===== AlphaServer ES47, ES80, and GS1280 (Marvel) ===== ^ AlphaServer ES47, ES80, GS1280 ^^ ^ Codename | Marvel | ^ CPU | [[wp>Alpha_21364|21364]] (EV7) | ^ Processors | Up to 8 (ES47, ES80), up to 64 (GS1280) | ^ Core logic | None (on-chip memory controllers); IO7 for I/O | ^ Memory | Up to 8 GiB of RDRAM per CPU | ^ Buses | PCI-X, PCI, AGP | ^ Firmware | SRM (last V7.3-1) | ^ Kernel option | ''CONFIG_ALPHA_MARVEL'' | ^ Linux | Supported | The Marvel systems are the last Alpha machines, built from 21364 (EV7) processors whose on-chip memory controllers and router links connect directly to each other, without core logic between them. The GS1280 was sold in models with up to 64 CPUs. [(>{{wiki:hardware:systems:alphaserver_es47:alphaserver_es47_es80_gs1280_io_drawer_upgrade.pdf?linkonly|HP AlphaServer ES47/ES80/GS1280 I/O Drawer Upgrade}}, p. 1-3)] ==== Specifications ==== Except where noted, the following comes from the ES47 and ES80 QuickSpecs. [(>{{wiki:hardware:systems:alphaserver_es47:alphaserver_es47_es80_quickspecs.pdf?linkonly|HP AlphaServer ES47/ES80 QuickSpecs}}, July 2007, pp. 4-5)] * Up to eight Alpha 21364 (EV7) processors at 1150 MHz or 1000 MHz, with on-chip memory controllers and switch logic providing 12.3 GB/s of memory bandwidth per processor * 1.75 MiB of seven-way set associative ECC protected L2 cache on each chip * Up to 8 GiB of RDRAM per CPU, with optional RAID memory * A glueless multiprocessor architecture assembled from system building block drawers, dual CPU building block modules, and I/O expansion drawers; the ES47 Tower holds one drawer, and the ES80 models 2, 3, 6, and 8 hold one to four * Each two-processor building block drawer has five PCI-X/PCI slots and one AGP slot * Maximums: ES47 Tower two CPUs, 16 GiB, five PCI slots; ES47 four CPUs, 32 GiB, 32 PCI slots; ES80 Model 8 eight CPUs and 64 GiB * Optional standard I/O drawer with 11 configurable PCI-X/PCI slots and one AGP slot, or high performance I/O drawer with eight 133 MHz PCI-X slots * N+1 voltage regulator modules, hot plug redundant power supplies and fans, dual AC input, ECC on memory, cache, and system data paths * GS1280 systems were also sold with 1.3 GHz EV7s, [(>[[https://github.com/alphalinux/mailing-list-archives/blob/main/tru64-unix-managers-mbox/gmane-2005-June.mbox#L5285|"ES45 outperforming GS1280 - Tru64 5.1B"]], Jonathan Williams, tru64-unix-managers, 23 Jun 2005)] and the 1150 MHz version identifies itself as "hp AlphaServer GS1280 7/1150" [(>[[https://github.com/alphalinux/mailing-list-archives/blob/main/tru64-unix-managers-mbox/gmane-2004-March.mbox#L2375|"Bigpage Assert Failure ?"]], Hans Ekkehard Plesser, tru64-unix-managers, 5 Mar 2004)] * An ES47 Model 2 becomes a Model 4 by adding a second two-processor drawer. PCI hot plug is not supported, and powering off an I/O expansion drawer crashes the operating system even when every card in it is redundant [(>[[https://github.com/alphalinux/mailing-list-archives/blob/main/tru64-unix-managers-mbox/gmane-2005-June.mbox#L6247|"SUMMARY: ES47 hardware"]], Rob Leadbeater, tru64-unix-managers, 24 Jun 2005)] [(>[[https://github.com/alphalinux/mailing-list-archives/blob/main/tru64-unix-managers-mbox/gmane-2006-March.mbox#L3148|"KVM switch for ES47 - II"]], Jens Kieffer-Olsen, tru64-unix-managers, 15 Mar 2006)] * A system can be split into hardware partitions as small as two processors, each with its own dedicated CPU, memory, and I/O and its own console [(>{{wiki:hardware:systems:alphaserver_es47:alphaserver_es47_es80_quickspecs.pdf?linkonly|HP AlphaServer ES47/ES80 