===== AlphaStation 500, 600, and Alpha XL 300, 366, 433 ===== ^ AlphaStation 500, 600, Alpha XL 300, 366, 433 ^^ ^ Codename | Maverick, Bret (500), Alcor (600), XLT | ^ CPU | [[wp>Alpha_21164|21164]] (EV5), [[wp>Alpha_21164#Alpha_21164A|21164A]] (EV56) | ^ Core logic | [[hardware:chipsets#21171|21171]] (CIA) | ^ Memory | AlphaStation 500: up to 1 GiB, banks of four DIMMs; AlphaStation 600: 32 MiB to 1 GiB, SIMMs | ^ Buses | PCI, EISA | ^ Firmware | SRM (last V7.2-2), ARC; the XLT has AlphaBIOS and no SRM | ^ Kernel option | ''CONFIG_ALPHA_ALCOR'' | ^ Linux | Supported (AlphaStation 500/400, 500/500); Untested (XL 366, 433); others Linux 6.9 and earlier | The AlphaStation 600 (Alcor), AlphaStation 500 (Maverick and Bret), and Alpha XL 300, 366, and 433 (XLT) share the CIA core logic, EISA, and one kernel platform. [(>[[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://git.kernel.org/pub/scm/linux/kernel/git/torvalds/linux.git/tree/arch/alpha/Kconfig?h=v6.10|arch/alpha/Kconfig]], Linux 6.10)] ^ Model ^ CPU ^ Linux ^ | AlphaStation 600 (all models) | 21164 (EV5) [(>{{wiki:hardware:systems:alphastation_600:alphastation_600_technical_reference_information.pdf?linkonly|AlphaStation 600 Series Technical Reference Information}}, p. 1-1)] | Linux 6.9 and earlier | | AlphaStation 500/266, 500/333 | 21164 (EV5) [(>[[https://github.com/alphalinux/mailing-list-archives/blob/main/freebsd-alpha-mbox/2000-September.mbox#L11442|"Re: what was the last patch you sent out?"]], Andrew Gallatin, freebsd-alpha, 5 Sep 2000)] [(>[[https://github.com/alphalinux/mailing-list-archives/blob/main/freebsd-alpha-mbox/gmane-2002-August.mbox#L4490|"Re: da driver problem?"]], Marcin Gryszkalis, freebsd-alpha, 9 Aug 2002)] | Linux 6.9 and earlier | | AlphaStation 500/400, 500/500 | 21164A (EV56) [(>[[https://github.com/alphalinux/mailing-list-archives/blob/main/axp-list-mbox/2005-February.mbox#L1281|"Install Alphacore 0.9 in text-mode ?"]], alpha-linux at gmx.net, axp-list, 24 Feb 2005)] [(>[[https://github.com/alphalinux/mailing-list-archives/blob/main/debian-alpha-mbox/2011-May.mbox#L6203|"RE: recent udev upgrade failure on alpha"]], Uwe Schindler, debian-alpha, 18 May 2011)] | Supported | | Alpha XL 300 | 21164 (EV5) [(>{{wiki:hardware:systems:alpha_xl:alpha_xl_systems_and_options_catalog.pdf?linkonly|Alpha XL Personal Workstation for Windows NT, Digital Systems and Options Catalog}}, September 1996, p. 1)] | Linux 6.9 and earlier | | Alpha XL 366, 433 | 21164A (EV56); the 21164 was made only at speeds up to 333 MHz [(>{{wiki:hardware:cpu:21164:21164_data_sheet.pdf?linkonly|Alpha 21164 Microprocessor Data Sheet}}, July 1996, p. 180)] | Untested | ==== Specifications ==== * The AlphaStation 500 has a built-in QLogic ISP1020 SCSI controller and no IDE; its onboard sound is attached to an EISA bus [(>[[https://github.com/alphalinux/mailing-list-archives/blob/main/axp-list-mbox/2002-January.mbox#L1901|"Re: QLogic ISP problem"]], Jay Estabrook, axp-list, 8 Jan 2002)] [(>[[https://github.com/alphalinux/mailing-list-archives/blob/main/axp-list-mbox/2006-March.mbox#L1770|"[Fwd: Re: Qlogic 1280 driver blues]"]], Jay Estabrook, axp-list, 24 Mar 2006)] [(>[[https://github.com/alphalinux/mailing-list-archives/blob/main/axp-list-mbox/2006-February.mbox#L51|"as500/500 soundcard?"]], Jeff Donsbach, axp-list, 8 Feb 2006)] * The XLT and the AlphaStation 500 (Bret and Maverick) have a built-in 21040 Tulip Ethernet controller in PCI slot 6; the AlphaStation 600 has its 21040 on the separate I/O subsystem module instead (see below), not in slot 6 [(>[[https://git.kernel.org/pub/scm/linux/kernel/git/torvalds/linux.git/tree/arch/alpha/kernel/sys_alcor.c?h=v6.10|arch/alpha/kernel/sys_alcor.c]], Linux 