****** AlphaBIOS ReadMe

18 December 1998         Version 5.68 

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.windowsnt.digital.com/support/driver.asp.


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

This release supports the following products:

    AlphaServer 4000
    AlphaServer 4100
    AlphaServer 1200
    DIGITAL Server 5300 Family
    DIGITAL Server 7300 Family
    DIGITAL Ultimate Workstation

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" prompt 
of three Greater-Than characters ( >>> ).  This interface is primarily used in 
support of operating systems other that Windows NT, such as DIGITAL 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.

Important Information:
----------------------

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"
       

AlphaBIOS version can be verified from the SRM by typing "show flash".

If using PKUNZIP to un-compress the compressed firmware image obtained from 
the firmware update web site, be sure to restore the directory structure 
contained in the ZIP file.  This is done using the -d option of pkunzip.

NT Enterprise Installation Information:
---------------------------------------

For customers configuring NT Enterprise addition servers, it is highly recommended
that both systems in the Cluster have the "Warm Reboot" Advanced CMOS setting set
to "disabled".  This provides a more robust reboot method and increases the reliability
of the cluster.

Updating AlphaBIOS for 5.68:
----------------------------

To update the AlphaBIOS firmware on Rawhide to 5.68 using the LFU: 

1.  Create the Firmware Update floppy:

    a.  This distribution kit will have a folder named either RhUpdate or
        TcUpdate, depending on your machine type.  The files within this
        xxUpdate folder are the files needed on the Firmware Update Floppy.

    b.  Copy the files from the xxUpdate folder to the *root* of a blank
        formatted floppy diskette.

2.  Insert the Firmware Update floppy into the system. 

3.  Boot AlphaBIOS from the Main Menu, run "Upgrade AlphaBIOS"

4.  Select OK to reboot.

At this point, the system will reboot run the load firmware update 
utility (LFU). 

5.  LFU will ask select firmware load device.  

        Type dva0

6.  LFU will next ask you the name of the firmware files list.  

        Hit Enter to accept the default.

7.  LFU will then load the firmware update files from floppy into memory 
    and then display the LFU prompt.

8.  From the LFU prompt, type List.  This will show you the current versions 
    of the SRM and AlphaBIOS (ARC) firmware images. 

    Note, that if the previous installed AlphaBIOS was not an LFU image, 
    no version information for the currently installed version will be 
    available.

9.  From the LFU prompt, type Update.

10. LFU will prompt you to confirm update ARC (AlphaBIOS), 

        type YES.

11. LFU will prompt you to confirm update for any boot drivers supported
    by the SRM console (e.g., KZPSA).

        type NO for all boot device prompts.

12. LFU will prompt you to confirm update the SRM, 

        type NO (Unless your SRM is out of rev).

13. If you have any boot devices supported by the SRM (e.g., KZPSA), the 
    LFU will prompt you to confirm update for each, 

        type NO for each. 

13. LFU will then return to the prompt.  

        Type exit.

Note:  If the existing AlphaBIOS firmware on the system is V5.62 or older, you
may need to use the special instructions contained in the LFU.TXT file in this
distribution kit.

*  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.windowsnt.digital.com/support/driver.asp.

