Digital Equipment VAX 6000 Series, 300, 200, 500, 400 Installing

VAX 6000: Installing MS65A Memories

Order Number EK–MS65A–UP–001

This manual is intended for use by Digital customer
service engineers and self-maintenance customers
installing MS65A memories.

digital equipment corporation
maynard, massachusetts

First Printing, December 1990

The information in this document is subject to change without notice and should not be
construed as a commitment by Digital Equipment Corporation.

Digital Equipment Corporation assumes no responsibility for any errors that may appear in
this document.

The software, if any, described in this document is furnished under a license and may be used
or copied only in accordance with the terms of such license. No responsibility is assumed
for the use or reliability of software or equipment that is not supplied by Digital Equipment
Corporation or its affiliated companies.

Copyright ©1990 by Digital Equipment Corporation.

All Rights Reserved.
Printed in U.S.A.

The following are trademarks of Digital Equipment Corporation:

DEC PDP VAXcluster
DEC LANcontroller ULTRIX VAXELN
DECnet UNIBUS VMS
DECUS VAX XMI
DWMVA VAXBI



FCC NOTICE: The equipment described in this manual generates, uses, and may emit
radio frequency energy. The equipment has been type tested and found to comply with the
limits for a Class A computing device pursuant to Subpart J of Part 15 of FCC Rules, which
are designed to provide reasonable protection against such radio frequency interference when
operated in a commercial environment. Operation of this equipment in a residential area
may cause interference, in which case the user at his own expense may be required to take
measures to correct the interference.

Contents

Preface v

Chapter 1 Overview

1.1 MS65A Description . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1–2

1.2 Required ROM Upgrades . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1–4

1.3 MS65A Configurations . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1–6

Chapter 2 Unpacking and Installation

2.1 Unpacking and Inspection Procedures . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2–2

2.2 Memory Installation in Systems Without a Vector Processor . 2–4

2.3 Memory Installation in Systems with a Vector Processor . . . . 2–6

Chapter 3 Power-Up and Self-Test

3.1 Power-Up . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3–2

3.2 Self-Test Errors . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3–4

Appendix A ROM Kit Order Numbers

Appendix B Interleaving

B.1 Overview . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . B–2

B.2 Console Commands . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . B–4

Index

iii

Examples

1–1 Checking ROM Levels . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1–4

2–1 Existing Memory Interleave . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2–4

2–2 Default Memory Interleave with MS65A Installed . . . . . . . . . 2–4

2–3 MS65A Installed in a Vector System . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2–6

3–1 Model 500 Power-Up . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3–2

3–2 MS65A Memory Module Exclusion . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3–4

B–1 SET MEMORY and SHOW MEMORY Commands . . . . . . . . B–4

Figures

1–1 MS65A Module. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1–2

1–2 MS65A Configuration . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1–6

B–1 MS65A Interleaving . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . B–2

Tables

1 VAX 6000 Series Documentation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . vi

2 VAX 6000 Model Level Documentation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . vii

3 Associated Documents . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . vii

1–1 Minimum ROM Level Required . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1–5

1–2 Memory Module Mixing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1–7

2–1 MS65A Memory Modules . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2–2

3–1 Console Error Messages for Memory (Models 400 and 500) . . 3–5

A–1 ROM Kit Numbers . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . A–1

iv

Preface

Intended Audience

This manual is written for Digital customer service engineers and for self­maintenance customers installing MS65A memories in VAX 6000 systems.
MS65A is the memory required by the VAX 6000 Model 500. MS65A
memories can be installed in VAX 6000 Model 200, 300, and 400 systems.

Document Structure

This manual uses a structured documentation design. There are many
topics, organized into small sections for efficient reference. Each topic
begins with an abstract. You can quickly gain a comprehensive overview
by reading only the abstracts. Next is an illustration or example, which
also provides quick reference. Last in the structure is descriptive text.

This manual has three chapters and two appendixes, as follows:

• Chapter 1, Overview, provides MS65A configuration rules and
information on ROM upgrades.

• Chapter 2, Unpacking and Installation, gives instructions on how
to unpack and install the MS65A.

• Chapter 3, Power-Up and Self-Test, describes the VAX 6000 self-test
with a focus on the MS65A memory modules.

• Appendix A, ROM Kit Order Numbers, shows the ROM kit numbers
for VAX 6000 systems.

• Appendix B, Interleaving, gives an overview of the interleaving
process for the MS65A.

v

VAX 6000 Series Documents

There are two sets of documentation: manuals that apply to all VAX 6000
series systems and manuals that are specific to one VAX 6000 model.
Table 1 lists the manuals in the VAX 6000 series documentation set.

Table 1: VAX 6000 Series Documentation

Title Order Number

Operation

VAX 6000 Series Owner ’s Manual EK–600EA–OM

VAX 6000 Series Vector Processor Owner’s Manual EK–60VAA–OM

VAX 6000 Vector Processor Programmer’s Guide EK–60VAA–PG

Service and Installation

VAX 6000 Platform Technical User’s Guide EK–600EA–TM

VAX 6000 Series Installation Guide EK–600EA–IN

VAX 6000 Installationsanleitung EK–600GA–IN

VAX 6000 Guide d’installation EK–600FA–IN

VAX 6000 Guia de instalacion EK–600SA–IN

VAX 6000 Platform Service Manual EK–600EA–MG

Options and Upgrades

VAX 6000: XMI Conversion Manual EK–650EA–UP

VAX 6000: Installing MS65A Memories EK–MS65A–UP

VAX 6000: Installing the H7236-A Battery Backup Option EK–60BBA–IN

VAX 6000: Installing the FV64A Vector Option EK–60VEA–IN

VAX 6000: Installing the VAXBI Option EK–60BIA–IN

vi

Manuals specific to models are listed in Table 2.