6.10)] === AlphaStation 500 === [(>{{wiki:hardware:systems:alphastation_500:alphastation_500_user_information.pdf?linkonly|AlphaStation 500 Series User Information}}, January 1997, pp. 3-7 to 3-8, C-1)] * CIA bridge and cache on the system board, with either 2 MiB or 8 MiB of cache depending on the model * Memory as two banks of four 8-byte DIMMs, up to 1 GiB; a bank must be filled completely with identical DIMMs, and Digital recommended one vendor per bank * 33 MHz PCI, 32-bit and 64-bit, on a riser card, plus an EISA-attached audio card and a media adapter unit header on the system board * Models were upgraded by swapping the whole system board, keeping the memory, options, and drives [(>{{wiki:hardware:systems:alphastation_500:alphastation_500_system_board_upgrade.pdf?linkonly|AlphaStation 500 Series System Board Upgrade}}, October 1996, p. vii)] === AlphaStation 600 === [(>{{wiki:hardware:systems:alphastation_600:alphastation_600_technical_reference_information.pdf?linkonly|AlphaStation 600 Series Technical Reference Information}}, July 1995, pp. 1-1 to 1-5)] * Direct-mapped, write-back, ECC protected board-level cache split across three SIMMs, all of which must be present; designs ran from 2 MiB to 16 MiB, with 4 MiB "typical" * Two memory motherboards, which must both be present and symmetrically populated, each holding up to 16 standard 36-bit SIMMs, for 32 MiB to 1 GiB * Eight option slots: three 64-bit PCI, one 32-bit PCI, one shared PCI/EISA, and three (E)ISA, of which the graphics, the I/O subsystem module, and the audio card take three, leaving five * 33 MHz PCI only, and although the system generates and accepts 64-bit data it "does not generate 64-bit PCI addresses" * Intel 82374EB and 82375EB PCI-EISA bridge, Intel 8242 keyboard and mouse controller, Dallas 1287 time-of-year clock, Dallas 1225 8 KiB battery-backed SRAM, and an 87312 combo chip for the serial and parallel ports and the floppy * The I/O subsystem module is a separate PCI card carrying two QLogic ISP1020 SCSI chips, a DECchip 21040 Tulip Ethernet controller, and a DECchip 21050 PCI-to-PCI bridge [(>[[https://github.com/alphalinux/mailing-list-archives/blob/main/axp-list-mbox/1996-May.mbox#L17455|"Re: Linux on Alpha 600"]], Jay Estabrook, axp-list, 29 May 1996)] * Early systems instead shipped with a KZPAA-AX single-ended narrow SCSI controller and either a DE435 Etherworks Turbo PCI card or a P2SE module [(>{{wiki:hardware:systems:alphastation_600:alphastation_600_io_subsystem_information_supplement.pdf?linkonly|AlphaStation 600 Series I/O Subsystem Information Supplement}}, February 1995, pp. 1-3)] * Memory is added in eight-SIMM increments, four per tower, in matching locations in each tower quadrant [(>{{wiki:hardware:systems:alphastation_600:alphastation_600_user_information.pdf?linkonly|AlphaStation 600 Series User Information}}, June 1995, pp. 3-8 to 3-10)] * The 333 MHz upgrade is not a CPU swap: the kit replaces the system board and the cache modules together [(>{{wiki:hardware:systems:alphastation_600:alphastation_600_333_mhz_upgrade_information_sheet.pdf?linkonly|AlphaStation 600 333 MHz Upgrade Information Sheet}}, EK-PB62U-IS.A01)] ==== Firmware ==== * The AlphaStation 600 should be booted from the SRM console, loading the kernel with [[software:boot_loaders:aboot|aboot]] or BOOTP, rather than from the ARC console with MILO. [(>[[https://github.com/alphalinux/mailing-list-archives/blob/main/axp-list-mbox/1998-October.mbox#L10317|"Re: Kernel 2.1.125 testing"]], Jay Estabrook, axp-list, 15 Oct 1998)] * The XLT has no official SRM