===== Multia and AXPpci 33 (Noname) ===== ^ Multia, AXPpci 33 ^^ ^ Codename | UDB (Multia), Noname | ^ CPU | [[wp>Alpha_21064#Alpha_21066|21066]], [[wp>Alpha_21064#Alpha_21066A|21066A]] | ^ Core logic | LCA (integrated in the CPU) | ^ Memory | Multia: up to 256 MiB, parity SIMMs in pairs | ^ Buses | PCI; Multia: one PCI slot | ^ Firmware | SRM (last V4.7 on the AXPpci 33), ARC | ^ Kernel option | ''CONFIG_ALPHA_NONAME_CH'' | ^ Linux | Linux 6.9 and earlier | The Multia, or UDB ("Universal Desktop Box"), is a small desktop that Digital announced in December 1994, with a 21066 or 21066A CPU, onboard TGA graphics, a 21040 Ethernet controller, and one PCI slot. [(>[[https://github.com/alphalinux/mailing-list-archives/blob/main/axp-list-mbox/1996-February.mbox#L329|"BETA Xserver for TGA Available"]], Jay Estabrook, axp-list, 2 Feb 1996)] [(>[[https://github.com/alphalinux/mailing-list-archives/blob/main/biz-digital-articles-mbox/googlegroups-1994-December.mbox#L61|"Multia Family of MultiClient Desktops"]], Customer Update, biz.digital.articles, 1 Dec 1994)] The [[hardware:motherboards:axppci33|AXPpci 33]] is a Baby-AT motherboard from Digital's Technical OEM group; both are based on the EB66 design and use the same CPUs and the same interrupt handling. [(>[[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)] [(>[[https://github.com/alphalinux/mailing-list-archives/blob/main/axp-list-mbox/1996-September.mbox#L1751|"Re: interesting benchmarks"]], David A Rusling, axp-list, 3 Sep 1996)] ==== Specifications ==== The following describes the Multia; for the motherboard see [[hardware:motherboards:axppci33|AXPpci 33]]. * [[wp>Alpha_21064#Alpha_21066|21066]] or [[wp>Alpha_21064#Alpha_21066A|21066A]] at 166 or 233 MHz, with the memory and PCI controllers on the CPU die [(>[[https://github.com/alphalinux/mailing-list-archives/blob/main/axp-list-mbox/1998-January.mbox#L4880|"Re: Unable to install redhat 5.0 on multia through serial port"]], Jim Paradis, axp-list, 7 Jan 1998)] [(>[[https://github.com/alphalinux/mailing-list-archives/blob/main/axp-list-mbox/1997-April.mbox#L14880|"Re: UDB's"]], Jim Paradis, axp-list, 7 Apr 1997)] * 64-bit memory bus, so SIMMs go in pairs rather than quartets, and parity SIMMs are required; parity cannot be disabled [(>[[https://github.com/alphalinux/mailing-list-archives/blob/main/axp-list-mbox/2008-December.mbox#L1027|"Alpha hardware"]], Jay Estabrook, axp-list, 5 Dec 2008)] [(>[[https://github.com/alphalinux/mailing-list-archives/blob/main/axp-list-mbox/1996-July.mbox#L9098|"Re: UDB RAM question"]], Jay Estabrook, axp-list, 23 Jul 1996)] EDO SIMMs do not work. [(>[[https://github.com/alphalinux/mailing-list-archives/blob/main/alphant-mbox/1996-July.mbox#L1649|"RE: Upgrading RAM on Multia"]], Lambert Hofstra, alphant, 4 Jul 1996)] * 24 MiB of memory as shipped, expandable to 256 MiB [(>[[https://github.com/alphalinux/mailing-list-archives/blob/main/biz-digital-announce-mbox/googlegroups-1994-November.mbox#L3588|"Fact Sheet/Multia MultiClient Desktop"]], Digital Press and Analysts News, biz.digital.announce, 3 Nov 1994)] [(>[[https://github.com/alphalinux/mailing-list-archives/blob/main/comp-os-linux-alpha-mbox/googlegroups-2006-February.mbox#L1|"Multia install"]], Harmon Seaver, comp.os.linux.alpha, 3 Feb 2006)] * Onboard TGA (21030) graphics and a 21040 Ethernet controller [(>[[https://github.com/alphalinux/mailing-list-archives/blob/main/axp-list-mbox/1996-February.mbox#L329|"BETA Xserver for TGA Available"]], Jay Estabrook, axp-list, 2 Feb 1996)]; the Multia's BNC connector is handled differently from other 21040 implementations [(>[[https://github.com/alphalinux/mailing-list-archives/blob/main/alphant-mbox/1996-February.mbox#L7695|"RE: Multia's BNC connection?"]], James Livingston, alphant, 23 Feb 1996)] * Onboard SCSI, at IRQ 11, with an external SCSI port; riser cards came in several configurations [(>[[https://github.com/alphalinux/mailing-list-archives/blob/main/axp-list-mbox/1996-August.mbox#L9692|"Re: MSS sound and Avanti (was: MSS sound and UDB)"]], Jay Estabrook, axp-list, 8 Aug 1996)] [(>[[https://github.com/alphalinux/mailing-list-archives/blob/main/axp-list-mbox/1996-April.mbox#L7305|"RE: Multia/UDB SCSI termination problems"]], Jay Estabrook, axp-list, 15 Apr 1996)] * One PCI slot [(>[[https://github.com/alphalinux/mailing-list-archives/blob/main/axp-list-mbox/1996-February.mbox#L329|"BETA Xserver for TGA Available"]], Jay Estabrook, axp-list, 2 Feb 1996)] * Flash holding SRM in two chips and ARC in the third [(>[[https://github.com/alphalinux/mailing-list-archives/blob/main/axp-list-mbox/1996-October.mbox#L47543|"UDB flash and failsafe loader experiments"]], Eric Smith, axp-list, 29 Oct 1996)]; Digital provided no mechanism for updating the firmware [(>[[https://github.com/alphalinux/mailing-list-archives/blob/main/alphant-mbox/1996-July.mbox#L1322|"FWD: Latest firmware for Multia?"]], David Nieters, alphant, 3 Jul 1996)] === Models and jumpers === Digital's service information separates the three Alpha models: the VX40 has a fixed 166 MHz CPU and a fixed 256 KiB cache, the VX41 has an upgradable 166 MHz CPU in a ZIF socket and upgradable 256 KiB cache, and the VX42 has an upgradable 233 MHz CPU and 512 KiB of cache. All ship with 24 MiB of memory and two PCMCIA slots; the floppy drive and the SCSI-2 connector are standard on the VX41 and VX42 and optional on the VX40. [(>{{wiki:hardware:systems:multia:multia_service_information.pdf?linkonly|Multia MultiClient Desktop Service Information}}, EK-MULTS-IN.C01, pp. 1-2)] The system board jumpers differ between the VX40 and the later two. W9 on a VX40, or W12 on a VX41 or VX42, selects the mini console, and W7 or W11 forces a floppy boot fail safe load; W6 to W3 set the SRM graphics resolution. [(>{{wiki:hardware:systems:multia:multia_service_information.pdf?linkonly|Multia MultiClient Desktop Service Information}}, pp. 102-103)] ==== Linux ==== Linux 6.9 was the last version to support the Multia and AXPpci 33; Linux 6.10 removed support for processors older than the EV56 (21164A), including the Noname kernel platform (''CONFIG_ALPHA_NONAME''). [(>[[https://git.kernel.org/pub/scm/linux/kernel/git/torvalds/linux.git/commit/?id=430ad3f0ddd7|"alpha: remove LCA and APECS based machines"]], Linux 6.10)] The same MILO image serves both machines. [(>[[https://github.com/alphalinux/mailing-list-archives/blob/main/axp-list-mbox/1998-January.mbox#L949|"Re: fmu on PC164"]], Jay Estabrook, axp-list, 2 Jan 1998)] MILO is normally started from ARC by ''linload.exe'', which passes it the memory size; started from SRM, MILO assumes 24 MiB unless given the size, e.g. ''MEMORY_SIZE=32''. [(>[[https://github.com/alphalinux/mailing-list-archives/blob/main/axp-list-mbox/1998-July.mbox#L64302|"Re: UDB only sees 24M of