Alpha Microsystems AM-6000 Owner'S Manual Download Page 1

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DSM-00213-02

AM-6000

Computer Owner's

Manual

Summary of Contents for AM-6000

Page 1: ...DSM 00213 02 AM 6000 Computer Owner s Manual ...

Page 2: ...N Il y a danger d explosion s il y a replacement incorrect de la batterie Remplacer uniquement avec une batterie du même type ou d un type recommandé par le constructeur Mettre au rébut les batteries usagées conformément aux instructions du fabricant For AM 3500 E100 E200 E300 E400 E500 and AM 990 01 systems replace battery with Panasonic or Ray O Vac BR2325 only For AM 3500 E550 AM 3500 6000 and ...

Page 3: ...7 UPS Monitoring 1 8 Front Panel Status Display 1 8 Real Time Clock 1 8 Rear I O Panel 1 9 System Versatility 1 9 Add On Equipment 1 9 SOFTWARE FEATURES 1 9 SERVICE INFORMATION 1 10 For Further Assistance 1 10 CHAPTER 2 INSTALLATION 2 1 UNPACKING GUIDELINES 2 1 What You Will Need 2 1 Reporting Shipping Damage 2 2 Instructions for Reshipping the Computer 2 2 RECORDING THE SSD IDENTIFICATION NUMBER ...

Page 4: ...TER 3 1 AM 6000 CMOS SETUP PROCEDURE 3 1 AM 6000 Initialization Routine 3 2 CMOS Menu Options 3 2 Saving the CMOS Settings 3 4 Important Note 3 4 DEVICE NAMES 3 4 The System Disk 3 5 DISK ACCOUNTS 3 5 LOGGING ON 3 6 THE TERMINAL KEYBOARD 3 7 Correcting Typing Mistakes 3 8 A WORD ABOUT DISKETTES 3 9 Using Diskettes 3 10 Mounting Diskettes 3 12 ABOUT STREAMING TAPE 3 13 Tape Capacity 3 13 Tape Drive...

Page 5: ...9 DSKANA Options 5 10 The CHECK Option and Automatic Backups 5 11 FORMATTING AND INITIALIZING THE HARD DRIVE 5 11 FORMATTING AND INITIALIZING A DISKETTE 5 12 CHAPTER 6 PREVENTIVE MAINTENANCE 6 1 DISKETTES 6 1 CARE OF STREAMING TAPE AND DAT CARTRIDGES 6 1 DISKETTE DRIVE 6 2 STREAMING TAPE DRIVE CLEANING 6 2 DAT DRIVE CLEANING 6 2 MAIN ENCLOSURE 6 3 CHAPTER 7 TROUBLESHOOTING PROCEDURES 7 1 THE SYMPT...

Page 6: ... 7 PARALLEL PRINTER PORTS A 8 AM 6000 UPS STATUS PORT A 9 ETHERNET RJ 45 10BASET CONNECTOR A 9 10BaseT Topology and Cabling A 9 APPENDIX B THE CONTROL CHARACTERS B 1 APPENDIX C SUPER I O C 1 DISABLING SUPER I O C 1 Disabling Super I O on All I O Boards C 1 Disabling Super I O on Individual AM 359 Boards C 2 APPENDIX D SCSI TERMINATION D 1 SCSI TERMINATION USING EXTERNAL TERMINATOR OPTION D 1 ATTAC...

Page 7: ... Terminator Installation D 1 List of Tables Table 1 1 Graphics Conventions 1 4 Table 2 1 Environmental Specifications 2 8 Table 2 2 Maximum DC Power Requirements 2 10 Table 3 1 Special Function Keys on the Terminal Keyboard 3 8 Table 3 2 Supported Streamer Data Cartridges 3 14 Table 7 1 Self Test Checker 1 7 9 Table 7 2 Self Test Checker 2 7 10 Table 7 3 Diskette Drive Test Self Test Checker 7 10 ...

Page 8: ...nstructed in modular fashion Your organization can start with just the features and capacity needed then expand the system as processing demands increase The system can be field upgraded to provide more disk storage memory and tape backup capacity to add more local cable connected terminals and printers to exchange data over a local area network with personal computers and other data processing sy...

Page 9: ...s requiring more peripheral devices or more serial input output connections the AM 6000 is available in the AM 990 chassis and the AM 990 Jumbo chassis shown in Figure 1 2 and Figure 1 3 respectively Figure 1 2 AM 6000 in AM 990 Chassis Figure 1 3 AM 6000 in AM 990 Jumbo Chassis ...

Page 10: ...mputer and lists the Alpha Micro documentation you can order to learn more about each subject Chapter 5 discusses the use of some computer maintenance utility programs It shows how to allocate system resources by entering the system initialization file commands to set up terminals and jobs for multi user operation Chapter 6 contains information on the caring for your computer Chapter 7 is a handbo...

Page 11: ...e second key For example to type a CTRL C Control C press the CTRL key and while holding it down press the C key Table 1 1 Graphics Conventions HARDWARE FEATURES The AM 6000 uses a two board combination the AM 176 and the AM 319 20 boards to provide new levels of performance and added versatility There are a number of physical components that go into the construction of your AM 6000 computer which...

