SUPP1. Where can I get software and hardware support information?
Contact Compaq Customer Support. Services and information, manuals,
guides, downloads, and various other information is available at:
http://www.compaq.com/support/
Various hardware and system documentation is available at:
http://www.compaq.com/support/techpubs/user_reference_guides/
http://www.adenzel.demon.nl/vaxes/microvax3100/
http://www.adenzel.demon.nl/vaxes/infoserver150/
SUPP2.
Where can I get hardware self-maintenance support assistance?
The Compaq Assisted Services program is available to customers that
wish to maintain their own systems (self-maintenace), but that require
some assistance with acquiring hardware diagnostics, hardware manuals,
and with hardware swaps and spares:
http://www.digital.com/info/DAHOME/
SUPP3. Why does my system halt when I power-cycle the console terminal?
Power-cycling serial line equipment - either a host controller or
a serial terminal - can and often does generate a serial line framing
error until the power stabilizes. A serial line framing error on the
console serial line is indistiguishable from the BREAK signal that is
used to HALT many OpenVMS systems.
Also see MGMT5
[Stephen Hoffman]
SUPP4. Can I reuse old keyboards, mice and monitors with a PC?
Older Compaq keyboards (those with the DIGITAL logo and the RJ modular
jacks), older Compaq mice (those with the DIGITAL logo and with the RJ
modular jacks, or with a DIN connector with pins in a configuration other
than the PC-standard DIN connector pin orientation), and older video
monitors (with RGB synch-on-green video signaling) all use signaling
formats and/or communications protocols that differ from the PC standards,
and are not (easily) interchangable nor (easily) compatible with typical
PC peripheral device controllers. LK201, LK401, VSXXX, VR260, VR290, etc.,
are incompatible with most PC systems.
Newer Compaq keyboards (those with with PC-style DIN plugs, and Compaq
or DIGITAL logo), newer Compaq mice (with PC-pin DIN plugs, and Compaq
or DIGITAL logo), and newer video monitors (multi-synch) are often
interchangeable with industry standard PC systems, and can often be
used with most PC peripheral device controllers. LK461, LK471, PC7XS-CA,
VRC16, VRC21, etc., are compatible with most PC systems.
Rule of thumb: if the peripheral device component was sold for use with the
DEC 2000 (DECpc 150 AXP), an AlphaServer series, an AlphaStation series, or
more recent Alpha system, it will probably work with a PC peripheral
controller. If the peripheral device component was sold for use with an
VT420 or older terminal, most VAX, most VAXstation, and most Alpha systems
with names in the format "DEC <four-digit-number>", it probably won't work on a PC.
Note that the above is a general guideline, and should not be read to
indicate that any particular peripheral device will or will not work in any
particular configuration, save for those specific configurations the device
is explicitly supported in.
[Steve Hoffman]
Software Integrators sells a video adapter card called Gemini P1 which will
drive many of the older Compaq (DIGITAL-logo) fixed-frequency monitors on a PC.
http://www.si87.com
The Digital part number 29-32540-01 converts the output from the RGB cable
(3 BNC, synch-on-green) that comes with the VAXstation 3100 and VAXstation
4000 series to a female SVGA D connector.
This will allow PC Multisync monitors with the needed frequency
specifications to be used with the VAXstations. It may work with a
VAXstation 2000 series, but I have not tried that combination.
[John E. Malmberg]
The protocol definition for the old DIGITAL keyboard and mouse interfaces
is buried at the back of the QDSS section in the old VAXstation II manual,
specifically, in the back of the VCB02 Video Subsystem Technical Manual
(EK-104AA-TM). The keyboard wiring and protocol is in appendix B, and
occupies circa 44 pages. The mouse is in appendix C, circa 12 pages.
Also see SUPP5.
SUPP5. Which video monitor works with which graphics controller?
To determine the answer to the will this monitor work with this graphics
controller? question, please first locate the resolution(s) and the
frequencies that are possible/supported at both ends of the video cable
(on the monitor and the graphics controller, in other words), and then
determine if there are any matching settings available. If there are
multiple matches, you will need to determine which one is most appropriate
for your needs.
You will also need to determine if the video monitor or graphics controller
requires the 3 BNC signaling with the synchronization signals on the green
wire, or the 5 BNC signalling common on many PCs, or other connections such
as the DB15 video connector or USB connector used on various systems.
If there are no matches, you will likely need to change the hardware at
one or both ends of the video cable.
The refresh frequencies for many devices have been posted to
comp.os.vms
and/or other newsgroups. Search the archives for details. Also see:
http://www.repairfaq.org/
http://plop.phys.cwru.edu/repairfaq/REPAIR/F_monfaq.html
http://www.mirage-mmc.com/faq/
http://www.geocities.com/SiliconValley/Foothills/4467/fixedsync.html
http://saturn.tlug.org/sunstuff/ffmonitor.html
Also see SUPP4.
SUPP6. Where can I get information on storage hardware?
Information on various Compaq OpenVMS and other disk storage
hardware and controllers, and related technical information
on SCSI, device jumpers, etc., is available at:
http://theref.aquascape.com/
SUPP7. Problem - My LK401 keyboard unexpectedly autorepeats
There are several modes of failure:
- Pressing 2 and 3 keys at the same time causes one key to autorepeat when
released. Check the hardware revision level printed on the bottom of the
keyboard. If the revision level is C01, the keyboard firmware is broken.
Call field service to replace the keyboard with any revision level other
than C01.
- Pressing certain keys is always broken. Typical sympypoms are: delete
always causes a autorepeat, return needs to be pressed twice, etc. This is
frequently caused by having keys depressed while the keyboard is being
initialized. Pressing ^F2 several times or unplugging and replugging the
keyboard frequently fix this problem. There is a patch available to fix
this problem [contact the CSC for information - a CSCPAT number will be
included here when available. - Ed.]
- A key that was working spontaneously stops working correctly. This may be
either (1) or (2) or it may be bad firmware. Ensure that you have the most
recent firmware installed on your CPU. An old version of the DEC 3000
firmware had a bug that could cause this symptom.
[Fred Kleinsorge]
SUPP8. Problem - My LK411 sends the wrong keycodes or some keys are dead
Check the firmware revision on the keyboard. Hardware revision B01 introduced
an incompatability with the device driver which causes the keyboard to not be
recognized correctly. There is a patch available to fix this problem:
[AXPDRIV06_061] - the fix is also included in OpenVMS V6.2. The rev A01
keyboard, and the LK450 should work without problems.
[Fred Kleinsorge]
[inazu_k]