Technical data

Device Support on OpenVMS Systems
7.14 AlphaStation 255: PCI Configuration Restriction
7.14 AlphaStation 255: PCI Configuration Restriction
V7.1
The OpenVMS Alpha operating system does not support PCI option cards
configured in PCI slot 0 on any AlphaStation 255 series systems.
PCI slot 0 is the lowest physical PCI option slot on AlphaStation 255 series
systems. The interrupt signal for this slot is shared with the built-in Ethernet
port. Because the OpenVMS Alpha operating system does not currently permit
PCI devices to share an interrupt line, a PCI device installed in slot 0 will not
function correctly or may cause errors to occur with the built-in Ethernet port. As
a result of this restriction, AlphaStation 255 series systems support a maximum
of two PCI option cards, configured in slot 1 and slot 2.
7.15 Recommendation for RZ25M and RZ26N Disk Drives (Alpha)
V7.1
During the testing of Compaq supported SCSI disk drives on configurations with
DWZZAs and long differential SCSI buses, two drives (RZ25M and RZ26N) were
found to have bus phase problems. For this reason, do not use these drives in
configurations where the differential bus length connecting DWZZAs equals or
exceeds 20 meters.
This recommendation applies only to the RZ25M and RZ26N drives. All
other disk drives, listed as supported in the OpenVMS SPD, may be used in
configurations to the full bus lengths of the SCSI-2 specification.
7.16 SCSI Controller Restriction on AlphaServer 2100 Systems
V6.2
The Adaptec 1740/1742 SCSI controller (PB2HA–SA) is not supported on
AlphaServer 2100 systems having more than 1 gigabyte (GB) of memory. If the
controller is connected to such a system, the following message appears on the
operator’s console:
%PKJDRVR-E- PKX0, Port is going OFFLINE.
7.17 OpenVMS Alpha SCSI Firmware Support
The following sections relate to SCSI firmware support.
7.17.1 Recommended Firmware Support for RZ26N and RZ28M Disks
V6.2-1H3
The minimum firmware revision level recommended for RZ26N and RZ28M disks
is Revision 0568.
If the latest firmware revision level is not used with these disks, multiple
problems may occur.
7–10 Device Support on OpenVMS Systems