Linux on a Dec Alpha
Roel Lascano
a compatibility list? I'm very interested in running a Dec Alpha (and I'd be
willing to attempt some porting.) Where can I get an Alpha?
Thanks for all the answers,
Roel
James P. K. Gilb
Well, since I posted on respone on the Alpha today already,
here goes another. Try
http://www.garply.com/mall/alpha/Intro.html
http://www.redhat.com/alpha/alpha.html
http://www.azstarnet.com/~davidm/Linux-Alpha/FAQ.html
DEC has some problems admitting that there is a low cost ALPHA board
out there, but they do exist. The third one has some info on
different suppliers, you local DEC rep. might not be very helpful.
(Thanks to Michael K. Johnson who passed this information onto me.)
--
James P. K. Gilb "Well, it was either that or do research,
Arizona State University so I guess the choice was pretty obvious."
gi...@emipx1.eas.asu.edu J.P.K.G.
Prakash Kailasa
> Where can I get information on the progress of the Alpha port? Where can I get
> a compatibility list? I'm very interested in running a Dec Alpha (and I'd be
> willing to attempt some porting.) Where can I get an Alpha?
> Thanks for all the answers,
> Roel
Check out the URL:
http://www.azstarnet.com/~axplinux/
for the Linux/ALPHA FAQ.
_Prakash K.
--
+------------------------------+--------------------------------------+
| V. Prakash Kailasa | Microkernel Design and Development |
| IBM Corporation | INTERNET: pra...@bocaraton.ibm.com |
| Personal Systems Programming | pra...@gate.net |
| Boca Raton, FL 33431 | #include <std_disclaimer.h> |
+------------------------------+--------------------------------------+
Danny ter Haar
>In article <42htpu$4...@mystech.mystech.com> Roel Lascano <rlas...@mystech.com> writes:
>
> Where can I get a compatibility list? I'm very interested in
> running a Dec Alpha (and I'd be willing to attempt some porting.)
> Where can I get an Alpha?
>
> Thanks for all the answers,
>
>here goes another. Try
>
>http://www.garply.com/mall/alpha/Intro.html
>http://www.redhat.com/alpha/alpha.html
>http://www.azstarnet.com/~davidm/Linux-Alpha/FAQ.html
>
>DEC has some problems admitting that there is a low cost ALPHA board
>out there, but they do exist. The third one has some info on
>different suppliers, you local DEC rep. might not be very helpful.
>(Thanks to Michael K. Johnson who passed this information onto me.)
Please also look at :
http://red-branch.mit.edu/~jsmith/alpha/alpha.html
for other vendors AXP board.
If he can deliver what he is telling there this guy is a "GOD" ;-)
Unfortunatly he doesn't respond to email (like most people from "above")
Just my $0.02
Danny
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Timothy Potter
>DEC has some problems admitting that there is a low cost ALPHA board
>out there, but they do exist. The third one has some info on
>different suppliers, you local DEC rep. might not be very helpful.
>(Thanks to Michael K. Johnson who passed this information onto me.)
I had a chat with a salesman from DEC at a trade show the other day.
When asked about low cost ALPHA boards he claimed to know nothing about
it. In fact he tried to convince me to buy an Intel machine instead.
(-:
---
Tim Potter. Bachelor of Engineering / |
Bachelor of Information Technology, | "It's a trick - get an axe."
Australian National University. |
1LT Robert Kulagowski
>At DEC the boards with the 21066 are called low cost. The official name is
>AXPPCI 33. We buyied a system with this board eg from Scholz Electronics
>in Germany for about $7000 including Digital UNIX.
$7000 is not exactly what I would call "Low Cost", especially since
the motherboard price is quoted as being $1395 for the 233 Mhz option.
Here's been my experiences with the companies that are in the FAQ:
Digital: couldn't get them to admit that they have Alpha
motherboards for sale. Once I gave them the DEC part number they gave me
the same list of companies that are in the FAQ.
Nekotech: started out well, then got hung up on possible export
restrictions to Kuwait. Shouldn't have been a problem since mail for US
soldier's is handled by the US and not the Kuwaiti's. Seems to have died.
Garply: no more Alpha motherboards.
Carrera: Only sell the expensive "cabriolet" motherboard. Way out
of my price range.
Aspen: only sell motherboards that they've designed. Not known to
work with Linux.
SWT: sent mail to the "Info" address in the faq, got back a list of
pentium systems they sell.
So, sellers of AXPpci motherboards, anyone willing to sell me a 233
megahertz motherboard only and ship it to Kuwait? Sure don't want to wait
until I get back to the US to do something as simple as getting a
motherboard.
