19th March 2026 - update regarding hardware changes and upgrades The DEC AlphaStation 600 has the new memory installed for a grand total of 1GB. That is the maximum for this hardware and I have to tell ya .... that is a ton for 1997. Also I installed a Symbios Logic HBA thus : Snazzy DIGITAL branded Symbios Logic 53C875 HBA with 100Mbit ethernet This allows me to also install a HP 4mm DDS4 DAT tape drive. Here is the hardware config seen from the firmware :
>>>init
ff.fe.fd.fc.fb.fa.f9.f8.f7.f6.f5.
ef.ee.ed.f4.ec.eb.
ea.e9.e8.e7.e6.e5.e4.
Digital AlphaStation 600 5/266 Console V6.9-5
built on Oct 10 1998 at 14:22:57
>>>show config
Firmware
SRM Console: V6.9-5
ARC Console: 4.57
PALcode: VMS PALcode V1.20-0, OSF PALcode V1.22-0
SROM Version: V1.2
Processor
DECchip (tm) 21164-5 Pass 4 266 MHz 96 KBytes SCache
2 MB BCache
CIA ASIC Pass 2
MEMORY
Memory Size = 1024Mb
Bank Size/Sets Base Addr Speed
------ ---------- --------- -----
00 256Mb/2 000000000 Fast
01 256Mb/2 010000000 Fast
02 256Mb/2 020000000 Fast
03 256Mb/2 030000000 Fast
BCache Size = 2Mb
Tested Memory = 1024Mbytes
PCI Bus
Bus 00 Slot 07: Digital ZLXp Graphics Controller
Bus 00 Slot 08: DECchip 21050 PCI to PCI Bridge
Bus 01 Slot 00: DECchip 21040 Network Controller
ewa0.0.0.1000.0 08-00-2B-E7-D4-57
Bus 01 Slot 01: ISP1020 Scsi Controller
pka0.7.0.1001.0 SCSI Bus ID 7
dka500.5.0.1001.0 RRD45
Bus 01 Slot 02: ISP1020 Scsi Controller
pkb0.7.0.1002.0 SCSI Bus ID 7
dkb100.1.0.1002.0 SEAGATE ST336704LSUN
dkb200.2.0.1002.0 SEAGATE ST336704LSUN
dkb300.3.0.1002.0 SEAGATE ST336704LSUN
dkb400.4.0.1002.0 SEAGATE ST318404LSUN
Bus 00 Slot 09: DECchip 21152 PCI to PCI Bridge
Bus 02 Slot 04: Vendor: 1000 Device: f
Bus 02 Slot 05: Vendor: 1022 Device: 2000
Bus 00 Slot 10: Intel 8275EB PCI to Eisa Bridge
EISA Bus Modules (installed)
EISA/ISA NVR configuration
SLOT Module
1 ISA2000
>>>
The device "RRD45" is the 4mm DDS4 tape drive and thus far it
seem to work great.
From late February ... For the moment the DEC AlphaStation 600 is sitting on top of an old Sun FCAL array. Both are heavy. Connected with a nice fat SCSI cable to a Sun Storage SCSI disk array with four disks in there. One of them has Tru64 UNIX and another has OpenBSD. Both boot and run but I only have zero clue what to do with the Tru64 stuff. It boots and sits there. 1699193 Mar 2 14:29 DEC_AlphaStation_600_1024x1024.png
I ordered a whole pile of memory modules. At the moment I have some 16MB parts in there. Enough for 128MB of memory total. Just barely enough to do tests and get OpenBSD running. Not enough to make it run anything really useful. I did try to compile OpenSSL and ran out of memory. Yup. I need memory. All that I can get. 1216535 Mar 2 14:21 DEC_Alpha_DRAM_module_part_number.jpg
dumb idea :
If I could find an old paper terminal I would just love to watch it
spit out fan fold paper. The DEC LA120 was a joy to use back in the
1980s. Compared to punch cards it was luxury! Also it was easy to go
dumpster diving into the terminal room trash can to see what others
were doing.
317049 Mar 2 14:21 DEC_LA120-1_terminal.jpg
Yes I played Crowthers Collossal CAVE on that terminal. I had that
running on a HoneyWell CP6/DPS8 mainframe and the only editor I had
for the FORTRAN sources was something almost like "ed". Almost.
Good News ... The new memory arrived!
There was joy and singing when the 32MB memory parts finally arrived.
32MB_mem_for_DEC_Alpha.png
The really safe way to proceed with this old machine would be to only
replace the existing 16MB modules. In the exact same physical locations.
That gives me the confidence that the memory hardware works and the
variable is the new memory. Close inspection of the memory shows evidence
that it is all used. Gently.
It took me a solid ninety minutes to get just eight of the new 32MB memory
modules installed. Mostly because I was going very slowly and gently with
a cautious hand to not bend or snap anything. Spare parts are not just on
the shelf anywhere!
The results look fantastic :
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
Memory Size = 256Mb
Bank Size/Sets Base Addr Speed
------ ---------- --------- -----
00 256Mb/2 000000000 Fast
BCache Size = 2Mb
Tested Memory = 256Mbytes
PCI Bus
Bus 00 Slot 07: Digital ZLXp Graphics Controller
Bus 00 Slot 08: DECchip 21050 PCI to PCI Bridge
Bus 01 Slot 00: DECchip 21040 Network Controller
ewa0.0.0.1000.0 08-00-2B-E7-D4-57
Bus 01 Slot 01: ISP1020 Scsi Controller
pka0.7.0.1001.0 SCSI Bus ID 7
dka500.5.0.1001.0 RRD45
Bus 01 Slot 02: ISP1020 Scsi Controller
pkb0.7.0.1002.0 SCSI Bus ID 7
dkb100.1.0.1002.0 SEAGATE ST336704LSUN
dkb200.2.0.1002.0 SEAGATE ST336704LSUN
dkb300.3.0.1002.0 SEAGATE ST336704LSUN
dkb400.4.0.1002.0 SEAGATE ST318404LSUN
Bus 00 Slot 10: Intel 8275EB PCI to Eisa Bridge
EISA Bus Modules (installed)
EISA/ISA NVR configuration
SLOT Module
1 ISA2000
Someday I may get my hands on something really old but for now the circa 1997 DEC AlphaStation 600 is the cool old machine. I also have a fully working HP Kayak XU from 1998 and that thing is a dual Pentium II unit with multiple SCSI controllers and 768MB of ram. It runs FreeBSD just fine. Who knows what the future holds? More legends of the past : 1448999 Mar 2 14:21 DEC_PDP8_der_blinken_lights.png Just watch the blinken lights and keep yer filthy hands in your pockets! Dennis Clarke
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