Alpha/Linux Wiki

This page is read only. You can view the source, but not change it. Ask your administrator if you think this is wrong.
===== AlphaServer ES40 (Clipper) =====

<WRAP box right 340px>
^ AlphaServer ES40 ^^
^ Codename | Clipper |
^ CPU | [[wp>Alpha_21264|21264]] (EV6), [[wp>Alpha_21264#Alpha_21264A|21264A]] (EV67), [[wp>Alpha_21264#Alpha_21264B|21264B]] (EV68) |
^ Processors | 1 to 4 |
^ Core logic | [[hardware:chipsets#21272|21272]] (Tsunami) |
^ Memory | Sets of four DIMMs, up to 32 DIMM slots (Model 2) |
^ Buses | 64-bit PCI (6 or 10 slots) |
^ Firmware | SRM (last V7.3-1), AlphaBIOS |
^ Kernel option | ''CONFIG_ALPHA_DP264'' |
^ Linux | Supported |
</WRAP>

The ES40 is a four-processor 21264 server, sold in tower, pedestal, and rackmount enclosures. [(>{{wiki:hardware:systems:alphaserver_es40:alphaserver_es40_tru64_openvms_catalog.pdf?linkonly|AlphaServer ES40 Tru64 UNIX and OpenVMS}}, Systems and Options Catalog, June 1999, p. 2.1)] Its firmware also covers the ES40cv, ES40lp, TS40, and TS20. [(>{{wiki:software:firmware:alphaserver_es40_v7.3_firmware_release_notes.pdf?linkonly|AlphaServer ES40 V7.3 Firmware Release Notes}}, April 2007, p. 1)]

==== Specifications ====

Except where noted, the following comes from the systems and options catalog. [(>{{wiki:hardware:systems:alphaserver_es40:alphaserver_es40_tru64_openvms_catalog.pdf?linkonly|AlphaServer ES40 Tru64 UNIX and OpenVMS}}, Systems and Options Catalog, June 1999, p. 2.1)]

  * Up to four [[wp>Alpha_21264|21264]] CPUs: 500 MHz 21264 (EV6) with 4 MiB of secondary cache each, [(>{{wiki:hardware:systems:alphaserver_es40:alphaserver_es40_service_guide.pdf?linkonly|AlphaServer ES40 Service Guide}}, p. 8-3)] or, later, 667 MHz [[wp>Alpha_21264#Alpha_21264A|21264A]] (EV67) or 833 MHz [[wp>Alpha_21264#Alpha_21264B|21264B]] (EV68) CPUs with 8 MiB of secondary cache each [(>{{wiki:hardware:systems:alphaserver_es40:alphaserver_es40_owners_guide.pdf?linkonly|AlphaServer ES40 and AlphaStation ES40 Owner's Guide}}, p. 2-16)] [(>{{wiki:hardware:systems:alphaserver_es40:alphaserver_es40_technical_summary.pdf?linkonly|Compaq AlphaServer ES40 Systems Technical Summary}}, pp. 1, 14)] (see Conflicting information)
  * 21272 (Tsunami) core logic [(>[[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 1 has six 64-bit PCI slots and room for four memory options; Model 2 has ten 64-bit PCI slots and room for eight
  * Memory options are sets of four DIMMs; each memory array must use one DIMM type, because the stacked and monolithic MS610-DA and MS610-EA options share part numbers but are not interchangeable [(>{{wiki:software:firmware:alphaserver_es40_v7.3_firmware_release_notes.pdf?linkonly|AlphaServer ES40 V7.3 Firmware Release Notes}}, April 2007, p. 29)]
  * The Model 2 has 32 DIMM slots. [(>[[https://github.com/alphalinux/mailing-list-archives/blob/main/tru64-unix-managers-mbox/2000-September.mbox#L10316|"SUMMARY: How to determine DIMM configuration on ES40"]], Kevin Dea, tru64-unix-managers, 20 Sep 2000)] The console configures memory four-way interleaved when all four arrays hold the same size, and two-way plus one separate array when three do. [(>[[https://github.com/alphalinux/mailing-list-archives/blob/main/tru64-unix-managers-mbox/2001-August.mbox#L12096|"SUMMARY: Memory interleaving"]], Peter Stern, tru64-unix-managers, 22 Aug 2001)]
  * 1.44 MB floppy drive, CD-ROM, two EIA-232 serial ports, one bidirectional enhanced parallel port, a dedicated serial port for the remote management console (RMC), keyboard and mouse ports
  * Up to two internal disk drive cages, each with a one-port Ultra2 SCSI adapter and four 3.5-inch disks; StorageWorks shelves are also supported

