===== AlphaServer 1000A, AlphaServer 800, AlphaStation 600A, and Digital Server 3300 (Noritake) ===== ^ AlphaServer 1000A, 800, AlphaStation 600A, Digital Server 3300 ^^ ^ Codename | Noritake, Noritake-Primo (1000A), Corelle (800), Alcor-Primo (600A) | ^ CPU | [[wp>Alpha_21064#Alpha_21064A|21064A]], [[wp>Alpha_21164|21164]], [[wp>Alpha_21164#Alpha_21164A|21164A]] | ^ Processors | 1 | ^ Core logic | [[hardware:chipsets#21071_and_21072|21071/21072]] (APECS), [[hardware:chipsets#21171|21171]] (CIA) | ^ Memory | Up to 1 GiB, SIMMs (1000A, 600A) | ^ Buses | 33 MHz PCI, EISA | ^ Firmware | SRM (last V5.7-83 on the 1000A 4/xxx, V5.7-80 on the 1000A 5/xxx, V5.8-16 on the 800, V5.6-114 on the 600A), AlphaBIOS | ^ Kernel option | ''CONFIG_ALPHA_NORITAKE'' | ^ Linux | Supported (21164A models); others Linux 6.9 and earlier | The Noritake family comprises the AlphaServer 1000A (Noritake), built with either EV4 (4/xxx) or EV5 (5/xxx, Noritake-Primo) CPUs; the AlphaServer 800 (Corelle), sold only as 5/xxx models; and the AlphaStation 600A (Alcor-Primo), also 5/xxx only. All have an EISA bus. [(>[[https://github.com/alphalinux/mailing-list-archives/blob/main/axp-list-mbox/1999-January.mbox#L14347|"Re: Alpha Server 1000A - Noritake Image (Kernel)"]], Jay Estabrook, axp-list, 8 Jan 1999)] The Digital Server 3300 and 3305 are AlphaServer 800 models (see [[hardware:systems#naming|Naming]]). [(>[[https://github.com/alphalinux/mailing-list-archives/blob/main/axp-list-mbox/1999-December.mbox#L1874|"Re: 3305 and RH6 boot problems"]], Rich Payne, axp-list, 2 Dec 1999)] ==== Specifications ==== === AlphaServer 1000A === The AlphaServer 1000A is a revision of the [[hardware:systems:mikasa|AlphaServer 1000]] with most of the EISA slots traded for PCI slots behind a PCI-to-PCI bridge. It was sold as pedestal, rackmount, and cabinet systems. [(>{{wiki:hardware:systems:alphaserver_1000a:alphaserver_1000a_technical_summary.pdf?linkonly|AlphaServer 1000A Technical Summary}}, p. 1)] [(>{{wiki:hardware:systems:alphaserver_1000a:alphaserver_1000a_technical_summary.pdf?linkonly|AlphaServer 1000A Technical Summary}}, pp. 2-3)] * One CPU on an upgradable daughtercard: 266 MHz [[wp>Alpha_21064#Alpha_21064A|21064A]] (Model 4/266), or 333 or 400 MHz [[wp>Alpha_21164#Alpha_21164A|21164A]] (Models 5/333 and 5/400) * 2 MiB of direct-mapped, ECC protected level 2 cache and 8 KiB of serial ROM on each CPU card * 128-bit ECC protected memory bus * Model 4/266: 20 SIMM sockets in banks of five (four data plus ECC); Models 5/333 and 5/400: 16 SIMM sockets in banks of four including ECC * 4, 8, 16, 32, and 64 MiB SIMMs, 32 MiB to 1 GiB total * Seven 33 MHz PCI slots, of which slots 11, 12, and 13 are on the primary bus and slots 1 to 4 behind the 21050 PCI-to-PCI bridge; some options are restricted to the primary bus [(>{{wiki:hardware:systems:alphaserver_1000a:alphaserver_1000a_service_guide.pdf?linkonly|AlphaServer 1000A Service Guide}}, p. 5-34)] * Two 8.33 MHz EISA/ISA slots, both bus master capable * Onboard fast wide SCSI-2 controller, PCI-to-EISA bridge, 1 MiB of flash ROM, 8 KiB of NVRAM, TOY clock, two serial ports, bidirectional parallel port, floppy controller, keyboard and mouse interface, PC-style