QuickSpecs}}, July 2007, p. 6)] === Server management === Each system building block drawer has a backplane manager (MBM), a microcontroller that monitors and controls environmental conditions in the drawer, stores the system configuration and partition information, and loads the console; each I/O drawer has a PCI backplane manager (PBM). [(>{{wiki:hardware:systems:alphaserver_es47:alphaserver_es47_es80_gs1280_user_information.pdf?linkonly|hp AlphaServer ES47/ES80/GS1280 User Information}}, pp. 23, 95-96)] In the two-processor drawer, the backplane manager logic is on the I/O expander module. [(>{{wiki:hardware:systems:alphaserver_es47:alphaserver_es47_es80_gs1280_user_information.pdf?linkonly|hp AlphaServer ES47/ES80/GS1280 User Information}}, p. 9)] The MBM provides a server management command line interface, with the prompt ''MBM>'', which displays the configuration and environmental status, powers the system or a partition on and off, halts and resets it, updates firmware, and creates and deletes partitions. [(>{{wiki:hardware:systems:alphaserver_es47:alphaserver_es47_es80_gs1280_cli_reference.pdf?linkonly|AlphaServer ES47/ES80/GS1280 Server Management CLI Reference}}, p. 2-1)] It is reached from a serial terminal attached to the MBM connector on the drawer's backplane, by telnet over the server management LAN, or from the AlphaServer Management Station. [(>{{wiki:hardware:systems:alphaserver_es47:alphaserver_es47_es80_gs1280_cli_reference.pdf?linkonly|AlphaServer ES47/ES80/GS1280 Server Management CLI Reference}}, pp. 1-1 to 1-5)] The SRM console and the operating system run behind the MBM. The ''connect'' command opens a virtual terminal session to the primary CPU of a partition, where the SRM console, and Linux booted with ''console=srm'', appear. Typing the escape sequence Esc Esc ''MBM'' (''^[^[MBM'') returns to the ''MBM>'' prompt from either. The sequence is case insensitive, and can be changed with ''set escape''. [(>{{wiki:hardware:systems:alphaserver_es47:alphaserver_es47_es80_gs1280_cli_reference.pdf?linkonly|AlphaServer ES47/ES80/GS1280 Server Management CLI Reference}}, pp. 1-7, 3-22, 3-68)] MBM> power on ... MBM> connect Connecting to partition. Use the sequence ^[^[MBM to return. P00>>> ^[^[MBM MBM> ''power on'' and ''connect'' need no arguments on a system with a single hard partition; otherwise the partition is named with ''-hp'' and ''-sp''. [(>{{wiki:hardware:systems:alphaserver_es47:alphaserver_es47_es80_gs1280_cli_reference.pdf?linkonly|AlphaServer ES47/ES80/GS1280 Server Management CLI Reference}}, pp. 3-22, 3-54)] If the server management variable ''srm_auto_connect'' is ''on'', the MBM connects to the console automatically after power-up diagnostics, instead of staying at the ''MBM>'' prompt. [(>{{wiki:hardware:systems:alphaserver_es47:alphaserver_es47_es80_gs1280_cli_reference.pdf?linkonly|AlphaServer ES47/ES80/GS1280 Server Management CLI Reference}}, pp. 2-2 to 2-3)] Other commands include ''power off'', ''reset'', ''show system'', ''show power'', and ''help''. [(>{{wiki:hardware:systems:alphaserver_es47:alphaserver_es47_es80_gs1280_cli_reference.pdf?linkonly|AlphaServer ES47/ES80/GS1280 Server Management CLI Reference}}, pp. 2-6, 2-8)] ==== Firmware ==== * The console is not a serial port: it is reached through the backplane manager's ''connect'' command (see [[#server_management|Server management]]), or through the USB port in a master I/O drawer, a network connection, or a local terminal [(>{{wiki:hardware:systems:alphaserver_es47:alphaserver_es47_es80_quickspecs.pdf?linkonly|HP