==== Firmware ====

  * On the ES40, the SRM console's ''os_type'' variable takes ''unix'', ''vms'', or ''linux'', and all three start the SRM console at power-up or reset; [(>{{wiki:hardware:systems:alphaserver_es40:alphaserver_es40_user_interface_guide.pdf?linkonly|AlphaServer ES40 and AlphaStation ES40 User Interface Guide}}, EK-ES240-UI.B01, p. 2-78)] AlphaBIOS is started from SRM with the ''alphabios'' command. [(>{{wiki:hardware:systems:alphaserver_es40:alphaserver_es40_user_interface_guide.pdf?linkonly|AlphaServer ES40 and AlphaStation ES40 User Interface Guide}}, p. 2-3)]
  * The SRM console sizes its own heap for the installed options, so a heavily populated machine goes through one or more visible crash and reboot cycles the first time, printing "Console heap space will be automatically increased in size by 64KB" before restarting with the larger heap. No action is needed. ''show heap_expand'' shows the size, and ''set heap_expand none'' restores the default, which should be done after a configuration change. [(>{{wiki:hardware:systems:alphaserver_es40:alphaserver_es40_release_notes.pdf?linkonly|AlphaServer ES40 Release Notes}}, EK-ES240-RN.B01, June 1999, pp. 3-4)]
  * SRM V5.6 added "an X86 bios emulator" to support the KZPCC-CE RAID controller (see [[hardware:other|Other Hardware]]). [(>{{wiki:software:firmware:alphaserver_es40_v7.3_firmware_release_notes.pdf?linkonly|AlphaServer ES40 V7.3 Firmware Release Notes}}, April 2007, p. 38)]
  * A failed update to SRM V5.8 can leave a TIG error on the operator control panel. Removing MMB1 and moving jumper J21 to position 2-3 forces the TIG NVRAM to be reloaded from the serial ROM, which avoids replacing the system board. [(>[[https://github.com/alphalinux/mailing-list-archives/blob/main/tru64-unix-managers-mbox/2000-September.mbox#L15269|"SUMMARY: firmware 5.8 on ES40 ==> motherboard damage"]], Emanuele Lombardi, tru64-unix-managers, 14 Sep 2000)]
  * Some ES40s shipped with jumper J31 in position 1-2 rather than the documented default of 2-3, which made COM1 unreachable through the RMC's modem port; J31 is not described in the owner's guide. [(>[[https://github.com/alphalinux/mailing-list-archives/blob/main/tru64-unix-managers-mbox/2000-November.mbox#L4684|"SUMMARY: COM1/modem port on ES40"]], Nikita Schmidt, tru64-unix-managers, 27 Nov 2000)]

==== Linux ====

Current kernels support the ES40, with ''CONFIG_ALPHA_DP264'' or a generic kernel, booted from the SRM console with [[software:boot_loaders:aboot|aboot]]; see [[documentation:installation|Installation]]. The ES40 has no MILO. [(>[[https://github.com/alphalinux/mailing-list-archives/blob/main/axp-list-mbox/2001-July.mbox#L10001|"Re: HELP Linux on ES40"]], Jay Estabrook, axp-list, 10 Jul 2001)] Use the final SRM version, V7.3-1 (see [[software:firmware:srm#final_versions|Final versions]]). QEMU emulates an ES40-class system (see [[software:emulators|Emulators]]). See also [[hardware:systems#tsunami_systems|Tsunami systems]].