--
1LT Bob Kulagowski | GMT 011-965-487-8822 x5848 (Comm)
http://www.kuwait.army.mil/~rkulagow | + 3 318-791-5848 (DSN) 318-786-4222
Martin Frey
AXPPCI 33. We buyied a system with this board eg from Scholz Electronics
in Germany for about $7000 including Digital UNIX.
Martin Frey
--
Supercomputing Systems Ltd email: fr...@scs.ch
Martin Frey www: http://www.scs.ch/~frey
Technoparkstrasse 1 phone: ++41 (0)1 445 16 01 / 632 7641
CH-8005 Zurich fax: ++41 (0)1 445 16 10
Martin Frey
Stephen J Gaudet
Roel Lascano (rlas...@mystech.com) wrote:
: Where can I get information on the progress of the Alpha port? Where can I get
: a compatibility list? I'm very interested in running a Dec Alpha (and I'd be
: willing to attempt some porting.) Where can I get an Alpha?
Can't answer on progress for the Alpha port. However, I do carry the
hardware as follows:
DCG Computer's mother board pricing as 8/21/95
Type Speed Cache Processor Price SPECint/SPECfp
AXPpci33 233MHz 256kb 21066 $1,395 94 / 110
PC64 275MHz 2MB 21064a $4,295 189 / 262
Features:
AXPpci33 PC64
3 PCI slots 4 PCI slots
5 ISA slots 3 ISA
Embedded Fast SCSI-2 Embedded IDE
Embedded IDE
Both have two high speed serial ports and one bi-directional parallel
port.
*(one PCI/ISA slot shared on both AXPpci33 & PC64)
Mother boards have a one year warranty on all parts and labor. Standard
pc power supplies will work AXPpci33. However, the PC64 needs the new
3.3v type power supply.
The AXPpci33 has 20ns cache and the PC64 uses simm type 12ns and 15ns.
If you have any questions please contact me at any time.
Thank you
Steve
+1-603-421-1800
__________________________________________________________________
| Stephen Gaudet | Reseller of Digital Alpha based systems |
| DCG Computers | and motherboards running NT, OSF/1 & VMS |
| 35 Otterson Rd. | at affordable prices. |
| Londonderry, NH 03053 |------------------------------------------|
| ph:603-421-1800 fax:603-421-0911 e-mail:s...@world.std.com |
------------------------------------------------------------------
Kazimir Kylheku
1LT Robert Kulagowski <rkul...@emh3.kuwait.army.mil> wrote:
>In article <4364ig$s...@elna.ethz.ch>, Martin Frey <fr...@scs.ch> wrote:
>>AXPPCI 33. We buyied a system with this board eg from Scholz Electronics
>>in Germany for about $7000 including Digital UNIX.
>
>the motherboard price is quoted as being $1395 for the 233 Mhz option.
Umm, there is more to the system than just the motherboard. I wouldn't
take an Alpha with less than 64MB RAM. Let's just say that that costs $3000.
Now, I may want a 4GB hard disk. We are talking another $2K, let's say.
Then I want a decent video board and monitor. At _least_ $1500 bucks.
Furthermore, I want a real operating system, which means Digital Unix.
No idea how much that costs, but let's say that it's $1000 for the sake
of argument. Plus throw in $200 bucks for a some kind of case, etc.
Add that up:
Motherboard: $1400
64MB RAM: 3000
4GB Hard Disk: 2000
Video: 1500
Case, etc: 200
Total: $8100
I may have exaggerated some costs, but try to cut that down to $7K
_and_ have it shipped to Germany under that price.
Remember, we don't know what Martin Frey's system has! He didn't say
how much memory is in it, what the hard disk is like, or what kind of
video setup the workstation has.
Now, I _have_ friends who have computers consisting of a power supply
resting on a bench, and a motherboard sitting on a teflon or polyethylene
food cutting board right next to it. If that's your idea of a workstation,
maybe $7K is indeed too much!
[comp.os.linux.development removed---no such newsgroup]
--
Finger c2a...@keats.ugrad.cs.ubc.ca for PGP public key. Or contact
one of the public key servers -- the key id is 0xD3C7995D.
Microsoft users: crash test dummies?
Peter Dalgaard
>Can't answer on progress for the Alpha port. However, I do carry the
>hardware as follows:
>
>DCG Computer's mother board pricing as 8/21/95
>
>Type Speed Cache Processor Price SPECint/SPECfp
>AXPpci33 233MHz 256kb 21066 $1,395 94 / 110
>
>PC64 275MHz 2MB 21064a $4,295 189 / 262
>
Stephen,
I'm not likely to be buying from you (wrong end of world), but do yourself a
favor and see if systems built around the PC64 board will run the Linux
BLADE distribution or similar. That kind of fp/$ performance is very attractive
for some of us.
