pdc.1m (2010 09)

pdc(1M) pdc(1M)

(PA-RISC Systems Only)

NAME

pdc - processor-dependent code (ﬁrmware)

DESCRIPTION

pdc is the ﬁrmware that implements all processor-dependent functionality, including initialization and

self-test of the processor. Upon completion, it loads and transfers control to the initial system loader

(isl (1M)). Firmware behavior varies somewhat, depending on the hardware as described below.

To load

isl from an external medium,

pdc must know the particular device on which isl resides. Typi-

cally the device is identiﬁed by the Primary Boot Path that is maintained by

pdc in Stable Storage. A

path speciﬁcation is an I/O subsystem mnemonic that varies according to hardware model.

When the processor is reset after initialization and self-test complete,

pdc reads the Console Path from

Stable Storage, and attempts to initialize the console device. If the initialization fails,

pdc attempts to

ﬁnd and initialize a console device. Algorithms used to ﬁnd a console device are model-dependent.

pdc

then announces the Primary Boot, Alternate Boot, and Console Paths.

autoboot (see isl (1M)) is enabled,

pdc provides a 10-second delay, during which time the operator

can override the

autoboot sequence by typing any character on the console. If the operator does not

interrupt this process, pdc initializes and reads isl

from the Primary Boot Path. On models that sup-

port autosearch, if this path is not valid and autosearch (see isl (1M)) is enabled, pdc then searches to

ﬁnd a bootable medium.

If allowed to complete, a list of potentially bootable devices is displayed, labeled with abbreviated path

identiﬁers (P0, P1, etc). A simple menu is then displayed where the user can:

• Boot a speciﬁc device, using the abbreviated path identiﬁer, or the full mnemonic.

• Start a device search where the contents are searched for IPL images (note the ﬁrst search only

identiﬁed devices and did not check the contents).

• Enter the boot administration level.

• Exit the menu and return to autobooting

• Get help on choices

If the

autoboot sequence is unsuccessful, overridden by the operator, or not enabled in the ﬁrst place,

pdc interactively prompts the operator for the Boot Path to use. Any required path components that are

not supplied default to zero.

The Primary Boot, Alternate Boot, and Console Paths as well as

autoboot and autosearch enable

can be modiﬁed via

isl.

PAGE 1
pdc(1M) pdc(1M) (PA-RISC Systems Only) NAME pdc - processor-dependent code (firmware) DESCRIPTION pdc is the firmware that implements all processor-dependent functionality, including initialization and self-test of the processor. Upon completion, it loads and transfers control to the initial system loader (isl (1M)). Firmware behavior varies somewhat, depending on the hardware as described below. To load isl from an external medium, pdc must know the particular device on which isl resides.
PAGE 2
(Notes) A (Notes) pA 2 Hewlett-Packard Company −1− HP-UX 11i Version 3: September 2010