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  • AlphaServer ES47 CPU upgrade?

    From Matt Turner@21:1/5 to All on Tue Jan 31 14:00:06 2023
    I've got a dual 1 GHz AlphaServer ES47, and I bought a dual 1.15 GHz module (part number 54-30252-KR). When installed, the new CPU module still just runs at 1 GHz.

    I removed the CPU heatsinks from the old and new modules and discovered that all four EV7 CPUs are actually marked as "1150 MHz".

    I've been through about every MBM> command and can't find anything that looks like it could configure the CPU frequency.

    Running the UNIX command 'strings' on the ES47 firmware image, I see things that indicate that there are options somewhere for controlling the CPU frequency.

    This string indicates that there's a "CMM" menu with relevant options:

    z - connect to EV7 com port
    quiet_mode enabled
    f - set frequency
    a - send a test alert
    EV7 COM%d port passthru mode on CPU%d, use <esc><esc>CMM to return.
    [...]

    [...]
    CMM Commands:
    [...]
    f <ev7 freq in Mhz> [ip ratio [io ratio [zbox ratio]]]

    Also:

    /tyCo/%d
    /tyCo/1
    Starting PPP to CMM %d, IP: %s, line: %s

    and

    192000
    cmm_serial_baud

    So there appears to be some way of connecting to the CMM via a serial console?

    show cmm_serial_baud
    cmm_serial_baud 192000


    Additionally, there are these strings:

    EV7 clock frequency set to %d MHz on next power cycle.
    ev7_clocks: M reg: %x, N reg: %x, YDIV reg: %x
    [...]
    Setting EV7 freqency to %d MHz on the next power-on
    Setting EV7 IP Clock Ratio to %d.%d on the next power-on
    Setting EV7 IO Clock Ratio to %d.%d on the next power-on
    Setting EV7 ZBOX Clock Ratio to %d.%d on the next power-on
    SetFreq
    [...]
    Setting CPU(or IO) 1.5 voltage to %d mV on the next power-on
    Setting Term voltage to %d on the next power-on
    Setting RIMM voltage to %d on the next power-on
    Setting EV79 Core voltage to %d on the next power-on
    SetVolts
    [...]
    Server Management has detected a memory/processor frequency combination that is not supported by Hewlett Packard. It is recommended that you contact hp support to correct this mis-match to guarantee highest system availability.

    Does anyone know how to configure the CPU frequency or to enter the "CMM>" menu?

    Thanks,
    Matt

    --- SoupGate-Win32 v1.05
    * Origin: fsxNet Usenet Gateway (21:1/5)
  • From Phil Howell@21:1/5 to Matt Turner on Fri Feb 3 17:00:45 2023
    On Wednesday, 1 February 2023 at 9:00:07 am UTC+11, Matt Turner wrote:
    I've got a dual 1 GHz AlphaServer ES47, and I bought a dual 1.15 GHz module (part number 54-30252-KR). When installed, the new CPU module still just runs at 1 GHz.

    I removed the CPU heatsinks from the old and new modules and discovered that all four EV7 CPUs are actually marked as "1150 MHz".

    I've been through about every MBM> command and can't find anything that looks like it could configure the CPU frequency.

    Running the UNIX command 'strings' on the ES47 firmware image, I see things that indicate that there are options somewhere for controlling the CPU frequency.

    This string indicates that there's a "CMM" menu with relevant options:

    z - connect to EV7 com port
    quiet_mode enabled
    f - set frequency
    a - send a test alert
    EV7 COM%d port passthru mode on CPU%d, use <esc><esc>CMM to return.
    [...]