  * The onboard Acer Labs M1543C bridges the first PCI bus to ISA and contains two IDE controllers, with the CD-ROM on the first, and a USB controller. [(>{{wiki:hardware:systems:alphaserver_es40:alphaserver_es40_user_interface_guide.pdf?linkonly|AlphaServer ES40 and AlphaStation ES40 User Interface Guide}}, pp. 2-14 to 2-15)] [(>{{wiki:hardware:systems:alphaserver_es40:alphaserver_es40_technical_summary.pdf?linkonly|Compaq AlphaServer ES40 Systems Technical Summary}}, p. 8)] The IDE controllers use the ''pata_ali'' driver, and the USB controller the ''ohci-pci'' driver. [(>[[https://git.kernel.org/pub/scm/linux/kernel/git/torvalds/linux.git/tree/drivers/ata/pata_ali.c?h=v7.3-rc1|drivers/ata/pata_ali.c]], Linux 7.3)] [(>[[https://git.kernel.org/pub/scm/linux/kernel/git/torvalds/linux.git/tree/drivers/usb/host/ohci-pci.c?h=v7.3-rc1|drivers/usb/host/ohci-pci.c]], Linux 7.3)]
  * The KZPBA-CA UltraSCSI adapter in Compaq's ES40 catalog [(>{{wiki:hardware:systems:alphaserver_es40:alphaserver_es40_tru64_openvms_catalog.pdf?linkonly|AlphaServer ES40 Tru64 UNIX and OpenVMS}}, Systems and Options Catalog, June 1999, p. 2.9)] is a QLogic ISP1040B card, [(>[[https://github.com/alphalinux/mailing-list-archives/blob/main/axp-list-mbox/1999-October.mbox#L29712|"QLogic problems on 2.3.22"]], Peter Rival, axp-list, 18 Oct 1999)] which uses the ''qla1280'' driver and needs 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 serial console is COM1, which the remote management console (RMC) shares; see [[documentation:srm#serial_console|Using the SRM Console: Serial console]] and [[documentation:srm#remote_management|Remote management]] for the settings and the RMC escape sequence.

==== Known issues ====

  * **Weight, power, and noise:** a tower ES40 weighs 65 kg typically and up to 96 kg, and a pedestal 127 kg typically. The power supplies are universal, auto-ranging units for 100 to 120 V and 200 to 240 V; a tower or rackmount system dissipates 900 W nominally and up to 1300 W. The declared noise level is 48 dBA at the bystander position, idle or operating. [(>{{wiki:hardware:systems:alphaserver_es40:alphaserver_es40_technical_summary.pdf?linkonly|Compaq AlphaServer ES40 Systems Technical Summary}}, p. 15)]
  * Only one VGA-enabled graphics card is supported in the PCI 0 slots. [(>{{wiki:software:firmware:alphaserver_es40_v7.3_firmware_release_notes.pdf?linkonly|AlphaServer ES40 V7.3 Firmware Release Notes}}, April 2007, p. 20)]
  * Unplugging the mouse at the SRM console stops the keyboard from responding until the mouse is reconnected. [(>{{wiki:software:firmware:alphaserver_es40_v7.3_firmware_release_notes.pdf?linkonly|AlphaServer ES40 V7.3 Firmware Release Notes}}, April 2007, p. 20)]
  * ES40 memory is sensitive to how DIMMs are seated, and a bad connection is easy to make. [(>[[https://github.com/alphalinux/mailing-list-archives/blob/main/axp-list-mbox/2000-July.mbox#L11473|"Re: 630/670 machine checks on SMP's"]], Phillip Ezolt, axp-list, 28 Jul 2000)]

==== Conflicting information ====

The following sources conflict with each other or with the account given above. They are listed here for further investigation.