RAM"]], Jay Estabrook, axp-list, 26 Jul 1998)] Linux 5.19 to 6.9 have no driver known to work with the Multia's onboard 21040 (Tulip): the ''de2104x'' driver was reported in 2006 to fail on machines with the original built-in 21040, including the Multia, [(>[[https://github.com/alphalinux/mailing-list-archives/blob/main/debian-alpha-mbox/2006-February.mbox#L8047|"Re: testing wanted: debian-installer, now with 2.6.15"]], Jay Estabrook, debian-alpha, 10 Feb 2006)] and the ''de4x5'' driver that was recommended instead was removed in Linux 5.19. [(>[[https://git.kernel.org/torvalds/c/32c53420d2a0|"eth: de4x5: remove support for Generic DECchip & DIGITAL EtherWORKS PCI/EISA"]], Linux 5.19)] The failure was reported again with the Debian 4.0 (etch) installer in 2007, when ''de2104x'' timed out stopping DMA on a Multia VX40. [(>[[https://github.com/alphalinux/mailing-list-archives/blob/main/debian-alpha-mbox/2007-February.mbox#L5477|"Re: Successfull Etch install on a Multia"]], Marc Zyngier, debian-alpha, 22 Feb 2007)] Linux 2.6.35 fixed ''de2104x'' reading the MAC address from the onboard ROM on Alpha, [(>[[https://git.kernel.org/torvalds/c/84cc1535cb90|"alpha: Fix de2104x driver failing to readout MAC address correctly"]], Linux 2.6.35)] but no later report says whether the driver works on the Multia. ''de2104x'' is the only driver in current kernels for the 21040; the ''tulip'' driver does not handle it. [(>[[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 onboard SCSI controller is an NCR 53C8xx part: in 1996 the advice for Multia kernels was to select the NCR 53C8xx SCSI driver. [(>[[https://github.com/alphalinux/mailing-list-archives/blob/main/axp-list-mbox/1996-December.mbox#L3501|"Re: Building the Kernel for the UDB"]], Jim Paradis, axp-list, 3 Dec 1996)] In Linux 6.9 that family is handled by ''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)] and the onboard TGA (21030) graphics by ''tgafb''. [(>[[https://git.kernel.org/pub/scm/linux/kernel/git/torvalds/linux.git/tree/drivers/video/fbdev/tgafb.c?h=v6.9|drivers/video/fbdev/tgafb.c]], Linux 6.9)] SRM can also boot a Multia over the network with aboot; the 2007 report above booted the Debian installer with ''boot ewa0.0.0.8.0 -flags console=ttyS0'', using the serial console. For serial console setup, see [[documentation:srm#serial_console|Using SRM]]. Current installers need more than the Multia's standard 24 MiB of memory: a 2016 report said that a 32 MiB Multia, tried a few years earlier, booted the installer but could not continue. [(>[[https://github.com/alphalinux/mailing-list-archives/blob/main/debian-alpha-mbox/2016-April.mbox#L150|"Re: Multia state of support"]], Lennart Sorensen, debian-alpha, 2 Apr 2016)] ==== Known issues ==== * **Heat:** the Multia's compact case causes overheating. [(>[[https://github.com/alphalinux/mailing-list-archives/blob/main/axp-list-mbox/1997-September.mbox#L10163|"Re: dec hardware"]], Vernard Martin, axp-list, 12 Sep 1997)] * **Power connector:** the 3.3 V wires of its power connector discolor and fail. [(>[[https://github.com/alphalinux/mailing-list-archives/blob/main/axp-list-mbox/1997-September.mbox#L7408|"UDB Power Problem Solved"]], Michael Brennen, axp-list, 10 Sep 1997)] ==== History ==== The 21066 integrates the memory controller, a PCI I/O controller, and an external cache controller on one