console, because it was designed and sold for Windows NT only. [(>[[https://github.com/alphalinux/mailing-list-archives/blob/main/axp-list-mbox/1997-October.mbox#L20901|"Re: Milo booting other OSes?"]], Jay Estabrook, axp-list, 29 Oct 1997)] It can boot Linux only with MILO. [(>[[https://github.com/alphalinux/mailing-list-archives/blob/main/axp-list-mbox/2004-October.mbox#L3405|"AC-0.9 Testing Results (was: Re: Alpha Core ISO Images)"]], Jay Estabrook, axp-list, 18 Oct 2004)] * The AlphaStation 500 (Bret) is architecturally very close to the XLT, so the XLT build of MILO also works on it. [(>[[https://github.com/alphalinux/mailing-list-archives/blob/main/debian-alpha-mbox/2003-April.mbox#L18099|"Re: AlphaStation 500 MILO problems + Voodoo questions"]], Jay Estabrook, debian-alpha, 28 Apr 2003)] ==== Linux ==== Current kernels support the AlphaStation 500/400 and 500/500, with ''CONFIG_ALPHA_ALCOR'' or a generic kernel, booted from the SRM console with [[software:boot_loaders:aboot|aboot]]. Linux 6.9 was the last version to support the EV5 models; Linux 6.10 removed support for processors older than the EV56 (21164A). [(>[[https://git.kernel.org/pub/scm/linux/kernel/git/torvalds/linux.git/commit/?id=a4184174be36|"alpha: drop pre-EV56 support"]], Linux 6.10)] The Alpha XL 366 and 433 have EV56 processors but no SRM console, and MILO did not load kernels from Linux 2.6.23 onward until a 2026 fix; no one has reported booting a current kernel on them (see [[software:boot_loaders:milo|MILO]]). [(>[[https://github.com/alphalinux/milo/commit/dd79b34|"fix(boot): skip non-PT_LOAD segments when loading kernel image"]], alphalinux/milo)] * An AlphaStation 500/266 or 500/333 can be brought up to a supported model by replacing its system board: Digital sold board swaps from the 500/266, 500/333, and 500/400 to the 500/500 (PB56U-BA, -BB, and -BC), which keep the memory, options, and drives. [(>[[https://github.com/alphalinux/mailing-list-archives/blob/main/biz-digital-announce-mbox/googlegroups-1996-August.mbox#L1|"Press/Press/Digital Recaptures Desktop Workstation Performance Lead"]], Digital Press and Analysts News, biz.digital.announce, 8 Aug 1996)] [(>[[https://github.com/alphalinux/mailing-list-archives/blob/main/comp-sys-dec-mbox/googlegroups-1998-January.mbox#L47212|"Re: Upgrading AS500/233 and 266 to AS500/500"]], Hoff Hoffman, comp.sys.dec, 9 Jan 1998)] [(>{{wiki:hardware:systems:alphastation_500:alphastation_500_system_board_upgrade.pdf?linkonly|AlphaStation 500 Series System Board Upgrade}}, October 1996, pp. vii, 1-1)] * Use the final SRM version, V7.2-2 (see [[software:firmware:srm#final_versions|Final versions]]). For a serial console on COM1, see [[documentation:srm#serial_console|Using the SRM Console: Serial console]]. * The QLogic ISP1020 SCSI controllers, on the AlphaStation 500 system board and on the AlphaStation 600 I/O subsystem module, use the ''qla1280'' driver, which loads its firmware from ''linux-firmware''. [(>[[https://git.kernel.org/pub/scm/linux/kernel/git/torvalds/linux.git/tree/drivers/scsi/qla1280.c?h=v7.3-rc1|drivers/scsi/qla1280.c]], Linux 7.3)] * The built-in 21040 Tulip Ethernet uses the ''de2104x'' driver; the ''tulip'' driver does not claim the 21040. [(>[[https://git.kernel.org/pub/scm/linux/kernel/git/torvalds/linux.git/tree/drivers/net/ethernet/dec/tulip/de2104x.c?h=v7.3-rc1|drivers/net/ethernet/dec/tulip/de2104x.c]], Linux 7.3)] [(>[[https://git.kernel.org/pub/scm/linux/kernel/git/torvalds/linux.git/tree/drivers/net/ethernet/dec/tulip/tulip_core.c?h=v7.3-rc1|drivers/net/ethernet/dec/tulip/tulip_core.c]], Linux 7.3)] * The AlphaStation 500's onboard audio is a