Page 12: ...at 66MHz Memory The AM 176 board in the AM 6000 has four sockets in which main memory SIMMs Single Inline Memory Modules are installed You must always install SIMMs in pairs of equal capacity The AM 6000 supports a minimum of 8MB and a maximum of 512MB AM 176 boards earlier than Rev B06 or C04 support only 256MB Always use PFB 00712 xx 60ns SIMMs See the specification sheet included with your comp...

Page 13: ...row SCSI bus is one byte wide 8 bits plus parity and supports a maximum transfer rate of 10MB per second The Wide SCSI bus is twice as wide two bytes or 16 bits plus 2 parity bits Doubling the width of the data path doubles the maximum transfer rate to 20MB per second The Wide SCSI bus has the following advantages Disk intensive applications are potentially faster with Wide SCSI disk drives It sup...

Page 14: ... cabling can be used for both These ports must use the AM318 IDV interface driver and are assigned port numbers 0 3 Refer to Appendix A for Serial I O cabling information The AM 6000 also provides asynchronous serial I O expansion via the standard Alpha Micro paddle card bus We recommend the AM 359 eight port serial I O paddle card for I O expansion AM 359 cards provide high port density for eight...

Page 15: ... the system and the disk write caching is automatically re enabled A separate connection from the UPS to an RS 232 serial port is required for monitoring functions such as load voltage and fault status Front Panel Status Display The two hexadecimal digit status display on the front panel lets you know what is going on inside the computer even when no messages appear on your terminal Some normal fu...

Page 16: ...r VAR may have provided these items as part of your computer purchase If you want to expand your computer in the future by adding additional storage and backup devices see the AM 6000 Service Manual for a diagram of where additional peripherals should be located in your cabinet SOFTWARE FEATURES Computer hardware is all potential and no action until the software programs instruct it to do somethin...

Page 17: ...o support assistance and information Our customer commitment is maintained through the expertise and skills of our competent professional staff whose dedication assures all Alpha Micro customers the maximum benefits of quality support Alpha Micro warrants its products through our VAR network Alpha Micro will repair or replace a defective product under warranty without cost to the purchaser Should ...

Page 18: ...d to transport the computer The shipping material was carefully designed to provide optimum cushioning and protection When re shipping or otherwise transporting your computer you must use the original packaging to ensure safe shipment When moving your computer handle it gently The hard disk in the main unit has moving parts and delicate read write heads Rough handling could damage the drive and pr...

Page 19: ...ping Damage If there is any damage to the shipping container or the main enclosure or if you are missing any items on the unpacking checklist please call your VAR immediately Instructions for Reshipping the Computer If shipping damage has occurred or the self test indicates a problem with the computer your VAR may recommend that you ship it back If for some reason you cannot contact the VAR you bo...

Page 20: ...atter of 1 Choosing and preparing a location for it 2 Making sure it is configured correctly for your local electrical requirements 3 Running an initial diagnostic test to make sure the computer is working correctly 4 Connecting the operator terminal 5 Installing the Alpha Micro software 6 Creating a warm boot tape 7 Connecting additional terminals and printers 8 Getting assistance Some of the sec...

Page 21: ...mbo The panel has the following controls and indicators The Power indicator light is always lit when power is supplied to the computer The RUN indicator light will light up when it detects CPU and or hard disk activity During periods of inactivity the light will be off The Memory indicator light detects memory usage The Select button and the Select indicator light are not functional The Reset butt...

Page 22: ...ay codes that might appear on the AM 6000 s front panel digital display see Chapter 8 Status Display Codes AM 6000 Rear I O Panel Configurations The types and number of connectors on the rear panel of your AM 6000 computer will vary depending on the chassis and the equipment included with your order The illustrations on the next few pages show the AM 6000 rear panel configurations on a deskside ch...

Page 23: ...T PORT 0 PRINT PORT 1 PRINT PORT 2 PRINT PORT 3 A B C D E F G SIO EXPANSION BUS TX RX LINK AUI 10 base T UPS SERIAL PORTS 3 2 1 0 AM 319 20 Rear Panel AM 176 Rear Panel I O Board Expansion Slots Parallel Printer Ports Figure 2 3 AM 6000 Rear Panel Configuration Deskside Chassis ...

Page 24: ...it is comfortable in Extreme temperature or humidity can cause computer failure But it is not very demanding its environmental needs are similar to your own Physical Requirements The first step is to make sure the place you want to put your computer is large enough and sturdy enough for it Also leave enough room for any terminals and printers you want to use Make sure the AC power cord will reach ...

Page 25: ...for your computer remember that it operates within certain temperature and humidity ranges Air circulation around the system is something that should be considered Do not put a computer in a closed closet where there is no cooling See the separate specification sheet for detailed requirements It is very important for the health of your computer that you do not obstruct its cooling system The compu...

Page 26: ... outlet for the system to run correctly A transient free or smooth and consistent power source and a properly installed earth ground can significantly improve the reliability of your computer While the computer is in use it is important to maintain a constant line voltage free of power surges fluctuations and impulses Ideally a separate power circuit should be available for use only by the compute...

