================================================================================ Note 23.0 MicroVAX I->II upgrades No replies FURILO::JACKSON 248 lines 19-AUG-1985 11:31 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- +---------------+ +-----------------+ | d i g i t a l | | uNOTE # 023 | +---------------+ +-----------------+ +----------------------------------------------------+-----------------+ | Title: MicroVAX I to MicroVAX II Upgrade Issues | Date: 28-APR-85 | +----------------------------------------------------+-----------------+ | Originator: Mike Collins | Page 1 of 5 | +----------------------------------------------------+-----------------+ This MicroNote describes the hardware issues in upgrading from a MicroVAX I to a MicroVAX II. The Add-On and Upgrades group within Digital Equipment Corporation announced a formal upgrade kit at the time of the MicroVAX II announcement. For more information about this program contact a local DEC sales representative. This MicroNote is intended for those users who wish understand the issues in an upgrade. Reference MicroNote #22 for a detailed description of the differences between the processors of the MicroVAX I and MicroVAX II systems. Upgrading a MicroVAX I to a MicroVAX II is straightforward because the two systems share many common components. First of all the BA23 enclosure is used by both systems, this includes the backplane, power supply, control panel, and I/O patch panel. The 5 1/4" disk devices used on a MicroVAX I are also compatible with the MicroVAX II. Since I/O devices for both machines are Q-bus devices they are directly compatible with the new processor. The upgrade process does however involve replacing the processor, the memory, the 5 1/4" disk controller and the processor cabinet kit. Each of these upgrade issues is addressed in detail. An upgrade example is shown at the end of this MicroNote. THE PROCESSOR UPGRADE: The MicroVAX I CPU is made up of two quad modules, the memory controller ('MCT') and the data path ('DAP'). These two modules occupy slots 1 and 2 in the backplane. Both of these modules are replaced with a single quad module, the MicroVAX II CPU which must be placed in slot 1. The MicroVAX II CPU module includes 1 MB of memory and the MicroVAX 78132 floating point unit. Slot 2 previously used by the MicroVAX I is now available for expansion memory or other options. THE MEMORY UPGRADE: The memory system designed for the MicroVAX II is unique to that processor, therefore the Q-bus memories used in the MicroVAX I must be removed and replaced by the new type. Page 2 If the MicroVAX I being upgraded has only 1 MB of main memory then the processor and memory can both be replaced with the MicroVAX II CPU module. Additional memory may be added to a MicroVAX II CPU if necessary. Besides the 1 MB of on-board memory, the MicroVAX II CPU will support a maximum of 2 memory expansion boards. These additional boards must be placed immediately after the processor in slots 2 and 3 of the backplane. The memory modules communicate with the CPU over the C-D interconnect of the backplane and an over-the-top cable. A cable is shipped with each memory module. Figure 1 is an example of how the processor and memory boards are configured into a system. If the dual height memory expansion module is used (MS630-AA) it must be placed in the C-D side of the backplane. The memory modules may be placed in any order in slots 2 and 3. Table 2 lists the memory expansion options. WARNING Both the MicroVAX II CPU and MS630 memory expansion modules must be placed in backplane slots with the C-D interconnect. Damage may result if these modules are placed in backplanes with Q-bus signals on both the A/B and C/D sides. Table 2 - MS630 Memory Expansion Modules +----------+---------------+---------------+ | MEMORY | MEMORY SIZE | FORM FACTOR | +----------+---------------+---------------+ | MS630-AA | 1 Mbyte | Dual | +----------+---------------+---------------+ | MS630-BA | 2 Mbytes | Quad | +----------+---------------+---------------+ | MS630-BB | 4 Mbytes | Quad | +----------+---------------+---------------+ Figure 1 - Processor and Memory Configuration +-------------------------------------+ | +---------------------------------+ | 1 | | MicroVAX II CPU ========== | | | +---------------------| |----+ | +-----------------------| |------+ | +---------------------| |----+ | 2 | | MS630-B ========== | | | +---------------------| |----+ | +-----------------------| |<--------Memory Expansion | +-----| |----+ | Cable 3 | MS630-AA---->| ========== | | | +-----------------+ | +-------------------------------------+ 4 | | . | Additional slots | . | | 8 | | +-------------------------------------+ Page 3 THE RQDX DISK CONTROLLER UPGRADE: The RQDX1 5 1/4" disk controller used in MicroVAX I systems must be removed and replaced with the RQDX2 controller. This upgrade is necessary because the RQDX2 provides features not available on the RQDX1 and because