Service manual
Using boot code stored in its EEPROM, the boot processor reads the boot
block from a specified device. Booting may be triggered by a command
issued to the boot processor from the console, or by a system reset with the
bottom key switch in the Auto Start position.
The boot processor also communicates with the system console, using
the common console lines on the backplane. When you change system
parameters in the EEPROM using SET commands, the boot processor
automatically copies the new values to the EEPROMs on the secondary
processors. If you swap in a new <REFERENCE>(XRP) module, it should
be configured as a secondary processor. Then you can either use the
UPDATE command to copy the boot processor’s entire EEPROM to the
new secondary or use EVUCA and a series of set commands to customize
the EEPROM. Since UPDATE is slow, and can, in certain instances, render
a processor unusable, the preferred method of updating a new processor
placed in a system is to do it using SET commands. See Section 4.18 for
information on running EVUCA and Section 4.15.2 on setting parameters.
CAUTION: Using UPDATE can be dangerous because of revision
mismatches. See Appendix C for information on what happens in mismatch
cases.
Usually the processor with the lowest <REFERENCE>(XMI) node number
(which is also the lowest slot number) is selected as the boot processor.
However, if this processor does not pass all its power-up tests, the next
higher-numbered processor is selected. This is one way the boot processor
can change.
The user also has control over boot processor selection with the SET CPU
command. This command may declare a processor ineligible for selection.
SET CPU can also select a boot processor explicitly.
You can see the boot processor selection three ways:
• In the self-test display, the boot processor is indicated by a B on the
second line labeled BPD.
• In console mode, the command SHOW CPU displays the boot processor
as "Current primary." See Section 4.7.
• The bottom red LED is off on the boot processor module. It is lit on
secondary processors.
<REFERENCE>(XRP) Scalar Processor 4–11