Page 27: ...cted to the terminal and printer decreases rapidly If local terminals are to be located further than fifty feet from the computer we recommend you use low capacitance twisted paired overall shielded cables If this cable does not solve your problem then signal conditioning equipment such as a Speedway Repeater will be needed to improve the signal Power Supply AC Voltage and Receptacle The voltage s...

Page 28: ...nel 5 Now check to make sure power is on Are the Power and Run or Disk Activity indicator lights on the front panel lit See Figures 2 1 and 2 2 Is the cooling fan running To check the fan place your hand behind the fan opening in the back panel you should feel air blowing out If the power light and the fan are not on you have a problem Refer to Chapter 7 for troubleshooting help If the fan and the...

Page 29: ... its baud rate and the parameters listed above Once the computer is booted with a compatible terminal you can define your own type of terminal and tell the computer to use that terminal from now on as long as it stays at 19 200 baud for CMOS configuration use For more information on defining your own terminal refer to the System Operator s Guide Connecting the Cable Refer to the FCC warning concer...

Page 30: ...all the operating system onto your System Disk When the computer is up and running the front panel LED will display a zero INSTALLING ALPHA MICRO SOFTWARE If the AMOS software is not already installed on your hard disk you should have received a system software tape or CD from your VAR along with the computer If you did not contact your VAR for help If you do have the system software tape or CD yo...

Page 31: ...omputer cannot find the system software files it needs to boot from on the hard disk As you become more familiar with your computer we strongly recommend you create several warm boot tapes In addition if you ever change the configuration of your computer you will almost certainly want to re generate all new warm boot tapes Use the WRMGEN program to generate a warm boot monitor and the appropriate ...

Page 32: ... System Operator s Guide to the System Initialization Command File Please read that document carefully modifying the system initialization command file without understanding its elements is very dangerous a serious mistake could damage the file and leave your computer unable to boot from your System Disk Instead of modifying the file directly alter and test a copy then replace original file with t...

Page 33: ...file containing commands that define to the operating system AMOS all the hardware connected to your system As the computer boots it reads these commands and builds the operating system in memory correctly for your hardware configuration You can change the system initialization file whenever you want to add more hardware to your system If you want to learn more about the system initialization file...

Page 34: ... while the boot code tests CMOS RAM to ensure that it is working If the RAM test fails the boot code displays CF on the front panel and the system halts If this is the case contact Alpha Micro s Technical Assistance Center CMOS Menu Options To enter CMOS Setup first make sure no one else is using the computer Then press the system reset button When the code CS appears on the front display panel pr...

Page 35: ...e SCSI interface and a Wide SCSI streamer and 0 or 1 for floppy drives The setup routine will not allow you to select an invalid unit number You should know how many devices you currently have on the system before you enter this number If you select a number and the device is not found it will go to the primary boot selection If you have a narrow SCSI configuration the CMOS menu will allow you to ...

Page 36: ...nd other storage device has its own device name terminals and printers are defined somewhat differently These device names are defined in the system initialization file Alpha Micro device names conform to a specific format to make it easy for you and the computer to refer to the same piece of equipment All device names contain three letters and a number and end with a colon For example DSK where i...

Page 37: ...ference sheet in the System Commands Reference Manual The System Disk The System disk DSK0 is where the system software is stored and where the computer looks for it when the computer boots Usually DSK0 is on your hard disk but you can also set up your system to boot from a diskette in which case the diskette drive would be DSK0 If you have a magnetic tape drive included with your computer you als...

Page 38: ... the files in any account using the DIR short for directory command To see a list of the files in the account you are currently in type DIR W RETURN While you can use DIR to list the files from any account to access the files in an account you must usually log into it as described later in this chapter Now that you have a general idea of what disk accounts are and how to use them you can decide ho...

Page 39: ...fferent disks Therefore to completely specify what account you want you may need to enter both the device and account number For example LOG DSK0 7 12 RETURN You only have to enter the device name if the same account exists on more than one device If the account you enter does not exist you see a message on your screen indicating you ve typed an invalid account number For more details about the LO...

Page 40: ...pper case Keys other than letters are not affected by the CAPS LOCK key on most keyboards ESC This key may be labeled ESCAPE or ALT MODE It is used with several application programs such as AlphaVUE to signal the end of input or to switch between command modes however you do not use ESC at AMOS command level CTRL Use the CTRL or CONTROL key with other keys to enter a different kind of character a ...

Page 41: ...epending on the drive If your drive uses 5 25 diskettes you will want to purchase blank double sided double density soft sectored and 96 TPI 5 25 certified diskettes If your drive uses 3 5 diskettes you will want to purchase blank quad density 1 44MB 3 5 diskettes A diskette consists of a soft or hard plastic jacket or case enclosing a thin disk of magnetically treated mylar on which your data is ...

