RE: The problems in src/sys/dev/ic/isp.c

[<iwama%t3.rim.or.jp@localhost>]

Hi all,

FYI

I have encountered a problem with several Alpha machines where the power turns on but they do not function. Three Alpha machines, DEC3000 model 700, Alpha XL 266, and PC164UX, are now working after replacing their RTC chips.
In the case of the Alpha XL 266, the NVRAM(DS1225AD-150) was also replaced, but I haven't confirmed whether replacing only the RTC chip(DS12887A) was insufficient.
Because the PC164UX's RTC chip was soldered directly to the motherboard, I requested a soldering company to remove the RTC chip and replace it with an IC socket.
The Alpha XL 266 is a machine dedicated to ARC, and the PC164UX is a machine dedicated to ARCSBIOS. Neither supports SRM.
Replacing the RTC chip doesn't always guarantee a fix, but this is for your reference.

Regards,
-- 
Yoshihiko Iwama

-----Original Message-----
From: port-alpha-owner%NetBSD.org@localhost <port-alpha-owner%NetBSD.org@localhost> On Behalf Of Dennis Clarke
Sent: Saturday, April 25, 2026 12:13 PM
To: Jason Thorpe <thorpej%me.com@localhost>
Cc: Istvan Gyenes <igyenes%gmail.com@localhost>; port-alpha%NetBSD.org@localhost; John Klos <john%klos.com@localhost>
Subject: Re: The problems in src/sys/dev/ic/isp.c

On 4/24/26 11:45, Jason Thorpe wrote:
> 
>> On Apr 21, 2026, at 3:42 PM, Dennis Clarke <dc%genunix.com@localhost> wrote:
>>
>> No rush. This has gone on for months now. I will make a backup tape
>> of the current OpenBSD situation and then prepare some disks in a SCSI
>> array for the NetBSD experiments.
> 
>      https://www.netbsd.org/~thorpej/alpha-isp-test/NetBSD-11.99.5-alpha.iso.gz
> 

Thank you !

However sadly I shut down the machine and left it cold for a day as I
moved around the external SCSI array. Now it seems dead. The keyboard
blinks some lights at power on and then nothing. Nothing on the monitor
and nothing from the serial console. The tape drive makes some noises.

So this may have all been a waste of about $3000 to build a DEC Alpha.

https://www.genunix.com/dclarke/alpha/DEC_AlphaStation_600_guts_m.png

I have no indication anywhere that there is even firmware working.

     :(


-- 
Dennis Clarke
RISC-V/SPARC/PPC/ARM/CISC
UNIX and Linux spoken