AlphaServer ES47/ES80 QuickSpecs}}, July 2007, p. 6)] * Linux therefore cannot use ''ttyS0'' as its console, and must be booted with ''console=srm'' [(>[[https://github.com/alphalinux/mailing-list-archives/blob/main/axp-list-mbox/2003-July.mbox#L2911|"Installation HPWrapper ISO for ES47, ES80, 2100A and DAC960 systems for RH-7.2."]], George France, axp-list, 11 Jul 2003)] * HP gave SRM V6.4-8 as the minimum console version for the ES47; [(>[[https://github.com/alphalinux/mailing-list-archives/blob/main/tru64-unix-managers-mbox/gmane-2006-March.mbox#L3148|"KVM switch for ES47 - II"]], Jens Kieffer-Olsen, tru64-unix-managers, 15 Mar 2006)] the final version is V7.3-1 (see [[software:firmware:srm#final_versions|Final versions]]) ==== Linux ==== Current kernels support the Marvel systems, with ''CONFIG_ALPHA_MARVEL'' or a generic kernel, booted from the SRM console with [[software:boot_loaders:aboot|aboot]] and ''console=srm''. A generic kernel must be built without ''CONFIG_ALPHA_LEGACY_START_ADDRESS'', which the default configuration enables and which leaves out Marvel support; see [[documentation:kernel#kernel_start_address|Kernel]]. [(>[[https://git.kernel.org/pub/scm/linux/kernel/git/torvalds/linux.git/tree/arch/alpha/kernel/Makefile?h=v7.3-rc1|arch/alpha/kernel/Makefile]], Linux 7.3)] Linux uses at most 32 CPUs, so it cannot use every processor of the largest GS1280. [(>[[https://git.kernel.org/torvalds/c/d7083174a2ca|"ALPHA: misc fixes"]], Linux 2.6.22)] * **Distribution kernels:** Debian's Alpha kernel is a generic kernel built with ''CONFIG_ALPHA_LEGACY_START_ADDRESS'' off, so it includes Marvel support. [(>[[https://salsa.debian.org/kernel-team/linux/-/blob/debian/7.2/forky/debian/config/alpha/config|debian/config/alpha/config]], Debian linux 7.2.7-1)] Gentoo's distribution kernel, ''sys-kernel/gentoo-kernel'', takes its Alpha configuration from Debian's. [(>[[https://gitweb.gentoo.org/repo/gentoo.git/tree/sys-kernel/gentoo-kernel/gentoo-kernel-6.18.52.ebuild|gentoo-kernel-6.18.52.ebuild]], gentoo.git)] Gentoo's Alpha installation CD carries two kernels, ''gentoo'', built with the option on, and ''gentoo_nolsa'', built with it off; the second is the one for the Marvel (see [[documentation:installation#distribution_kernels|Installation: Distribution kernels]]). [(>[[https://gitweb.gentoo.org/proj/releng.git/tree/releases/specs-qemu/alpha/installcd-stage2-minimal.spec|releases/specs-qemu/alpha/installcd-stage2-minimal.spec]], releng.git)] [(>[[https://github.com/alphalinux/mailing-list-archives/blob/main/debian-alpha-mbox/2018-December.mbox#L1164|"Re: Use SMP kernel for Alpha (udeb) builds"]], Bob Tracy, debian-alpha, 7 Dec 2018)] * **I/O devices:** a master I/O drawer has a Combination Adapter that provides Ultra3 SCSI for the drawer's two disks and its DVD/CD-RW drive, and USB for the keyboard and mouse. [(>{{wiki:hardware:systems:alphaserver_es47:alphaserver_es47_es80_quickspecs.pdf?linkonly|HP AlphaServer ES47/ES80 QuickSpecs}}, July 2007, p. 14)] The SRM console of one ES80 lists an Adaptec AIC-7892 SCSI controller, a CMD 649 IDE controller, from which it booted the installation DVD, and a four-function USB controller. [(>[[https://github.com/alphalinux/mailing-list-archives/blob/main/debian-alpha-mbox/2010-July.mbox#L454|"Alphaserver ES80 and debian installation issues"]], P Gebhardt, debian-alpha, 27 Jul 2010)] The AIC-7892 uses the ''aic7xxx'' driver, and the CMD 649 the ''pata_cmd64x'' driver. [(>[[https://git.kernel.org/pub/scm/linux/kernel/git/torvalds/linux.git/tree/drivers/scsi/aic7xxx/aic7xxx_pci.c?h=v7.3-rc1|drivers/scsi/aic7xxx/aic7xxx_pci.c]], Linux 