Page 42: ...for backing up data onto diskettes Using Diskettes If you haven t used diskettes before take a few minutes to look at one before you insert it in the drive The figures below illustrate two types of diskettes Figure 3 1 5 25 Diskette Figure 3 2 3 5 Diskette If you are using 5 25 diskettes look at the first figure above and notice the oval cutout in the plastic jacket If you are using 3 5 diskettes ...

Page 43: ...ite protected Always remember to label your diskettes by placing a self adhesive label on them We recommend you write on the label first before you place it on the diskette If you have to write on the label while it s on the diskette use light pressure and a soft pointed writing instrument like a felt tip pen otherwise you run the risk of damaging the diskette Of course this caution doesn t really...

Page 44: ... side as the lever Close the drive door by turning the lever 90 degrees clockwise To remove the diskette turn the lever back 90 degrees counterclockwise For a 3 5 diskette push the diskette into the door until it is seated in the drive To remove the diskette push the eject button on the front of the drive Mounting Diskettes Whenever you insert a diskette into the disk drive you need to tell the co...

Page 45: ...e the disk type MOUNT FLP0 U RETURN ABOUT STREAMING TAPE There are four different streaming tape drives available for your computer the AM 625 AM 626 AM 627 and AM 628 For information on transferring data to and from streaming tape see the System Commands Reference Manual For information on cleaning tape drive heads see Chapter 6 Tape Capacity The storage capacity of your tapes depends both on the...

Page 46: ...a formats The tape drives for your computer can use the following formats AM 625 Reads and writes in QIC 150 18 track format Can also read QIC 120 15 track QIC 24 9 track and QIC 11 4 track formats AM 626 Reads and writes in QIC 320 26 track and QIC 150 18 track format Can also read QIC 120 15 track and QIC 24 9 track formats AM 627 Reads and writes in QIC 1000 30 track QIC 320 26 track and QIC 15...

Page 47: ... the tape after which it is ready for use Before unloading the tape cartridge be sure the tape activity light is out To unload press the tape door release button and remove the tape from the drive USING A DAT DRIVE The DAT drive is very simple to use 1 In order to save data to the tape the window on the tape cartridge must be in the write enable position The figure below shows the tape window in b...

Page 48: ...status of both the drive and the cartridge See the manual that came with your tape drive for information on interpreting the status lights 4 To unload the tape cartridge from the DAT drive press the tape eject button which is shown above The drive will automatically eject the tape For information on maintaining the DAT drive see Chapter 6 ...

Page 49: ...ing system software are available from your VAR There are different revision levels of AMOS to use AM 6000 you need AMOS 2 3A or later Programming Languages The AlphaBASIC programming language is a standard part of the software for your computer AlphaBASIC contains many business oriented features AlphaBASIC also provides an ISAM Indexed Sequential Access Method interface AlphaBASIC PLUS also provi...

Page 50: ... the unique way AMOS handles commands you can easily create your own utility programs Some of the standard utility programs allow you to do such functions as copy rename and erase files sort the data inside files use a task management system to schedule and perform background tasks that run without operator control print files while you perform other tasks at the same time use the ISAM system to o...

Page 51: ...oftware documentation that applies to other AMOS based computers applies to yours too You may purchase any book mentioned in this chapter separately in addition a multi volume software documentation library is available containing all the AMOS software books listed below You can order any of these books by calling your VAR Here s an idea of what to look at next I Want To Start At The Beginning If ...

Page 52: ...ant to learn how to use the AlphaBASIC programming language refer to the AlphaBASIC User s Manual You may also want to see the AlphaBASIC PLUS User s Manual for information on the enhanced AlphaBASIC PLUS programming language If you are an experienced assembly language programmer who wants to write machine language programs for your Alpha Micro computer we recommend you read these books Alpha Micr...

Page 53: ...function Such disaster can happen to anyone Your data is probably one of your most valuable possessions How long would it take to re enter the entire company payroll all of your accounts receivable invoices or your research journal article if they were lost And what if you could not reconstruct the information no matter how much time you had All Alpha Micro computers come with some type of data ba...

Page 54: ...The password acts as a mild security measure to prevent a casual user from accidentally logging into the wrong account Passwords do not prevent files from being copied into or out of an account and can be easily changed or erased using the SYSACT command described below Organizing the Disk Because there is the danger of logging into the wrong account if you have accounts with the same account numb...

Page 55: ...different functions to perform You want to add a new account so type A and the account number you want to add and press RETURN For example A 100 5 RETURN 6 SYSACT responds Password SYSACT asks if you want to protect the new account with a password You can enter a password of up to six characters A Z 0 9 or you can just press the RETURN key if you don t want to assign a password If you do enter a p...

Page 56: ...ntents of the test file VUE TEST INI RETURN If you are unfamiliar with AlphaVUE refer to the AlphaVUE User s Manual 4 Make all the necessary changes to TEST INI Save the file when exiting AlphaVUE by pressing the ESC key and typing F Some of the common changes you may want to make are discussed below 5 Use MONTST to insure TEST INI is working as expected by typing MONTST TEST INI 6 After you have ...

