        ****** AlphaBIOS ReadMe

        15 September 1999                                 Version 5.70

        This ReadMe file contains last-minute changes and information
        unique to this family of Alpha systems running Windows NT. 
        For complete information about AlphaBIOS, see the Release
        Notes as well as the Configuration Guide.  These can be found
        via the World Wide Web at URL location:
        http://www.compaq.com/support/files/alphant/index.html

                  -------------------------------------
                  Caution:  Before applying AlphaBIOS
                  V5.70, SRM must be V5.4 or newer, and
                  HAL must be OEM revision G or newer. 
                  Details are below.
                  -------------------------------------

        Products supported:
        -------------------

        This release supports the following products:

            AlphaServer 8200
            AlphaServer 8400

        These systems are sometimes referred to as TurboLaser systems.

        Firmware Overview:
        ------------------

        This family of DIGITAL Alpha systems has two different
        firmware environments, called SRM and AlphaBIOS, installed and
        active.

        The SRM firmware has a character cell based interface, and a
        "chevron" user prompt that ends in three Greater-Than
        characters ( P00>>> ).  This interface is primarily used in
        support of operating systems other that Windows NT, such as
        Unix and OpenVMS.

        The AlphaBIOS firmware, sometimes referred to as ARC (although
        a separate ARC firmware also exists for older Alpha systems),
        has a screen-oriented interface that looks similar to the BIOS
        interfaces used in personal computers.  The AlphaBIOS layers
        over the SRM and has the interface used in setting up systems
        for the Windows NT operating system.

        This software kit is intended primarily as a vehicle to update
        the AlphaBIOS firmware, but also contains a current copy of
        the SRM firmware.

        Prerequisite Versions:
        ----------------------

        AlphaBIOS V5.70 was tested with SRM V5.4.  The current SRM
        version	installed on a system may be seen by entering 

		P00>>> show version

        at the SRM firmware prompt.  If your SRM version is less that
        V5.4, then it must be updated from a Compaq firmware CD or
        from URL location:
        http://ftp.digital.com/pub/DEC/Alpha/firmware/readmes/alpha8x00.html

        If Windows NT is installed on this system, the system should
        be updated to OEM HAL revision G before upgrading the
        AlphaBIOS.  Obtain the HAL from this URL:
        http://www.compaq.com/support/files/alphant/firmware/as8200_8400.html

        Updating AlphaBIOS for 5.70:
        ----------------------------
        
        AlphaBIOS version can be verified from the boot menu, or by
        pressing F2 to enter setup and selecting either:

        *  "About AlphaBIOS...", or
        *  "Display System Configuration...", then "Systemboard Configuration"

        To update the AlphaBIOS firmware to 5.70:

        1.  Create the Firmware Update floppy by copying the contents
        of this kit onto a blank formatted floppy diskette.  This
        floppy should be marked "AlphaBIOS V5.70 for TurboLaser."

        2.  Insert the new AlphaBIOS floppy into the system. 

        3.  Using the console panel switches or buttons, select the
        "Secure" position.  This will cause the system to stop in the
        SRM.  Shut down NT and reboot the system so that it comes up
        to the SRM prompt (P00>>>).  When the system reaches the SRM
        prompt, return the console panel to the "Run" position, so
        that SRM will accept input from the keyboard.

        4.  At the SRM prompt, invoke LFU (Loadable Firmware
        Utility):

                LFU

        5.  LFU will ask you to select the firmware load device. 
        Type in "dva0" which refers to the floppy disk.

                dva0

        6.  LFU will next ask you the name of the firmware files list. 
        Type in "as8x00ab" which is the file on the floppy that will
        run the AlphaBIOS update.

                as8x00ab

        7.  LFU will then load the firmware update files from the
        floppy disks into memory.  It will then display the LFU
        prompt (UPD>).

        8.  From the LFU prompt UPD>, type "list".  This will show you
        the current versions of the SRM and AlphaBIOS (ARC) firmware
        images installed in the system, as well as the versions that
        the floppy will provide.

                list

        Note that some of the entries will show the string "Missing
        File" under the heading "Update Revision".  This is normal as
        this kit provides only AlphaBIOS, not SRM nor loadable BIOS
        for I/O devices.

        9.  From the LFU (UPD>) prompt, type "update *arc".  The
        asterisk is a wildcard; thus this command will update all
        firmware entries whose name ends with the string "arc" (e.g.
        kn7cf_ab0_arc).

                update *arc

        10. LFU will install the new AlphaBIOS onto each CPU module in
        the system.  It will prompt you to confirm the update on each
        module.  Each CPU module contains two actual CPUs.  You will
        thus be asked to confirm the update once for every two CPUs
        (e.g. four times in an eight-CPU TurboLaser system).

                y

        11. LFU will then return to the LFU prompt (UPD>).  Type
        "exit" to leave LFU.

                exit

        12.  The system will reboot itself back into Windows NT.

        *  Visit Digital Windows NT Info Center's Guide to Hardware
        Systems for the latest firmware, driver, and configuration
        utility information. The URL is
        http://www.compaq.com/support/files/alphant/index.html