    [...]
    CMM Commands:
    [...]
    f <ev7 freq in Mhz> [ip ratio [io ratio [zbox ratio]]]

    Also:

    /tyCo/%d
    /tyCo/1
    Starting PPP to CMM %d, IP: %s, line: %s

    and

    192000
    cmm_serial_baud

    So there appears to be some way of connecting to the CMM via a serial console?

    show cmm_serial_baud
    cmm_serial_baud 192000


    Additionally, there are these strings:

    EV7 clock frequency set to %d MHz on next power cycle.
    ev7_clocks: M reg: %x, N reg: %x, YDIV reg: %x
    [...]
    Setting EV7 freqency to %d MHz on the next power-on
    Setting EV7 IP Clock Ratio to %d.%d on the next power-on
    Setting EV7 IO Clock Ratio to %d.%d on the next power-on
    Setting EV7 ZBOX Clock Ratio to %d.%d on the next power-on
    SetFreq
    [...]
    Setting CPU(or IO) 1.5 voltage to %d mV on the next power-on
    Setting Term voltage to %d on the next power-on
    Setting RIMM voltage to %d on the next power-on
    Setting EV79 Core voltage to %d on the next power-on
    SetVolts
    [...]
    Server Management has detected a memory/processor frequency combination that
    is not supported by Hewlett Packard. It is recommended that you contact hp support to correct this mis-match to guarantee highest system availability.

    Does anyone know how to configure the CPU frequency or to enter the "CMM>" menu?

    Thanks,
    Matt
    Since you can get to the MBM prompt from SRM with <esc> <esc> MBM
    you could try <esc> <esc> CMM

    For any serial connection you will have to find the right IP address
    using SHOW NET from the MBM prompt and telnet to it on port 23

    Is it worth it for a 15% speed increase?

    Phil

    --- SoupGate-Win32 v1.05
    * Origin: fsxNet Usenet Gateway (21:1/5)
  • From willh@21:1/5 to Matt Turner on Tue Feb 7 02:01:01 2023
    On Tuesday, January 31, 2023 at 10:00:07 PM UTC, Matt Turner wrote:
    I've got a dual 1 GHz AlphaServer ES47, and I bought a dual 1.15 GHz module (part number 54-30252-KR). When installed, the new CPU module still just runs at 1 GHz.

    I removed the CPU heatsinks from the old and new modules and discovered that all four EV7 CPUs are actually marked as "1150 MHz".

    I've been through about every MBM> command and can't find anything that looks like it could configure the CPU frequency.

    Running the UNIX command 'strings' on the ES47 firmware image, I see things that indicate that there are options somewhere for controlling the CPU frequency.

    This string indicates that there's a "CMM" menu with relevant options:

    z - connect to EV7 com port
    quiet_mode enabled
    f - set frequency
    a - send a test alert
    EV7 COM%d port passthru mode on CPU%d, use <esc><esc>CMM to return.
    [...]

    [...]
    CMM Commands:
    [...]
    f <ev7 freq in Mhz> [ip ratio [io ratio [zbox ratio]]]

    Also:

    /tyCo/%d
    /tyCo/1
    Starting PPP to CMM %d, IP: %s, line: %s

    and

    192000
    cmm_serial_baud

    So there appears to be some way of connecting to the CMM via a serial console?

    show cmm_serial_baud
    cmm_serial_baud 192000


    Additionally, there are these strings:

    EV7 clock frequency set to %d MHz on next power cycle.
    ev7_clocks: M reg: %x, N reg: %x, YDIV reg: %x
    [...]
    Setting EV7 freqency to %d MHz on the next power-on
    Setting EV7 IP Clock Ratio to %d.%d on the next power-on
    Setting EV7 IO Clock Ratio to %d.%d on the next power-on
    Setting EV7 ZBOX Clock Ratio to %d.%d on the next power-on
    SetFreq
    [...]
    Setting CPU(or IO) 1.5 voltage to %d mV on the next power-on
    Setting Term voltage to %d on the next power-on
    Setting RIMM voltage to %d on the next power-on
    Setting EV79 Core voltage to %d on the next power-on
    SetVolts
    [...]
    Server Management has detected a memory/processor frequency combination that
    is not supported by Hewlett Packard. It is recommended that you contact hp support to correct this mis-match to guarantee highest system availability.

    Does anyone know how to configure the CPU frequency or to enter the "CMM>" menu?