Page 57: ...Enable disk read caching SYSTEM DVR DSK N 100K 60 Enable disk write caching SYSTEM CMDLIN SYS SYSTEM SCNWLD SYS SYSTEM QFLOCK SYS SYSTEM TRM DVR 1 6 SYSTEM STR DVR 1 6 SYSTEM EPP DVR 1 6 SYSTEM SET DSKERR MOUNT DSK MEMORY 0 Simple Initialization File Defining the AM 6000 Parallel Ports AM 6000 computers contain four high speed parallel ports which are not automatically defined for you If you want ...

Page 58: ...ing of the TEST INI file is a JOBS statement The number following the JOBS statement represents the total number of jobs on your computer If your computer has five jobs now and you want to add two more jobs change the number in the JOBS statement to 7 or more For example JOBS 7 3 On the lines following the JOBS statement there are one or more JOBALC statements You can define each job in a separate...

Page 59: ...ed in the JOBALC statement You can include parameters in the SETJOB statement to Define how much memory to allocate to a specific job Define the specific disk and account you want the specific job to log into each time the computer boots Unlock the terminal s keyboard with the VER command SETJOB statements must be entered after the last system statements in the INI file Here is a sample SETJOB JOB...

Page 60: ... the terminal the computer boots on connected to Port 0 all you need to do is subtract memory from some other job 4 Save the TEST INI file and exit AlphaVUE Then perform a test reboot by running MONTST as described earlier in this chapter You can then use the STAT or SYSTAT command to see how much memory is assigned to each job ANALYZING THE DISK A disk diagnostic program reads data from a disk If...

Page 61: ...umber of blocks you want read REDALL DSK2 100 RETURN The command above tells REDALL to read the first 100 blocks on DSK2 3 REDALL now tells you the number of blocks it is reading For example REDALL DSK2 RETURN Reading 13800 blocks EXIT 4 REDALL ends when it finishes reading the blocks If any errors occur REDALL displays the appropriate error message on your screen The DSKANA Command The DSKANA com...

Page 62: ...t displays the disk account numbers When it finishes it displays the results of its analysis For example DSKANA DSK1 RETURN Begin analysis of DSK1 1 2 100 20 The following blocks were marked in use but not in a file 1767 1772 2562 3456 6265 The following blocks were in a file but not marked in use Rewriting BITMAP No file errors If you see the No file errors message the file structure on the disk ...

Page 63: ...eason for this is simple assume you run DSKANA at night as part of an automatic backup procedure If anyone on your computer leaves a file such as an AlphaVUE or AlphaWRITE document open on the device DSKANA is checking DSKANA doesn t take the open file into account when it rewrites the bitmap for the device When the person returns in the morning and writes the file to the disk it causes a bitmap e...

Page 64: ... you weren t already logged in enter your user name when the prompt for it displays 2 Insert the diskette into the drive as described in Chapter 3 Don t use the MOUNT command Instead enter FMT219 Devn RETURN where Devn is the name of your diskette drive probably FLP0 or MIN0 Chapter 3 discusses device naming conventions You now see the message BEGIN FORMATTING When it is finished FMT219 displays E...

Page 65: ...nts to the diskette Use the SYSACT A Add option as described earlier For example to add accounts 100 2 and 120 0 on the diskette type the following commands A 100 2 RETURN Password RETURN A 120 0 RETURN Password MINE RETURN In this example one of the new accounts 100 2 is not protected by a password and the other 120 0 is protected by the password MINE 6 Now use the E command to leave SYSACT E RET...

Page 66: ...an Never expose diskettes to an electromagnetic field doing so could cause your data to disappear For example do not leave diskettes on top of the computer or terminal since various items within the enclosure emit a strong magnetic field Keep magnets away from your diskettes Even weak magnets such as those in paper clip holders can erase data on a diskette Avoid temperature extremes Do not expose ...

Page 67: ...g a special head cleaning kit available from vendors of computer supplies STREAMING TAPE DRIVE CLEANING It is very important to clean the read write head of your tape drive periodically If you use your cartridge tape drive to do one or more backups per day you should clean the head at least once a week For more frequent use keep in mind When you use new tapes exclusively or often clean the head af...

Page 68: ... a cleaning cartridge Follow these general guidelines to use the cleaning cartridge 1 Insert the cleaning cartridge into the DAT drive The drive will immediately detect that this is a cleaning cartridge 2 The drive will load and run the cartridge in about 10 seconds then it will be ejected MAIN ENCLOSURE The computer main enclosure is sturdy painted sheet metal and plastic Clean it as you would an...

Page 69: ...d A hardware failure should be handled by your VAR A software problem on the other hand might be something you can handle yourself However we do not give software checkout procedures in the sections below This is because such procedures require you to be a fairly experienced user of the computer With experience you should have no problem in tracking down and fixing such problems For information on...

Page 70: ...ocedure 1 Check the System Status Codes Procedure 2 Powerup Reset Procedure 3 Self Test Procedure 5 Alternate Boot Procedure 6 Symptom 4 Job on Computer Locks Up After Bootup If after the system has finished booting the computer does not respond to your commands we say it has locked up or crashed Perform these procedures in the order given Check Power Run Memory Lights Procedure 1 Check the System...