die. [(>[[https://github.com/alphalinux/mailing-list-archives/blob/main/biz-digital-articles-mbox/googlegroups-1994-June.mbox#L8845|"Digital's DECchip 21066: The First Cost-focused Alpha AXP Chip"]], Dina L. McKinney et al., Digital Technical Journal, biz.digital.articles, 7 Jun 1994)] The 21066 is an EV4 core with half the on-chip L1 cache and an on-chip PCI interface, which together limit memory performance. [(>[[https://github.com/alphalinux/mailing-list-archives/blob/main/axp-list-mbox/1997-April.mbox#L14880|"Re: UDB's"]], Jim Paradis, axp-list, 7 Apr 1997)] Digital did not sell the Multia as a general purpose workstation: the family was announced on 1 December 1994 as a "MultiClient Desktop", a network ready thin client with user applications and data held on central servers, shipping with Windows NT Workstation V3.5 factory installed. [(>[[https://github.com/alphalinux/mailing-list-archives/blob/main/biz-digital-articles-mbox/googlegroups-1994-December.mbox#L61|"Multia Family of MultiClient Desktops"]], Customer Update, biz.digital.articles, 1 Dec 1994)] In May 1995 Digital added a 233 MHz model at the top of the family, [(>[[https://github.com/alphalinux/mailing-list-archives/blob/main/biz-digital-articles-mbox/googlegroups-1995-May.mbox#L3734|"Multia MultiClient Desktop Device with New Configurations"]], Customer Update, biz.digital.articles, 30 May 1995)] and in November 1995 added Intel Pentium models alongside the Alpha ones. [(>[[https://github.com/alphalinux/mailing-list-archives/blob/main/biz-digital-articles-mbox/googlegroups-1995-November.mbox#L1554|"Multia Enterprise Client with Pentium Processor"]], Customer Update, biz.digital.articles, 15 Nov 1995)] ==== Conflicting information ==== The following sources conflict with each other or with the account given above. They are listed here for further investigation. * **Whether the Multia's memory is parity or ECC** * [[https://github.com/alphalinux/mailing-list-archives/blob/main/axp-list-mbox/1996-July.mbox#L9098|"Re: UDB RAM question"]], Jay Estabrook, axp-list, 23 Jul 1996: parity SIMMs are required and parity cannot be disabled. * {{wiki:hardware:systems:multia:multia_service_information.pdf?linkonly|Multia MultiClient Desktop Service Information}}, pp. 1-2: every model ships with "24 MB of ECC memory expandable to 128 MB". * **Multia maximum memory** * {{wiki:hardware:systems:multia:multia_service_information.pdf?linkonly|Multia MultiClient Desktop Service Information}}, pp. 1-2: "24 MB of ECC memory expandable to 128 MB" * [[https://github.com/alphalinux/mailing-list-archives/blob/main/biz-digital-announce-mbox/googlegroups-1994-November.mbox#L3588|"Fact Sheet/Multia MultiClient Desktop"]], Digital Press and Analysts News, biz.digital.announce, 3 Nov 1994, gives 256 MiB, and [[https://github.com/alphalinux/mailing-list-archives/blob/main/comp-os-linux-alpha-mbox/googlegroups-2006-February.mbox#L1|"Multia install"]], Harmon Seaver, comp.os.linux.alpha, 3 Feb 2006, reports a Multia running with 256 MiB. ==== Documentation ==== ^ Document ^ Part number ^ Date ^ | {{wiki:hardware:systems:multia:multia_service_information.pdf?linkonly|Multia MultiClient Desktop Service Information}} | EK-MULTS-IN.C01 | October 1995 | | {{wiki:hardware:systems:multia:multia_service_information_addendum.pdf?linkonly|Multia Enterprise Client Service Information Addendum}} | EK-MULTS-CN.A01 | July 1996 | {{tag>hardware system 21066 digital}}