Randy Perry, axp-list, 12 May 1996: "Telluride 21064 7 PCI and 3 ISA" * [[https://github.com/alphalinux/mailing-list-archives/blob/main/axp-list-mbox/1996-May.mbox#L8946|"Re: linux on EB164+"]], Jim Paradis, axp-list, 12 May 1996: "Aspen Telluride. This is an EB64+ with the PCI-PCI bridge." ==== Documentation ==== ^ Document ^ Part number ^ Date ^ | {{wiki:hardware:motherboards:eb64plus:eb64plus_user_guide.pdf?linkonly|DECchip 21064 and DECchip 21064A Alpha AXP PCI Evaluation Board User's Guide}} | EC-N0640-72 | April 1994 | | {{wiki:hardware:motherboards:eb64plus:eb64plus_product_brief.pdf?linkonly|DECchip 21064 and DECchip 21064A Alpha AXP PCI Evaluation Board Product Brief}} | EC-N0639-72 | April 1994 | {{tag>hardware motherboard 21064 digital}}