Table 2: VAX 6000 Model Level Documentation

Title Order Number

Models 200/300/400

VAX 6000 Model 300 and 400 Service Manual EK–624EA–MG

VAX 6000: Installing Model 200/300/400 Processors EK–6234A–UP

Model 500

VAX 6000 Model 500 Mini-Reference EK–650EA–HR

VAX 6000 Model 500 Service Manual EK–650EA–MG

VAX 6000 Model 500 System Technical User’s Guide EK–650EA–TM

VAX 6000: Installing Model 500 Processors EK–KA65A–UP

Associated Documents

Table 3 lists other documents that you may find useful.

Table 3: Associated Documents

Title Order Number

System Hardware Options

VAXBI Expander Cabinet Installation Guide EK–VBIEA–IN

VAXBI Options Handbook EB–32255–46

System I/O Options

CIBCA User Guide EK–CIBCA–UG

CIXCD Interface User Guide EK–CIXCD–UG

DEC LANcontroller 200 Installation Guide EK–DEBNI–IN

DEC LANcontroller 400 Installation Guide EK–DEMNA–IN

InfoServer 100 Installation and Owners Guide EK–DIS1K–IN

KDB50 Disk Controller User’s Guide EK–KDB50–UG

vii

Table 3 (Cont.): Associated Documents

Title Order Number

System I/O Options

KDM70 Controller User Guide EK–KDM70–UG

RRD40 Disc Drive Owner’s Manual EK–RRD40–OM

RA90/RA92 Disk Drive User Guide EK–ORA90–UG

SA70 Enclosure User Guide EK–SA70E–UG

Operating System Manuals

Guide to Maintaining a VMS System AA–LA34A–TE

Guide to Setting Up a VMS System AA–LA25A–TE

Introduction to VMS System Management AA–LA24A–TE

ULTRIX–32 Guide to System Exercisers AA–KS95B–TE

VMS Upgrade and Installation Supplement: VAX 6000 Series AA–LB36C–TE

VMS Networking Manual AA–LA48A–TE

VMS System Manager’s Manual AA–LA00A–TE

VMS VAXcluster Manual AA–LA27B–TE

Peripherals

HSC Installation Manual EK–HSCMN–IN

H4000 DIGITAL Ethernet Transceiver Installation Manual EK–H4000–IN

Installing and Using the VT320 Video Terminal EK–VT320–UG

RV20 Optical Disk Owner ’s Manual EK–ORV20–OM

SC008 Star Coupler User’s Guide EK–SC008–UG

TA78 Magnetic Tape Drive User’s Guide EK–OTA78–UG

TA90 Magnetic Tape Subsystem Owner’s Manual EK–OTA90–OM

TK70 Streaming Tape Drive Owner ’s Manual EK–OTK70–OM

TU81/TA81 and TU/81 PLUS Subsystem User’s Guide EK–TUA81–UG

viii

Table 3 (Cont.): Associated Documents

Title Order Number

VAX Manuals

VAX Architecture Reference Manual EY–3459E–DP

VAX Systems Hardware Handbook — VAXBI Systems EB–31692–46

VAX Vector Processing Handbook EC–H0739–46

ix

x

Chapter 1

Overview

MS65A memory modules are used in all VAX 6000 series systems. Model
500 systems require the MS65A. Earlier model systems can use the MS65A
along with the MS62A memory modules. MS65A memory modules used in
Model 200, 300, or 400 systems provide higher density memory modules
with a capacity of up to 128 Mbytes per module.

VAX 6000 MS65A MS62A

Model 500 Yes No No

Models 200, 300, 400 Yes Yes Yes

This chapter describes the use of MS65A memory modules. Sections
include:

• MS65A Description

• Required ROM Upgrades

• MS65A Configurations

Both MS65A
and MS62A

Overview 1–1

1.1 MS65A Description

The MS65A memory module is a metal-oxide semiconductor
(MOS), dynamic random access memory (DRAM), which
provides up to 128 Mbytes of data storage. The memory
module is designed for use with the VAX 6000 through the
XMI bus.

Figure 1–1: MS65A Module

GREEN

POWER

LED

YELLOW

SELF-TEST

LED

SMALL

RED

LED

CONTROL/ADDRESS

DRAM

BUFFERS

BLOCK STATE

BUFFER

DRAMS

DRAMS DRAMS

DATA
MUXs

DATA
MUXs

EEPROM

MEMORY CONTROL

GATE ARRAY

ZIF
CONNECTOR
SEGMENTS

msb-0454A-90

XMI
CORNER

1–2 VAX 6000: Installing MS65A Memories

The MS65A memory module has the following features:

• The memory module contains MOS dynamic RAM (DRAM) arrays; a
CMOS memory control gate array that contains error correction code
(ECC) logic and control logic; an EEPROM storage element; and an
XMI interface known as the XMI Corner.

• Storage arrays are made up of two or four banks, either 155 or 299
DRAMs.

• ECC logic detects single-bit and double-bit errors and corrects single-bit
errors on 64-bit words.

• Memory self-test checks all RAMs, the data path, and control logic on
power-up.

• Quadwords, octawords, and hexwords can be read from or written to
memory.

• Memory is configured by the console program for 2-, 4-, 8-way or no
interleaving.

NOTE: The MS65A memory is required by VAX 6000 Model 500 and later

models since it implements the write-back cache protocol. However, it can
be used in Model 200, 300, and 400 systems.

Overview 1–3