speaker * Onboard SVGA controller on the Model 4/266 only * Dual SCSI backplane, up to 30.1 GB of internal storage in the pedestal, optional RAID controllers and redundant power supplies [(>{{wiki:hardware:systems:alphaserver_1000a:alphaserver_1000a_technical_summary.pdf?linkonly|AlphaServer 1000A Technical Summary}}, p. 1)] === AlphaServer 800 === Except where noted, the following comes from the technical summary. [(>{{wiki:hardware:systems:alphaserver_800:alphaserver_800_technical_summary.pdf?linkonly|AlphaServer 800 Technical Summary}}, pp. 1-3)] * One [[wp>Alpha_21164#Alpha_21164A|21164A]] at 333, 400, or 500 MHz on a CPU and cache daughtercard, [(>{{wiki:hardware:systems:alphaserver_800:alphaserver_800_service_guide.pdf?linkonly|AlphaServer 800 Service Guide}}, p. 7-3)] with 2 MiB of third-level cache and 8 KiB of serial ROM; the 333, 400, and 500 MHz CPU modules are all EV5.6 [(>{{wiki:hardware:systems:alphaserver_800:alphaserver_800_illustrated_parts_breakdown.pdf?linkonly|DIGITAL AlphaServer 800 Series Illustrated Parts Breakdown}}, p. 2-3)] [(>{{wiki:hardware:systems:alphaserver_800:alphaserver_800_brochure.pdf?linkonly|DIGITAL AlphaServer 800 system}}, 1997)] * 256-bit wide ECC protected memory subsystem and a 64-bit PCI bus * Memory banks on the motherboard, expandable from 32 MiB to 1 GiB * Three 32-bit PCI slots, one shared 64-bit PCI/EISA slot, and two dedicated EISA slots [(>{{wiki:software:firmware:alphaserver_800_users_guide.pdf?linkonly|AlphaServer 800 User's Guide}}, p. 1-5)]; the PCI bus runs at 33 MHz and the EISA bus at 8.33 MHz, and the EISA bus also carries the Xbus with the real-time clock, NVRAM, and operator control panel interface * Onboard SVGA controller with 1 MiB of video RAM, an S3 Trio64 [(>{{wiki:hardware:systems:alphaserver_800:alphaserver_800_service_guide.pdf?linkonly|AlphaServer 800 Service Guide}}, p. 6-18)] * Onboard fast wide single-ended SCSI controller, a QLogic part [(>{{wiki:hardware:systems:alphaserver_800:alphaserver_800_service_guide.pdf?linkonly|AlphaServer 800 Service Guide}}, p. 6-18)], with an UltraSCSI-ready storage backplane * Remote management console (RMC) for monitoring the system remotely, plus internal temperature, fan, and status sensors with variable speed fans * Bidirectional parallel port, two serial ports, keyboard and mouse interface * Up to four 3.5-inch full-height SCSI devices with hot swap, up to three 5.25-inch half-height devices, and a 3.5-inch floppy drive * Sold as a pedestal or as a rackmount box taking up to four internal drives === AlphaStation 600A === [(>{{wiki:hardware:systems:alphastation_600a:alphastation_600a_user_information.pdf?linkonly|AlphaStation 600A User Information}}, January 1997, pp. 3-8 to 3-9)] * CPU on a module: the 600A 5/500 reports a 500 MHz [[wp>Alpha_21164#Alpha_21164A|21164A]] [(>{{wiki:hardware:systems:alphastation_600a:alphastation_600a_user_information.pdf?linkonly|AlphaStation 600A User Information}}, p. 6-3)] * 16 SIMM sockets in four banks of four; memory options of 16, 32, 64, 128, and 256 MiB, for 16 MiB to 1 GiB, with one bank required and all modules in a bank of the same capacity * Primary and secondary PCI slots plus EISA slots, an onboard SCSI