  * **833 MHz CPU**
    * {{wiki:hardware:systems:alphaserver_es40:alphaserver_es40_technical_summary.pdf?linkonly|Compaq AlphaServer ES40 Systems Technical Summary}}, pp. 1, 14, lists the 833 MHz CPU as a 21264A.
    * [[https://github.com/alphalinux/mailing-list-archives/blob/main/netbsd-port-alpha-mbox/gmane-2004-June.mbox#L3596|"Re: ES40, ES45, etc. support?"]], Michael L. Hitch, port-alpha, 30 Jun 2004: a four-CPU 833 MHz ES40 identifies its CPUs as 21264B.
  * **ES40 maximum memory**
    * [[https://github.com/alphalinux/mailing-list-archives/blob/main/axp-list-mbox/2000-September.mbox#L23936|"Re: In sdearch of an 8GB machine (fwd)"]], Peter Rival, axp-list, 11 Sep 2000: "an ES40 maxes out with 32GB. I believe when they first came out it was 16GB"
    * [[https://github.com/alphalinux/mailing-list-archives/blob/main/axp-list-mbox/2000-November.mbox#L53899|"Memory max on Compaq AlphaServer running Linux"]], Lew Randerson, axp-list, 27 Nov 2000: "2GB is the max on Compaq's Linux-Ready AlphaServer ES40"

==== Documentation ====

^ Document ^ Part number ^ Date ^
| {{wiki:hardware:systems:alphaserver_es40:alphaserver_es40_tru64_openvms_catalog.pdf?linkonly|AlphaServer ES40 Tru64 UNIX and OpenVMS Systems and Options Catalog, V1.8}} | | June 1999 |
| {{wiki:software:firmware:alphaserver_es40_v7.3_firmware_release_notes.pdf?linkonly|AlphaServer ES40, ES40cv, ES40lp, TS40, and TS20 V7.3 Firmware Release Notes}} | | April 2007 |
| {{wiki:software:firmware:alphaserver_es40_v7.2_firmware_release_notes.pdf?linkonly|AlphaServer ES40, ES40cv, ES40lp, and TS40 V7.2 Firmware Release Notes and Update Procedures}} | | June 2006 |
| {{wiki:hardware:systems:alphaserver_es40:alphaserver_es40_owners_guide.pdf?linkonly|AlphaServer ES40 and AlphaStation ES40 Owner's Guide}} | EK-ES240-UG.B01 | February 2000 |
| {{wiki:hardware:systems:alphaserver_es40:alphaserver_es40_user_interface_guide.pdf?linkonly|AlphaServer ES40 and AlphaStation ES40 User Interface Guide}} | EK-ES240-UI.B01 | February 2000 |
| {{wiki:hardware:systems:alphaserver_es40:alphaserver_es40_service_guide.pdf?linkonly|AlphaServer ES40 Service Guide}} | EK-ES240-SV.A01 | July 1999 |
| {{wiki:hardware:systems:alphaserver_es40:alphaserver_es40_release_notes.pdf?linkonly|AlphaServer ES40 Release Notes}} | EK-ES240-RN.B01 | June 1999 |
| {{wiki:hardware:systems:alphaserver_es40:alphaserver_es40_rackmount_system_installation_guide.pdf?linkonly|AlphaServer ES40 Rackmount System Installation Guide}} | EK-ES240-RG.A01 | April 1999 |
| {{wiki:hardware:systems:alphaserver_es40:alphaserver_es40_model_1_to_model_2_upgrade.pdf?linkonly|AlphaServer ES40 Model 1 to Model 2 Upgrade}} | EK-ES4M2-UP.A01 | July 1999 |
| {{wiki:hardware:systems:alphaserver_es40:alphaserver_es40_500_mhz_cpu_read_me_first.pdf?linkonly|AlphaServer ES40 500 MHz CPU Read Me First}} | EK-KN610-CL.A01 | 1999 |
| {{wiki:hardware:systems:alphaserver_es40:alphaserver_es40sv_rackmount_installation_user_service_guide.pdf?linkonly|Compaq AlphaServer ES40sv Rackmount System Installation/User/Service Guide}} | EK-FCLPR-IN.A01 | May 1999 |
| {{wiki:hardware:systems:alphaserver_es40:alphaserver_es40_technical_summary.pdf?linkonly|Compaq AlphaServer ES40 Systems Technical Summary}} | | |
| {{wiki:hardware:systems:alphaserver_es40:alphaserver_es40_performance_analysis.pdf?linkonly|Performance Analysis of the Alpha 21264-based Compaq ES40 System (Zarka Cvetanovic and R. E. Kessler)}} | | |

{{tag>hardware system 21264 compaq}}