Microsoft Sound System card on the EISA bus, which may have to be configured with the EISA Configuration Utility before an operating system sees it. [(>[[https://github.com/alphalinux/mailing-list-archives/blob/main/axp-list-mbox/2006-February.mbox#L51|"as500/500 soundcard?"]], Jeff Donsbach, axp-list, 8 Feb 2006)] * The kernel recognizes the XLT and AlphaStation 500 boards at boot by the built-in Tulip in PCI slot 6, sets up their interrupts accordingly, and reports "Detected AS500 or XLT motherboard". [(>[[https://git.kernel.org/pub/scm/linux/kernel/git/torvalds/linux.git/tree/arch/alpha/kernel/sys_alcor.c?h=v7.3-rc1|arch/alpha/kernel/sys_alcor.c]], Linux 7.3)] ==== Known issues ==== * **Battery:** on the AlphaStation 500, the time-of-year clock battery (see [[hardware:systems#common_problems|Common problems]]) is on the system board under the fan, which sits beneath the floppy and disk mounting unit. [(>[[https://github.com/alphalinux/mailing-list-archives/blob/main/tru64-unix-managers-mbox/1999-July.mbox#L1043|"SUMMARY: Battery location in Alphastation 500"]], Joe Fletcher, tru64-unix-managers, 29 Jul 1999)] * Revision 1 of the CIA core logic, used in the AlphaStation 500/333, the XLT, and the EB164, is flawed in how it handles some of its PCI DMA windows. [(>[[https://github.com/alphalinux/mailing-list-archives/blob/main/axp-list-mbox/2002-June.mbox#L8071|"Re: [LONG] CIA breakage in 2.4.13 (was Re: AS500 and 2.4 SCSI blues)"]], Jay Estabrook, axp-list, 9 Jun 2002)] The kernel avoids the affected DMA windows on CIA revision 1, and as a result does not use 64-bit (DAC) PCI addressing there. [(>[[https://git.kernel.org/pub/scm/linux/kernel/git/torvalds/linux.git/tree/arch/alpha/kernel/core_cia.c?h=v6.10|arch/alpha/kernel/core_cia.c]], Linux 6.10)] ==== History ==== The AlphaStation 600 family, announced in July 1995, comprised "the first Digital workstations to use the Alpha 21164 chip", with "the first-in-the-industry 64-bit workstation PCI I/O bus". [(>[[https://github.com/alphalinux/mailing-list-archives/blob/main/biz-digital-articles-mbox/googlegroups-1995-July.mbox#L3391|"AlphaStation 600 Family of High Performance Workstations"]], Customer Update, biz.digital.articles, 19 Jul 1995)] A //Digital Technical Journal// paper describes its design. [(>[[https://github.com/alphalinux/mailing-list-archives/blob/main/biz-digital-articles-mbox/googlegroups-1995-August.mbox#L10964|"Design and Verification of the AlphaStation 600 5-series Workstation"]], John H. Zurawski, John E. Murray, and Paul J. Lemmon, Digital Technical Journal, biz.digital.articles, 16 Aug 1995)] The AlphaStation 600 5/333 followed on 29 January 1996, which Digital called "the world's first workstation to break the 400 SPECint92 barrier". [(>[[https://github.com/alphalinux/mailing-list-archives/blob/main/biz-digital-announce-mbox/googlegroups-1996-January.mbox#L1951|"Press/New High-End AlphaStation Raises Ante In Workstation Market"]], Digital Press and Analysts News, biz.digital.announce, 30 Jan 1996)] The AlphaStation 500 series was announced on 8 March 1996 alongside the [[hardware:systems:avanti|AlphaStation 255]], in 500/266, 500/333 and 500/400 models. [(>[[https://github.com/alphalinux/mailing-list-archives/blob/main/biz-digital-announce-mbox/googlegroups-1996-March.mbox#L150|"Press/AlphaStation 255 and 500 Workstations Lead In Price/Performance"]], Digital Press and Analysts News, biz.digital.announce, 11 Mar 1996)] ==== Conflicting information ==== The following sources conflict with each other or with the account given above. They are listed here for further investigation. * **AlphaStation 500 memory