controller, and an onboard graphics controller that the EISA Configuration Utility can disable * Both SRM and AlphaBIOS, with an ''os_type'' environment variable selecting which the NVRAM boots, and a ''pci_parity'' variable whose default depends on the SCSI controller revision [(>{{wiki:hardware:systems:alphastation_600a:alphastation_600a_user_information.pdf?linkonly|AlphaStation 600A User Information}}, p. 5-53)] Digital sold an upgrade from the [[hardware:systems:alcor|AlphaStation 600]]: the kit replaces the main logic board and the CPU module, and the Alcor memory towers are returned to Digital. [(>{{wiki:hardware:systems:alphastation_600a:alphastation_600_to_600a_upgrade_information.pdf?linkonly|AlphaStation 600 to AlphaStation 600A Upgrade Information}}, January 1997, pp. 1-1 to 1-4)] ==== Firmware ==== Use the final SRM version for the model: V5.7-80 on the AlphaServer 1000A 5/xxx, V5.8-16 on the AlphaServer 800, and V5.6-114 on the AlphaStation 600A (see [[software:firmware:srm#final_versions|final SRM versions]] and [[software:firmware:srm#updating_firmware|Updating firmware]]). ==== Linux ==== Current kernels support the Noritake family members with EV56 (21164A) CPUs (''CONFIG_ALPHA_NORITAKE'', or a generic kernel), which boot from SRM with aboot. The 1000A 5/300 has a 300 MHz 21164 (EV5), [(>{{wiki:hardware:systems:alphaserver_1000:alphaserver_1000_1000a_model_5xxx_owners_guide_supplement.pdf?linkonly|AlphaServer 1000/1000A Model 5/xxx Owner's Guide Supplement}}, p. 2-3)] while the 1000A 5/333 and 5/400, [(>{{wiki:hardware:systems:alphaserver_1000a:alphaserver_1000a_technical_summary.pdf?linkonly|AlphaServer 1000A Technical Summary}}, p. 2)] the AlphaServer 800 5/333, 5/400, and 5/500, [(>{{wiki:hardware:systems:alphaserver_800:alphaserver_800_service_guide.pdf?linkonly|AlphaServer 800 Service Guide}}, p. 7-3)] [(>{{wiki:hardware:systems:alphaserver_800:alphaserver_800_illustrated_parts_breakdown.pdf?linkonly|DIGITAL AlphaServer 800 Series Illustrated Parts Breakdown}}, p. 2-3)] and the AlphaStation 600A 5/500 [(>{{wiki:hardware:systems:alphastation_600a:alphastation_600a_user_information.pdf?linkonly|AlphaStation 600A User Information}}, p. 6-3)] have 21164A (EV56) CPUs. Linux 6.9 was the last version to support the 1000A 4/266 and 5/300; Linux 6.10 removed support for processors older than the EV56 (21164A), along with the EV4 machine vector ''noritake_mv''. [(>[[https://git.kernel.org/pub/scm/linux/kernel/git/torvalds/linux.git/commit/?id=a4184174be36|"alpha: drop pre-EV56 support"]], Linux 6.10)] * There is no MILO for any member of the family. [(>[[https://github.com/alphalinux/mailing-list-archives/blob/main/axp-list-mbox/1998-March.mbox#L29808|"Re: AlphaServer 800"]], Jay Estabrook, axp-list, 25 Mar 1998)] [(>[[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)] * A kernel built for the [[hardware:systems:mikasa|Mikasa]] platform does not run on a Noritake or the reverse, because the two deliver interrupts differently and the 1000A's built-in PCI-to-PCI bridge needs special handling. [(>[[https://github.com/alphalinux/mailing-list-archives/blob/main/axp-list-mbox/1997-November.mbox#L36383|"Re: Kernel for AlphaServer 1000 (Success!... and