--
O_ ---- Peter Dalgaard
c/ /' --- Dept. of Biostatistics
( ) \( ) -- University of Copenhagen
~~~~~~~~~~ - (p...@kubism.ku.dk)
Stephen J Gaudet
Martin Frey (fr...@scs.ch) wrote:
: At DEC the boards with the 21066 are called low cost. The official name is
: AXPPCI 33. We buyied a system with this board eg from Scholz Electronics
: in Germany for about $7000 including Digital UNIX.
Uugh!, you paid to much! I have both flavors that DEC is doing a port on
the AXPpci33(noname) and PC64 using a 21064 chip.
DCG Computer's mother board pricing as 8/21/95
Type Speed Cache Processor Price SPECint/SPECfp
AXPpci33 233MHz 256kb 21066 $1,395 94 / 110
PC64 275MHz 2MB 21064a $4,295 189 / 262
Features:
AXPpci33 PC64 (cache is expandable to 8mb)
3 PCI slots 4 PCI slots
5 ISA slots 3 ISA
Embedded Fast SCSI-2 Embedded IDE
Embedded IDE
Both have two high speed serial ports and one bi-directional parallel
port.
*(one PCI/ISA slot shared on both)
Linus Torvalds
Peter Dalgaard <p...@kubism.ku.dk> wrote:
>s...@world.std.com (Stephen J Gaudet) wrote:
>
>>Can't answer on progress for the Alpha port. However, I do carry the
>>hardware as follows:
>>
>>
>>Type Speed Cache Processor Price SPECint/SPECfp
>>AXPpci33 233MHz 256kb 21066 $1,395 94 / 110
>>
>>PC64 275MHz 2MB 21064a $4,295 189 / 262
>
>favor and see if systems built around the PC64 board will run the Linux
>BLADE distribution or similar. That kind of fp/$ performance is very attractive
>for some of us.
Both the AXPpci33 and PC64 _will_ run linux, although I think the BLADE
distribution currently comes with a bootdisk only for the AXPpci33. But
both have linux support, and you can get linux for the PC64 (David M-T
runs linux on the AlphaPC64, and I'll do so myself within a week).
You'll have noticed that the PC64 is the much faster machine (more so
than the clockspeed would indicate): it has a larger internal cache
(16+16 vs 8+8) as well as a much better memory bus (not to mention the
larger external cache as well). It's a lot more expensive too 8)
Linus
James P. K. Gilb
Hello Roel
Roel Lascano (rlas...@mystech.com) wrote:
: Where can I get information on the progress of the Alpha port? Where can I get
: a compatibility list? I'm very interested in running a Dec Alpha (and I'd be
: willing to attempt some porting.) Where can I get an Alpha?
[Nice response on where to get hardware deleted]
For information on the port, I would suggest starting in these
two places:
1. Linux Journal - current issue has information on the Alpha
port and DEC's rationale for supporting it. Next two issues will also
have articles. Mail sa...@ssc.com or http://www.ssc.com.
2. http://www.azstarnet.com/~davidm/Linux-Alpha/FAQ.html
BTW: Thanks Stephen for the info on the boards. Is most of the
performance difference due to the cache size or is it because of the
extra things on the 21066 chip?
Oleg Zabluda
: Both the AXPpci33 and PC64 _will_ run linux, although I think the BLADE
: distribution currently comes with a bootdisk only for the AXPpci33. But
: both have linux support, and you can get linux for the PC64 (David M-T
: runs linux on the AlphaPC64, and I'll do so myself within a week).
: You'll have noticed that the PC64 is the much faster machine (more so
: than the clockspeed would indicate): it has a larger internal cache
: (16+16 vs 8+8) as well as a much better memory bus (not to mention the
: larger external cache as well). It's a lot more expensive too 8)
: Linus
Will Linux run on 21164 CPU in near future (a year or so)? Sorry I can't
name motherboard by name but in runs in such system as
AlphaStation 600 5/266. SPECnit/Specfp = 289/429.
Oleg.
David Mosberger-Tang
James> 2. http://www.azstarnet.com/~davidm/Linux-Alpha/FAQ.html
I'm afraid the Linux/Alpha home page moved again (the above URL will
point you the correct site, though). The correct URL is now:
http://www.azstarnet.com/~axplinux
If you stick with this URL, it should stay for a while. Sorry about
moving things so frequently, but I think the Linux/Alpha home page has
now found a permanent home.