7.3)] [(>[[https://git.kernel.org/pub/scm/linux/kernel/git/torvalds/linux.git/tree/drivers/ata/pata_cmd64x.c?h=v7.3-rc1|drivers/ata/pata_cmd64x.c]], Linux 7.3)] * The kernel has no NUMA support for the Marvel: Alpha NUMA support was removed in Linux 5.14. [(>[[https://git.kernel.org/torvalds/c/fdb7d9b7acd0|"alpha: remove DISCONTIGMEM and NUMA"]], Linux 5.14)] * Two bugs in the Marvel interrupt setup, present since Linux 2.6.38, are fixed in Linux 7.3, which is at the release candidate stage as of September 2026, and are marked for backporting to stable kernels: the IO7 interrupts were not marked as level-triggered, and a locking error produced a lockdep warning at boot. [(>[[https://git.kernel.org/torvalds/c/3a3ac1f6c6a6|"alpha: marvel: Fix irq_set_status_flags to use correct IRQ number"]], Linux 7.3)] [(>[[https://git.kernel.org/torvalds/c/24d68db713d6|"alpha: marvel: Fix lock ordering in init_io7_irqs()"]], Linux 7.3)] ==== Known issues ==== * **Power, weight, and noise:** the ES47 Tower weighs up to 59 kg and dissipates 783 to 850 W, with a declared noise level of 47 dBA at the bystander position. It runs on 100 to 120 V or 200 to 240 V, but on 100 to 120 V it needs two power supplies and has no power supply redundancy. [(>{{wiki:hardware:systems:alphaserver_es47:alphaserver_es47_es80_quickspecs.pdf?linkonly|HP AlphaServer ES47/ES80 QuickSpecs}}, July 2007, p. 57)] Rack systems are supplied through either three-phase power distribution units or single-phase units with 200 to 240 V, 20 A input plugs. [(>{{wiki:hardware:systems:alphaserver_es47:alphaserver_es47_es80_quickspecs.pdf?linkonly|HP AlphaServer ES47/ES80 QuickSpecs}}, July 2007, p. 17)] * **Stability:** one ES47 used for Gentoo testing locked up under load, and was never stable enough for use as a build machine; the cause was not found. [(>[[https://github.com/alphalinux/mailing-list-archives/blob/main/gentoo-alpha-mbox/2019-September.mbox#L1|"[gentoo-alpha] Gentoo/Alpha is without a build machine"]], Matt Turner, gentoo-alpha, 1 Sep 2019)] ==== History ==== When Compaq announced its move to Itanium in June 2001, it said that the EV7 would require new systems and that the existing ES, DS, and GS systems had never been intended to run it. [(>[[https://github.com/alphalinux/mailing-list-archives/blob/main/tru64-unix-managers-mbox/2001-June.mbox#L34268|"Compaq/Intel agreement... postings on this list"]], Vincent D'Antonio, tru64-unix-managers, 27 Jun 2001)] ==== Conflicting information ==== The following sources conflict with each other or with the account given above. They are listed here for further investigation. * **Default escape sequence** * {{wiki:hardware:systems:alphaserver_es47:alphaserver_es47_es80_gs1280_cli_reference.pdf?linkonly|AlphaServer ES47/ES80/GS1280 Server Management CLI Reference}}, p. 2-2: the ''esc_sequence'' variable defaults to "^[^[MBM", as the ''connect'' and ''telnet'' examples also show. * {{wiki:hardware:systems:alphaserver_es47:alphaserver_es47_es80_gs1280_cli_reference.pdf?linkonly|AlphaServer ES47/ES80/GS1280 Server Management CLI Reference}}, p. 3-68: "The default escape sequence is ^[^[SPMU." ==== Documentation ==== ^ Document ^ Part number ^ Date ^ | {{wiki:hardware:systems:alphaserver_es47:alphaserver_es47_es80_quickspecs.pdf?linkonly|HP AlphaServer/AlphaStation ES47 Tower, AlphaServer ES47, and AlphaServer ES80 Systems QuickSpecs, Version 25}} | DA-11922 | July 2007 | | {{wiki:hardware:systems:alphaserver_es47:alphaserver_es47_tower_quickspecs.pdf?linkonly|HP