a question)"]], Jay Estabrook, axp-list, 29 Nov 1997)] A generic kernel supports both. * Unlike most Alpha systems, the Noritake family has PCI slots behind a PCI-to-PCI bridge that can hold a VGA card. [(>[[https://github.com/alphalinux/mailing-list-archives/blob/main/axp-list-mbox/1998-August.mbox#L26968|"Re: PC164UX doesnt work - anyone got details"]], Jay Estabrook, axp-list, 11 Aug 1998)] * The onboard SCSI controller is a QLogic ISP1020A on the AlphaServer 1000A [(>{{wiki:hardware:systems:alphaserver_1000a:alphaserver_1000a_service_guide.pdf?linkonly|AlphaServer 1000A Service Guide}}, p. 2-4)] and a QLogic ISP1020 on the AlphaServer 800, [(>{{wiki:hardware:systems:alphaserver_800:alphaserver_800_service_guide.pdf?linkonly|AlphaServer 800 Service Guide}}, p. 2-5)] and uses the ''qla1280'' driver, which loads the firmware file ''qlogic/1040.bin'' for these chips (see [[#known_issues|Known issues]]). [(>[[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 AlphaServer 800's onboard S3 Trio64 [(>{{wiki:hardware:systems:alphaserver_800:alphaserver_800_service_guide.pdf?linkonly|AlphaServer 800 Service Guide}}, p. 2-5)] is supported by the ''s3fb'' framebuffer driver. [(>[[https://git.kernel.org/pub/scm/linux/kernel/git/torvalds/linux.git/tree/drivers/video/fbdev/s3fb.c?h=v7.3-rc1|drivers/video/fbdev/s3fb.c]], Linux 7.3)] * For a serial console, see [[documentation:srm#serial_console|Using SRM]]. * Debian Ports installed on an AlphaServer 1000A with 512 MiB of memory in 2015. [(>[[https://github.com/alphalinux/mailing-list-archives/blob/main/debian-alpha-mbox/2015-March.mbox#L107|"Re: Pre-DEBIAN 8.0 install images for ALPHA architecture (debian-ports unstable release)"]], Helge Deller, debian-alpha, 4 Mar 2015)] In 2023 an AlphaServer 800 5/400 ran Debian Ports kernels; systemd failed with an instruction fault under the SMP kernel but not under the uniprocessor kernel. [(>[[https://github.com/alphalinux/mailing-list-archives/blob/main/debian-alpha-mbox/2023-June.mbox#L2779|"Re: Linux 6.1.27, cgroup: Instruction fault 4 with systemd"]], Frank Scheiner, debian-alpha, 19 Jun 2023)] ==== Known issues ==== * **SCSI firmware:** Debian's installer images do not include the non-free ''qlogic/1040.bin'' firmware that ''qla1280'' needs for the onboard QLogic controller. No report from a Noritake system has been found; a 2026 report from an AlphaServer 1200 ([[hardware:systems:rawhide|Rawhide]]) with a QLogic controller had to add the file to the installer's initrd. [(>[[https://github.com/alphalinux/mailing-list-archives/blob/main/debian-alpha-mbox/2026-March.mbox#L214|"Re: Updated Debian Ports installation images 2025-12-06"]], Darren Goossens, debian-alpha, 8 Mar 2026)] [(>[[https://github.com/alphalinux/mailing-list-archives/blob/main/debian-alpha-mbox/2026-March.mbox#L455|"Re: Updated Debian Ports installation images 2025-12-06"]], John Paul Adrian Glaubitz, debian-alpha, 8 Mar 2026)] ==== History ==== Digital announced the AlphaServer 1000A 5/300, with a 300 MHz 21164, on 6 August 1996. [(>[[https://github.com/alphalinux/mailing-list-archives/blob/main/biz-digital-announce-mbox/googlegroups-1996-August.mbox#L144|"Press/Digital's 64-Bit AlphaServer 1000A System