And as always: if you have any corrections/new questions, please send
mail to axpl...@azstarnet.com.
Enjoy,
--david
Stephen J Gaudet
: >Can't answer on progress for the Alpha port. However, I do carry the
: >hardware as follows:
: >
: >DCG Computer's mother board pricing as 8/21/95
: >
: >Type Speed Cache Processor Price SPECint/SPECfp
: >AXPpci33 233MHz 256kb 21066 $1,395 94 / 110
: >
: >PC64 275MHz 2MB 21064a $4,295 189 / 262
: >
: Stephen,
: I'm not likely to be buying from you (wrong end of world), but do yourself a
: favor and see if systems built around the PC64 board will run the Linux
: BLADE distribution or similar. That kind of fp/$ performance is very attractive
: for some of us.
Hello Peter
I wouldn't of posted something that won't run Linux. Truth is the PC64
is a DEC motherboard and DEC is porting to it. Also I don't know if
anyone is going to the UNIX Expo in NY but, if so you see the PC64
running Linux. I was told that the 275Mhz processor tweeked up to 300MHz
did 30087 BOGO MIPS. Is that fast?
I must admit I don't know much about Linux, just what I'm told.
FYI, we have a new motherboard within Digital being tested for Linux
compatibility. This new motherboard is processor independent, runs DEC
Alpha, Intel Pentium, Power PC and MIPS.
Current DEC Alpha is the 21066-233, tweeked to run at 266MHz and a new
21064 will be released in the near future, with the 21164 due in late
December.
Cheers
Stephen J Gaudet
: Hello Roel
: Roel Lascano (rlas...@mystech.com) wrote:
: : Where can I get information on the progress of the Alpha port? Where can I get
: : a compatibility list? I'm very interested in running a Dec Alpha (and I'd be
: : willing to attempt some porting.) Where can I get an Alpha?
: [Nice response on where to get hardware deleted]
: For information on the port, I would suggest starting in these
: two places:
: 1. Linux Journal - current issue has information on the Alpha
: port and DEC's rationale for supporting it. Next two issues will also
: have articles. Mail sa...@ssc.com or http://www.ssc.com.
: 2. http://www.azstarnet.com/~davidm/Linux-Alpha/FAQ.html
: BTW: Thanks Stephen for the info on the boards. Is most of the
: performance difference due to the cache size or is it because of the
: extra things on the 21066 chip?
Hello James
Main difference between the chips is the data path between cpu, cache and
memory. The 21066 uses a 64-bit data path, the 21064 has 128-bit and the
21164 uses 256-bit data path.
The 21066 I'm told was to be sold as a low cost development system, which
it is. However, the down side is lack of robust performance that its
older brother the 21064 has.
ie: processor SPECint92 SPECfp92
21066-233 94 110
21064a-233 157 183
Same clock speed but BIG difference in performance. I have some good
news to report though. We have a low cost motherboard set into DEC being
tested for Linux compatibility on the 21066-233. This motherboard will
run 4 different processors, Alpha, Pentium, Power PC and MIPS.
Our low cost 21066-233 system tweeked to run at 266MHz is priced at $3995
with 32mb memory. If all goes well we should be shipping a 21064 in
30-to-60 days and a 21164 by years end.
Stephen J Gaudet
: In article <DEyHJ...@world.std.com>,
: Stephen J Gaudet <s...@world.std.com> wrote:
: >
: >Hello Peter
: >
: >I wouldn't of posted something that won't run Linux. Truth is the PC64
: >is a DEC motherboard and DEC is porting to it. Also I don't know if
: >anyone is going to the UNIX Expo in NY but, if so you see the PC64
: >running Linux. I was told that the 275Mhz processor tweeked up to 300MHz
: >did 30087 BOGO MIPS. Is that fast?
: Now I know the Alpha is a damn fast chip but I suspect there was a decimal
: point shifted here :-)
: It's probably 300.87.
: >
: >I must admit I don't know much about Linux, just what I'm told.
: >
: >FYI, we have a new motherboard within Digital being tested for Linux
: >compatibility. This new motherboard is processor independent, runs DEC
: >Alpha, Intel Pentium, Power PC and MIPS.
: This sounds interesting. Any idea how much this mb will sell for without
: the CPU ?
Hello Mike
You may be correct, because I did see these numbers myself. However,
after Tuesday Sept 19, I'll be at the UNIX show and I'll see the true
numbers with my own eyes.
Sorry can't sell the motherboard without the cpu chip, because I can't
buy them that way.