the RQDX1 is incompatible with the MicroVAX II. The RQDX1 does not pass the interrupt acknowledge (IACK) or DMA grant signal (DMGO) to other modules which may be located after it in the backplane. Therefore it must always be the last module in a system. This restriction has been removed with the RQDX2, which does pass both of those signals. Both RQDX modules are capable of controlling 4 logical units. However the RQDX1 can only control a maximum of 2 fixed winchesters (RD5n type drives). Therefore the largest amount of storage that can be connected to an RQDX1 would be a combination of 2 RD5n type drives and an RX50, which counts as two logical units because it actually handles two 400KB floppies. The RQDX2 also controls 4 logical units but it knows how to control any combination of RDs and RX50s. Therefore the maximum amount of storage that can be connected to an RQDX2 would be four RD5n type drives. The RQDX1 is compatible with RX50 floppies (800KB), RD51 (11MB) and RD52 (31MB) disk drives. The RQDX2 is compatible with those drives but is also capable of controlling RD53 (71MB) drives. THE CABINET KIT UPGRADE: The MicroVAX I cabinet kit is incompatible with the MicroVAX II, therefore the cabinet kit used in the MicroVAX II, BA23 based system must be used. The part number is CK-KA630-AB. Both cabinet kits have one serial line connector in order to communicate with the VAX console device. The MicroVAX I cabinet kit uses the standard 25-pin, D-subminiature RS232 connector. The MicroVAX II cabinet kit uses a different type of connector. It is a 9-pin D-subminiature connector and will therefore require a different cable from the patch panel to the console device. The appropriate cable is part number BCC08. OPERATING SYSTEM UPGRADE: Once the hardware has been upgraded it is also necessary to have the appropriate system software which will support the MicroVAX II. Table 3 lists the initial versions of MicroVMS, ULTRIX-32m and VAXELN which support the MicroVAX II. Table 3 - System Software Support +-----------------+----------------------------------+ | System Software | Version with MicroVAX II Support | +-----------------+----------------------------------+ | MicroVMS | V4.1m or later | | ULTRIX-32m | V1.1 or later | | VAXELN | V2.0 or later | +-----------------+----------------------------------+ Page 4 Many software layered products support the MicroVAX II. Consult the appropriate Software Product Description (SPD) to verify if the current version of the layered product is supported. UPGRADE EXAMPLE: The following example illustrates the changes made to a MicroVAX I system to upgrade it to a MicroVAX II system. The diagrams represent the modules placed in the BA23 backplane. Both systems have a CPU, 2MB of memory, a DHV11 8-line asynchronous multiplexer, a DEQNA Ethernet controller and an RQDX 5 1/4" disk controller. MicroVAX I System MicroVAX II System +---------------------+ +---------------------+ 1 | KD32 CPU - MCT | 1 | KA630-AA | +---------------------+ +----------+----------+ 2 | KD32 CPU - DAP | 2 | DEQNA | MS630-AA | +---------------------+ +----------+----------+ 3 | MSV11-QA (1MB) | 3 | RQDX2 | +---------------------+ +---------------------+ 4 | MSV11-QA (1MB) | 4 | DHV11 | +---------------------+ +---------------------+ 5 | DHV11 | 5 | | +----------+----------+ +---------------------+ 6 | DEQNA | G7272 | 6 | | +----------+----------+ +---------------------+ 7 | RQDX1 | 7 | | +---------------------+ +---------------------+ 8 | | 8 | | +---------------------+ +---------------------+ Comments: The 2 modules of the MicroVAX I CPU and the two quad memory boards (MSV11-QAs) were replaced by the KA630-AA and one MS630-AA. The DHV11 and DEQNA are compatible with both processors, therefore they were not replaced and remained in the system. The RQDX1 controller is incompatible with the MicroVAX II, therefore it is replaced with the RQDX2. Any 5 1/4" disk (RX50, RD51 and RD52) used on the MicroVAX I is compatible with the RQDX2 on the MicroVAX II. The RQDX1 controller must occupy the last slot in a system. The RQDX2 controller is located before the DHV11 in the upgraded system to emphasize the point that it is not required to be the last module in the system. The MicroVAX I system required a G7272 grant continuity card in slot 6 in order to make the system work properly. This was not necessary in the upgraded MicroVAX II system because there was an empty dual-height slot next to the MS630-AA memory module. This illustrates the point Page 5 that the dual height slot next to an MS630-AA is a valid Q-bus slot and can be occupied by any compatible, dual-height option. The cabinet kits for the two systems are not shown in the diagrams, but the one used for the MicroVAX I must be replaced by the cabinet kit for the MicroVAX II, part number CK-KA630-AB. The serial line cable from the patch panel to the terminal must also change. The cable of the MicroVAX I system must be replaced by a BCC08 cable.