Gets Enhanced Power"]], Digital Press and Analysts News, biz.digital.announce, 7 Aug 1996)] ==== Conflicting information ==== The following sources conflict with each other or with the account given above. They are listed here for further investigation. * **AlphaServer 800 CPU speeds and maximum memory** * {{wiki:hardware:systems:alphaserver_800:alphaserver_800_technical_summary.pdf?linkonly|AlphaServer 800 Technical Summary}}, 1997, pp. 1, 3: two CPU cards, 333 and 400 MHz, and "incremental memory expansion from 32 MB to 1 GB" * {{wiki:hardware:systems:alphaserver_800:alphaserver_800_brochure.pdf?linkonly|DIGITAL AlphaServer 800 system}}, 1997: 21164 at 333, 400, and 500 MHz, each with 2 GiB of memory * {{wiki:software:firmware:alphaserver_800_users_guide.pdf?linkonly|AlphaServer 800 User's Guide}}, November 1997, pp. 1-3, 1-4: a 21164 at 300 to 500 MHz and memory "from 32 Mbytes to 2 Gbytes" ==== Documentation ==== ^ Document ^ Part number ^ Date ^ | {{wiki:hardware:systems:alphaserver_1000a:alphaserver_1000a_owners_guide.pdf?linkonly|AlphaServer 1000A Owner's Guide}} | EK-ALPSV-OG.A02 | October 1996 | | {{wiki:hardware:systems:alphaserver_1000a:alphaserver_1000a_service_guide.pdf?linkonly|AlphaServer 1000A Service Guide}} | EK-ALPSV-SV.A01 | March 1996 | | {{wiki:hardware:systems:alphaserver_1000a:alphaserver_1000a_technical_summary.pdf?linkonly|AlphaServer 1000A Technical Summary}} | | 1997 | | {{wiki:hardware:systems:alphaserver_1000a:alphaserver_1000a_release_notes.pdf?linkonly|AlphaServer 1000A Read This First}} | EK-ALPSV-CL.A01 | February 1996 | | {{wiki:software:firmware:alphaserver_800_users_guide.pdf?linkonly|AlphaServer 800 User's Guide}} | EK-ASV80-UG.B01 | November 1997 | | {{wiki:hardware:systems:alphaserver_800:alphaserver_800_technical_summary.pdf?linkonly|AlphaServer 800 Technical Summary}} | | 1997 | | {{wiki:hardware:systems:alphaserver_800:alphaserver_800_brochure.pdf?linkonly|DIGITAL AlphaServer 800 system}} | EC-F8375-10 | 1997 | | {{wiki:hardware:systems:alphaserver_800:alphaserver_800_service_guide.pdf?linkonly|AlphaServer 800 Service Guide}} | EK-ASV80-SG.A01 | April 1997 | | {{wiki:hardware:systems:alphaserver_1000a:alphaserver_1000a_systems_and_options_catalog.pdf?linkonly|AlphaServer 1000A Systems V2.0, Digital Systems and Options Catalog}} | | 1996 | | {{wiki:hardware:systems:alphaserver_800:alphaserver_800_illustrated_parts_breakdown.pdf?linkonly|DIGITAL AlphaServer 800 Series Illustrated Parts Breakdown}} | EK-ASV80-IP.B01 | | | {{wiki:hardware:systems:alphaserver_1000a:alphaserver_1000a_data_sheet.pdf?linkonly|AlphaServer 1000A system data sheet}} | | | | {{wiki:hardware:systems:alphastation_600a:alphastation_600a_user_information.pdf?linkonly|AlphaStation 600A Series User Information}} | EK-AL655-UI.A01 | January 1997 | | {{wiki:hardware:systems:alphastation_600a:alphastation_600_to_600a_upgrade_information.pdf?linkonly|AlphaStation 600 to AlphaStation 600A Upgrade Information}} | EK-AL655-UP.A01 | January 1997 | | {{wiki:hardware:systems:alphastation_600a:alphastation_600a_illustrated_parts_breakdown.pdf?linkonly|AlphaStation 600A Illustrated Parts Breakdown}} | EK-AL655-IP.A01 | | {{tag>hardware system 21064 21164 digital}}