AlphaServer ES47 Tower and AlphaStation ES47 Tower QuickSpecs, Version 20}} | DA-11508 | November 2003 | | {{wiki:hardware:systems:alphaserver_es47:alphaserver_es47_es80_gs1280_io_drawer_upgrade.pdf?linkonly|HP AlphaServer ES47/ES80/GS1280 I/O Drawer Upgrade}} | EK-EGIOD-UP.B01 | September 2003 | | {{wiki:hardware:systems:alphaserver_es47:alphaserver_es47_es80_gs1280_cli_reference.pdf?linkonly|AlphaServer ES47/ES80/GS1280 Server Management Command Line Interface Reference, Version 3.0}} | | October 2003 | | {{wiki:hardware:systems:alphaserver_es47:alphaserver_es47_upgrade.pdf?linkonly|HP AlphaServer ES47 Upgrade}} | EK-ES470-UP.C01 | June 2004 | | {{wiki:software:firmware:alphaserver_es47_es80_gs1280_srm_console_reference.pdf?linkonly|AlphaServer ES47/ES80/GS1280 Server Management SRM Console Reference, Version 1.0}} | | December 2002 | | {{wiki:hardware:systems:alphaserver_es47:alphaserver_management_release_notes_v5.2.0.pdf?linkonly|HP AlphaServer Management Release Notes V5.2.0}} | | August 2006 | | {{wiki:hardware:systems:alphaserver_es47:us6973517_partition_formation_patent.pdf?linkonly|US Patent 6,973,517, Partition Formation Using Microprocessors in a Multiprocessor Computer System}} | | December 2005 | | {{wiki:hardware:systems:alphaserver_es47:alphaserver_es47_es80_gs1280_user_information.pdf?linkonly|hp AlphaServer ES47/ES80/GS1280 User Information, Version 3.0}} | | June 2004 | | {{wiki:hardware:systems:alphaserver_es47:alphaserver_es47_es80_gs1280_installation_information.pdf?linkonly|hp AlphaServer ES47/ES80/GS1280 Installation Information, Revision 4.0}} | | May 2004 | | {{wiki:hardware:systems:alphaserver_es47:alphaserver_es47_es80_gs1280_getting_started_with_partitions.pdf?linkonly|AlphaServer ES47/ES80/GS1280 Getting Started With Partitions, Version 4.0}} | | January 2005 | | {{wiki:hardware:systems:alphaserver_es47:alphaserver_management_station_users_guide.pdf?linkonly|AlphaServer Management Station User's Guide, Version 4.0}} | | July 2004 | | {{wiki:hardware:systems:alphaserver_es47:alphaserver_es47_trade_ups.pdf?linkonly|HP AlphaServer ES47 Trade-ups}} | EK-ES478-TU.C01 | June 2004 | | {{wiki:hardware:systems:alphaserver_es47:alphaserver_es47_es80_gs1280_memory_option_installation_card.pdf?linkonly|AlphaServer ES47/ES80/GS1280 Memory Option Installation Card}} | EK-EGMEM-UP.B01 | | | {{wiki:hardware:systems:alphaserver_es47:alphaserver_es47_es80_gs1280_io_module_installation_card.pdf?linkonly|AlphaServer ES47/ES80/GS1280 I/O Module Installation Card}} | EK-EGRIS-UP.A01 | | | {{wiki:hardware:systems:alphaserver_es47:alphaserver_es47_es80_gs1280_expander_cabinet_installation_card.pdf?linkonly|AlphaServer ES47/ES80/GS1280 Expander Cabinet Installation Card}} | EK-EGEXC-UP.A01 | | | {{wiki:hardware:systems:alphaserver_gs1280:alphaserver_gs1280_cpu_module_installation_card.pdf?linkonly|AlphaServer GS1280 CPU Module Installation Card}} | EK-EGCPU-UP.E01 | | | {{wiki:hardware:systems:alphaserver_es47:linksys_nat_box_configuration_guide.pdf?linkonly|Configuration Guide for the Linksys NAT box}} | EK-GSNAT-IN.A01 | July 2006 | | {{wiki:hardware:systems:alphaserver_es47:alphaserver_es47_data_sheet.pdf?linkonly|HP AlphaServer ES47 system data sheet}} | | July 2004 | | {{wiki:hardware:systems:alphaserver_gs1280:alphaserver_gs1280_data_sheet.pdf?linkonly|HP AlphaServer GS1280 system data sheet}} | | July 2004 | | {{wiki:hardware:systems:alphaserver_gs1280:alphaserver_gs1280_quickspecs.pdf?linkonly|HP AlphaServer GS1280 Systems QuickSpecs, Version 22}} | DA-11921 | May 2006 | {{tag>hardware system 21364 hp}}