modules** * {{wiki:hardware:systems:alphastation_500:alphastation_500_user_information.pdf?linkonly|AlphaStation 500 Series User Information}}, p. 3-8: "The AlphaStation 500 Series memory sub-system has two banks of memory, which include (4 x 72) 8 byte Dual In-Line Memory Modules (DIMMs)." * [[https://github.com/alphalinux/mailing-list-archives/blob/main/debian-alpha-mbox/2003-February.mbox#L2057|"Re: Alphas worth saving?"]], Jay Estabrook, debian-alpha, 5 Feb 2003: "the Maverick takes EDO SIMM memory, which is hard to find" * **Alpha XL 366 CPU** * [[https://github.com/alphalinux/mailing-list-archives/blob/main/axp-list-mbox/2001-September.mbox#L1625|"RE: RH 7.1 on XL366 ?"]], John Jemiolo, axp-list, 4 Sep 2001: "the XL366 contains a EV5 cpu" * [[https://github.com/alphalinux/mailing-list-archives/blob/main/axp-list-mbox/2004-February.mbox#L661|"XL-266 install"]], Jeff Donsbach, axp-list, 20 Feb 2004: "the 300 was an EV5 while the 366 and 433 were EV56" ==== Documentation ==== ^ Document ^ Part number ^ Date ^ | {{wiki:hardware:systems:alphastation_500:alphastation_500_user_information.pdf?linkonly|AlphaStation 500 Series User Information}} | EK-ALPH5-UI.B01 | January 1997 | | {{wiki:hardware:systems:alphastation_500:alphastation_500_system_board_upgrade.pdf?linkonly|AlphaStation 500 Series System Board Upgrade}} | EK-ALPH5-UP.A01 | October 1996 | | {{wiki:hardware:systems:alphastation_500:alphastation_500_illustrated_parts_breakdown.pdf?linkonly|DIGITAL AlphaStation 500 Series Illustrated Parts Breakdown}} | EK-ALPH5-IP.C01 | | | {{wiki:hardware:systems:alphastation_500:alphastation_500_media_adapter_unit_installation.pdf?linkonly|AlphaStation 500 Family Media Adapter Unit (MAU) Installation Information}} | EK-ALFTH-IS.B01 | | | {{wiki:hardware:systems:alphastation_500:alphastation_500_auxiliary_power_harness_installation.pdf?linkonly|AlphaStation 500 Model 500 Auxiliary Power Harness Installation Instructions}} | EK-AUXPH-IN.A01 | September 1997 | | {{wiki:hardware:systems:alphastation_500:alphastation_500_255_replacement_bezel_installation.pdf?linkonly|Replacement Bezel Installation Instructions for DIGITAL AlphaStation 500/255 Series System Enclosures}} | EK-ALSRE-IN.B01 | | | {{wiki:hardware:systems:alphastation_600:alphastation_600_user_information.pdf?linkonly|AlphaStation 600 Series User Information}} | EK-AS800-UI.B01 | June 1995 | | {{wiki:hardware:systems:alphastation_600:alphastation_600_technical_reference_information.pdf?linkonly|AlphaStation 600 Series Technical Reference Information}} | EK-AS800-RM.A01 | July 1995 | | {{wiki:hardware:systems:alphastation_600:alphastation_600_io_subsystem_information_supplement.pdf?linkonly|AlphaStation 600 Series I/O Subsystem Information Supplement}} | EK-AL600-IS.A01 | February 1995 | | {{wiki:hardware:systems:alphastation_600:alphastation_600_illustrated_parts_breakdown.pdf?linkonly|AlphaStation 600 Series Illustrated Parts Breakdown}} | EK-AS800-IP.A01 | | | {{wiki:hardware:systems:alphastation_600:alphastation_600_cache_module_hold_down_bracket_notification.pdf?linkonly|AlphaStation 600 Series Cache Module Hold-Down Bracket Field Service Notification}} | EK-AS800-IS.A01 | January 1997 | | {{wiki:hardware:systems:alphastation_600:alphastation_600_333_mhz_upgrade_information_sheet.pdf?linkonly|AlphaStation 600 333 MHz Upgrade Information Sheet}} | EK-PB62U-IS.A01 | | | {{wiki:hardware:systems:alphaserver_1000:alphaserver_1000_alphastation_600_rackmount_installation_information.pdf?linkonly|DIGITAL AlphaServer 1000 and DIGITAL AlphaStation 600 Rackmount Installation Information}} | EK-RMALP-IN.F01 | June 1998 | {{tag>hardware system 21164 digital}}