Page 71: ... configured correctly proceed 4 If the voltage configuration is correct and the power cord is OK and in place correctly but the power light is still not on call your VAR for help Stop B OK the power light is on Is the run light on If so skip to Step C 1 If the run light is off then perform Procedure 2 Check the System Status Codes If the procedure does not find and correct any problems proceed 2 P...

Page 72: ...t the computer was unable to locate the User File Directory UFD in account 1 2 on the boot device This could indicate a problem with the format on your boot device contact your VAR for assistance F If Status Code 23 2F 33 or 3F remains on the display panel you might have a problem with your boot device selection Verify that the primary and alternate boot devices and corresponding unit numbers in t...

Page 73: ...ou will enable the self test The computer should now boot Skip down to C below for instructions on how to tell if the computer is up B To reset the computer 1 Before you reset the computer make sure everybody is at AMOS command level which is when they see the AMOS prompt usually a dot If you reset while people are working on the computer they will lose whatever they were in the middle of If any f...

Page 74: ... display terminals do you see anything on the screen If so the power is on skip to B below For printers is the power light on If so the power is on skip to B below 2 See the terminal manufacturer s manual to find out how to troubleshoot power or fuse problems for the device Correct the problem and reset the computer If it comes up normally and your terminals seem to work all right your problem is ...

Page 75: ...rks all right your problem is fixed H If you have a known good terminal similar enough to the problem terminal to work in its place substitute it for the questionable one and reset the computer If the computer is up and running and the terminal works all right you know the problem lies with the terminal not the terminal cable Put the original terminal back on and proceed to Step J If the problem i...

Page 76: ...nately showing the type of error and its location The letter X in the items with an asterisk means a digit 1 9 will display Record the digit you see on the screen The ranges 1 16 and 1 2 in the items with an asterisk mean a number in the given range will display on the screen Record the number that appears C Turn the computer off Perform Section C of Procedure 3 Powerup Reset D Start the self test...

Page 77: ...ge the data on the disks if you interrupt the test while it is testing one of the storage devices If the test loops on the configuration test and stays on error code 80 or 8F and won t go further press the reset button to stop the test If the test loops on the memory test and stays on a memory error code and won t go further press the reset button I If errors were found call your VAR for help To f...

Page 78: ...your System Disk The object of this procedure is to see if the computer can boot off some other device whether or not you are successful in booting tells your VAR quite a bit about what might be wrong with your computer First verify the device and unit number settings on the AM 6000 CMOS menu for the correct alternate device Refer to Chapter 2 for details on boot ID switch settings and the CMOS co...

Page 79: ...eset button In about 30 seconds you should see a message giving the version number of the operating system Then the AMOS prompt symbol a dot displays If you do see the operating system message and a dot you have successfully warm booted Because this is a warm boot you do not see the system initialization command file on the operator terminal Go to the next step If you do not see the operating syst...

Page 80: ... powerup diagnostic test that checks all major hardware components in the main chassis The self test is discussed in detail in the System Self Test User s Guide DSO 00156 00 Rev 02 that came with your computer FRONT PANEL STATUS DISPLAY CODES During normal operation when you are not using the self test the front panel status displays a zero When you boot your computer a series of codes appears in ...

Page 81: ...eaker and be sure it s ON The system must be rebooted with a hardware reset 9 Memory parity error was encountered F During booting memory is being cleared and sized 10 An interface driver IDV defined in a TRMDEF statement in the system initialization file was not found in account 1 6 on first logical of the boot device 11 A terminal driver TDV defined in a TRMDEF statement in the system initializa...

Page 82: ...nning to execute the AMOS monitor program from the alternate boot device If an error occurs at this point try reloading the latest version of the system software 2d Bootup from the alternate boot device failed because of a time out error This may indicate a faulty memory or an addressing problem 2E Bootup from the alternate boot device failed because of a bootstrap loader program checksum error Th...

Page 83: ...n of the system software 3b Beginning to execute the AMOS monitor from the primary boot device If an error occurs at this point try reloading the latest version of the system software 3F Bootup failed because of an invalid primary boot device selection Access the CMOS setup routine by pressing Reset then pressing the ESC key when the code CS appears on the front panel Verify the device and unit nu...

Page 84: ...pressing the ESC key when the code CS appears on the front panel Re enter CMOS settings CC The computer is testing the CMOS RAM for proper operation after detecting a CMOS checksum error CE CMOS parameter checksum error This code will flash on the front panel for several seconds CF CMOS RAM failure The system is going into a halt state Contact your dealer or the Alpha Micro Technical Assistance Ce...

Page 85: ...r SELF TEST FEATURE One of your computer s most helpful features is its ability to test itself and check its major hardware components for proper operation The major purpose of this diagnostic test is to check all hardware whose failure might prevent your computer from operating properly and to assure you all hardware components are working correctly If the diagnostic test reports a problem you ca...

Page 86: ... connected to the A channel bus use the new AM355A IDV interface driver Paddle cards connected to the B channel bus use the AM355B IDV and or AM359B IDV interface drivers Although several different types of I O paddle cards are available Alpha Micro highly recommends the use of AM 359 eight port serial I O cards for serial I O expansion The AM 359 paddle cards use the same standard RJ 45 connector...

