System information

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AlphaServer 800 Service Guide
Additional EISA Troubleshooting Tips
The following tips can aid in isolating EISA bus problems:
• Peripheral device controllers need to be seated firmly in their slots to make all
necessary contacts. Improper seating is a common source of problems.
• Be sure you run the correct version of the ECU for the operating system. For
Windows NT, use ECU diskette DECpc AXP (AK-PYCJ*-CA); for DIGITAL
UNIX and OpenVMS, use ECU diskette DECpc AXP (AK-Q2CR*-CA).
The CFG files supplied with the option you want to install may not work on
AlphaServer 800 systems. Some CFG files call overlay files that are not required
on this system or may reference inappropriate system resources, for example,
BIOS addresses. Contact the option vendor to obtain the proper CFG file.
• Peripherals cannot share direct memory access (DMA) channels. Assignment of
more than one peripheral to the same DMA channel can cause unpredictable
results or even loss of function of the EISA module.
• Not all EISA products work together. EISA is an open standard, and not every
EISA product or combination of products can be tested. Violations of
specifications may matter in some configurations, but not in others.
Manufacturers of EISA options may have a list of ISA and EISA options that do
not function in combination with particular systems. Be sure to check the
documentation or contact the option vendor for the most up-to-date information.
• EISA options will not function unless they are first configured using the ECU.
• The ECU will not notify you if the configuration program diskette is write-
protected when it attempts to write the system configuration file (system.sci) to
the diskette.