On Thu, 18 Jul 1996 14:41:23 -0700 Stan Sieler said:
>> His contention is that some of his systems (he manages multiple ones) cannot
>> use SCSI disks as ldev-1 so he is limited to 670mb (without HP-FL). Once
>> MPE/iX exceeds that limit he can't upgrade to the latest os version.
>
>A 935 and 925 can *supposedly* boot from SCSI, but only IF:
>   1) you have a SCSI controller (of course).  These are available for
>      relatively low prices remarketd (and, possibly, from HP?)
>   2) your computer's IODC firmware is at least revision 6 or later.
>
>#2 is the show stopper...if you have old firmware (like we do),
>you *CAN'T* order a new firmware chip and install it yourself...
>and I have serious doubts whether or not HP can/will actually do it for you
>for a fee.
 
This rings a bell, as we had to go through a similar song and dance.  The
firmware goes into the channel adapter (on a 9x0 machine) and is only needed
for the CA in the boot path.  When you upgrade this firmware, you also have
to update firmware in the HP-IB cards on that CA as well.  The former we did
purchase as a "firmware upgrade kit" (actually a board swap) and the latter
was covered under hardware support.  Delivery time on the CA firmware upgrade
was quoted as 90 days and was actually much longer.
 
Of course, if "something" happened to your channel adapter and you had to
place a service call, a CE can have one delivered in no time.
 
>BTW, when you first turn on the 925/935/825/835, you'll see a line reporting
>the firmware version.
 
And if it says Rev 6, you'll be waiting an *agonizingly* long time for the
system to boot (minutes).  The old firmware was blazingly fast in contrast.
 
Jeff Kell <[log in to unmask]>