Page 87: ...ing allowable emission levels of Class A computing devices ref Subpart J of Part 15 of FCC Rules The Alpha Micro systems to which this manual applies have been determined to be in compliance with the FCC rules However you should be aware that if other devices such as terminals and printers are attached to these systems even if the devices are attached in accordance with the instructions contained ...

Page 88: ...o from interference radiated by an improperly shielded system The following section titled Cable Shielding provides instructions on creating an adequately shielded cable that should provide satisfactory protection from interference Please see the Important Note above for information on your responsibilities concerning electromagnetic interference Cable Shielding There are different techniques for ...

Page 89: ...If a plastic outer shell is provided for the metal connector hood put it in place now The new RJ 45 serial ports have a shield ground connection at pin 1 All cables adapters and assemblies have the shield ground connection to pin 1 These pre made cable assemblies are available from Alpha Micro and their part numbers and details are documented in the AM 359 product installation instructions For pin...

Page 90: ... same pin outs as DB 9 connectors The following table gives the pinouts required for RS 232 cables connecting a terminal to the computer Terminal End Male DB 25 Connector Computer End Male DB 9 Connector SIGNAL PIN DIRECTION PIN SIGNAL TXD 2 2 RXD GND 7 7 GND RXD 3 3 TXD DTR 20 4 CTS Table A 2 Pinouts for RS 232 Terminal to Computer Cables The DTR connection pin 20 to the computer pin 4 can serve ...

Page 91: ...Computer End Male DB 9 Connector SIGNAL PIN DIRECTION PIN SIGNAL TXD 3 2 RTX CTS 8 5 RTS DSR 6 DCD 1 RXD 2 3 TXD RTS 7 4 CTS GND 5 7 GND Note Pins 1 6 and 8 on the workstation connector are jumpered together Table A 3 Pinouts for Workstation to Computer Cable IBM PC AT and Compatibles Workstation Serial I O Port Male DB 25 Computer End Male DB 9 Connector SIGNAL PIN DIRECTION PIN SIGNAL TXD 2 2 RT...

Page 92: ...CTION PIN SIGNAL RXD 5 5 2 TXD RTS 4 4 5 CTS TXD 3 3 3 RXD DTR 6 6 8 DCD CTS 2 2 20 DTR GND 7 7 7 GND DCD 8 8 4 RTS Shld GND 1 1 1 Shld GND Table A 5 RS 232 RJ 45 to DB 25 Connector Signals The patch cords should be internally twisted pair cable with RJ 45 connectors on both ends The pin assignments are straight through pin for pin with no swapped ends Alpha Micro also offers a pre made cable feat...

Page 93: ...llows To insure the reliability and performance of your parallel ports avoid using parallel printer cables longer than six feet PIN SIGNAL NAME 1 Data strobe 2 Data 1 3 Data 2 4 Data 3 5 Data 4 6 Data 5 7 Data 6 8 Data 7 9 Data 8 10 Acknowledge 11 Busy 12 Paper error 13 Select 14 Auto line feed not used 15 Error 16 Printer reset 17 Select in 18 Ground 19 Ground 20 Ground 21 Ground 22 Ground 23 Gro...

Page 94: ... technical aspects of Ethernet networking as well as the cable pinouts required when using the 10BaseT RJ 45 interface connector 10BaseT Topology and Cabling Ethernet networks were originally designed to be multi point networks arranged as a bus topology That meant that Ethernet would work over coaxial cable either thick or thin with 50 ohm termination at each end of the network and each computer ...

Page 95: ...nual Rev 01 RJ 45 Pin Number Signal Name 1 Transmit Data 2 Transmit Data 3 Receive Data 6 Receive Data Table A 8 10BaseT RJ 45 Connector Signals The 10BaseT specification allows a maximum distance of 100m approx 300 feet between the computer and hub ...

Page 96: ...command level Other programs do recognize a Control C however if an exit command exists for a program it is usually better to use that command than to press CTRL C Many programs perform various closing functions when you use their normal exit commands and would not have a chance to perform those procedures for an orderly exit if you bypass them by using a Control C Control U At AMOS command level ...

Page 97: ...hing happened Now press CTRL Q to release the display and you see first a list of the files in your account printed on the screen then a display of the files waiting to print Control R The command buffer is an area of memory where the computer stores commands that have been entered Pressing CTRL R shows you what commands are in your command buffer If the line editor is installed on your computer y...

Page 98: ... that does not run properly on a Super I O enabled serial port it is possible to disable Super I O You can disable Super I O on one or more AM 359 boards but you can t disable Super I O on an individual serial port Disabling Super I O on All I O Boards If the application causing problems is one you run infrequently you can temporarily disable Super I O on all your AM 359 ports by using the followi...

Page 99: ...sure the copy uses a name other than AM359 IDV For example while in the DVR account type COPY AM359S IDV AM359 IDV RETURN 2 Create a copy of your system initialization command file type LOG 1 4 RETURN COPY TEST INI AMOS32 INI RETURN 3 Use AlphaVUE to modify the TEST INI file Locate the AM 359 board or boards for which you want to disable Super I O For all of the TRMDEF statements for the ports on ...

