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Note 23.0 MicroVAX I->II upgrades No replies
FURILO::JACKSON 248 lines 19-AUG-1985 11:31
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+---------------+ +-----------------+
| 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.