Page 100: ... bus termination If you are using the external terminator and one of the SCSI devices inside the computer also has its terminators installed you will experience problems The SCSI bus must be terminated at each end of the cable The AM 176 terminates one end of the bus The other end must be terminated by an active style external terminator An active terminator for the narrow SCSI bus PRA 00222 21 is...

Page 101: ...make sure all 16 lines of the Wide SCSI bus are properly terminated To do so 1 Use an external wide to narrow SCSI cable which actively terminates the high nine lines of the Wide SCSI bus Alpha Micro offers this cable in both three foot and six foot lengths PDB 00440 80 and PDB 00440 81 2 Plug the narrow active external terminator PRA 00222 21 into the unused SCSI I O port of the external device T...

Page 102: ...r Also fast SCSI 2 disk drives will give better performance than an AM 520 using ESDI drives for the following reasons Physically SCSI 2 drives are faster than all ESDI drives They spin the platters twice as fast reducing latency and have significantly faster seek times Data transfer rates are higher with fast SCSI 2 drives ESDI drives have a maximum transfer rate of 2 25MB s whereas fast SCSI 2 d...

Page 103: ...ard you are asked to specify the number of read ahead blocks For example type FIXLOG RETURN FIXLOG LIT Version x x xxx 1 Change the number of logicals 2 Create a sub system driver Enter choice 2 RETURN Enter name of generic driver to be used SCZR60 RETURN Enter number of logical units per physical unit 10 RETURN Enter SCSI id 0 6 0 RETURN Enter number of read ahead blocks 0 7 5 RETURN Enter new dr...

Page 104: ...e that causes a system crash To help reduce the possibility of data loss certain safeguards have been put in place Writes are not buffered indefinitely they are performed whenever the device is not performing reads Even if the drive is busy with read requests the buffer is still periodically flushed based on a user definable absolute flush time In addition if you have a UPS installed and connected...

Page 105: ...does not need to be created because it is already loaded into the system monitor Therefore for the DSK device only the file DSK WRC will be created in system memory In the three drive example mentioned earlier the added SYSTEM commands would look like this SYSTEM DVR DSK N 100K 60 Driver in AMOS will create DSK WRC SYSTEM DVR SUB N 100K 60 Load SUB DVR and create SUB WRC This would set up 100K of ...

Page 106: ...mputer Owner s Manual Rev 02 Document History Revision Date Description A00 May 1997 Initial release A01 May 1998 Small corrections to Chapter 8 and Appendix A A02 August 1998 Change maximum memory size to 512MB ...

Page 107: ...Baud rate operator terminal 2 12 7 7 Boot monitor file 3 3 3 4 7 11 Boot port location 2 11 Booting the computer 2 13 3 1 3 5 alternate device 3 3 primary device 3 3 warm boot 2 14 warm boot tape 2 13 Buffer size E 4 Buffering features E 1 read ahead E 1 E 2 write E 2 C Cables A 2 connecting terminal 2 12 7 6 connector hood A 4 construction guidelines A 2 length 2 10 A 2 printer cable 1 7 A 2 shie...

Page 108: ...9 3 11 drive cleaning 6 2 inserting 3 12 maintaining 6 1 mounting 3 13 write protecting 3 11 DSKANA command 5 9 7 5 CHECK option 5 11 options 5 10 E Electrical noise 2 10 requirements 2 10 Ethernet 1 4 1 5 1 7 A 9 cabling A 9 External terminator 1 6 D 1 D 2 F FCC ruling A 2 FIXLOG E 2 Flush period E 4 FMTS2 Command 5 11 Formatting diskette 5 12 hard disk 5 11 Front panel 2 3 AM 990 2 4 deskside ch...

Page 109: ...ogramming languages 4 1 AlphaBASIC 4 1 AlphaBASIC Plus 4 1 COBOL 4 1 FORTRAN 4 1 Project programmer number 3 6 PROM 3 1 8 6 Prompt symbol 1 3 R Read ahead buffering E 1 E 2 Rear panel 1 9 2 5 AM 990 2 5 deskside chassis 2 5 REDALL command 5 9 E 1 Reset button AM 990 2 4 deskside chassis 2 4 Reshipping 2 2 RJ 45 connector A 2 A 4 A 7 A 9 RS 232 cables A 2 definition A 1 standard A 1 RS 422 A 2 Run ...

Page 110: ...ers 2 12 7 7 TRMDEF statement 5 6 C 1 troubleshooting 7 6 Testing line voltages 2 9 Text processing 4 4 TRMDEF statement 5 6 Troubleshooting 7 1 alternate boot 7 10 computer locks up 7 2 incomplete bootup 7 2 no display 7 1 powerup reset 7 3 7 5 printer 7 6 A 7 procedures 7 2 scrambled characters 7 2 self test 7 5 7 8 8 1 8 6 status display 7 3 7 4 7 8 8 6 symptoms 7 1 7 2 terminal 7 6 7 7 Turning...

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