    Thanks,
    Matt

    Change Frequency
    call cli_getFreq
    call cli_setFreq 1150 15 30 30
    call cli_setFreq 1000 15 30 30
    call cli_setFreq 1300 15 30 30

    --- SoupGate-Win32 v1.05
    * Origin: fsxNet Usenet Gateway (21:1/5)
  • From Matt Turner@21:1/5 to Phil Howell on Fri Feb 10 19:40:25 2023
    On Friday, February 3, 2023 at 8:00:46 PM UTC-5, Phil Howell wrote:
    Since you can get to the MBM prompt from SRM with <esc> <esc> MBM
    you could try <esc> <esc> CMM

    No such luck (tried that already).

    For any serial connection you will have to find the right IP address
    using SHOW NET from the MBM prompt and telnet to it on port 23

    Here's my `show net`:

    show net
    Cab Drw Module IP Address Parent IP
    0 0 MBM 10.0.0.1 0.0.0.0
    0 0 CMM0 10.0.1.0 10.0.0.1
    0 0 CPU0 10.0.1.1 10.0.1.0
    0 0 CPU1 10.0.1.2 10.0.1.0
    0 0 PMUS 10.253.0.1
    - - DHCP 10.253.0.1-253
    - - VMS 10.253.0.254

    On the management LAN, I can telnet to 10.0.0.1 on port 23 to access MBM (the same as if attached with a null-modem cable to the MBM/console port on the top of the machine).

    I can telnet to 10.0.0.1 on port 323 to access the system console on CPU0 (the same as if you `connect` to a partition from MBM). telneting to 10.0.1.1 on port 23 does the same.

    I can telnet to 10.0.0.1 on port 322 to access the vxWorks shell (the same as if you use the `shell` command at the MBM> prompt).

    But from none of these does <esc><esc>CMM appear to do anything. telneting to 10.0.1.0 (CMM0) times out.

    US Patent 6,973,517 ("PARTITION FORMATION USING MICROPROCESSORS IN A MULTIPROCESSOR COMPUTER SYSTEM") describes the hardware design of the AlphaServer Marvel family. Section 39 of the patent says:

    The MBM connects to the LAN, but the CMM does not.
    The MBM enables proxy arp for each of the 4 PPP links. It
    configures host routes for each of the links. Packons [sic] on the
    LAN destined for the CMM are received by the MBM and
    forwarded within the IP stack to the appropriate CMM.
    The EV7s are never UDP sources or destinations, so
    forwarding is only provided for the CMMs.
    The MBM also provides the forwarding of CMM request [sic]
    to the LAN.
    The PPP interface supports UDP, TFTP, PING, and the
    SM protocol, and does not support TCP or Telnet. SM
    private LAN broadcasts are not sent to the CMM.

    I take that to mean that it is expected to not be able to telnet to a CMM, but I don't know what you should do instead.

    Is it worth it for a 15% speed increase?

    Worth what? Is working a jigsaw puzzle worth it? :)

    --- SoupGate-Win32 v1.05
    * Origin: fsxNet Usenet Gateway (21:1/5)
  • From Matt Turner@21:1/5 to willh on Fri Feb 10 19:22:12 2023
    On Tuesday, February 7, 2023 at 5:01:02 AM UTC-5, willh wrote:
    On Tuesday, January 31, 2023 at 10:00:07 PM UTC, Matt Turner wrote:
    I've got a dual 1 GHz AlphaServer ES47, and I bought a dual 1.15 GHz module (part number 54-30252-KR). When installed, the new CPU module still just runs at 1 GHz.

    I removed the CPU heatsinks from the old and new modules and discovered that all four EV7 CPUs are actually marked as "1150 MHz".

    I've been through about every MBM> command and can't find anything that looks like it could configure the CPU frequency.

    Running the UNIX command 'strings' on the ES47 firmware image, I see things that indicate that there are options somewhere for controlling the CPU frequency.

    This string indicates that there's a "CMM" menu with relevant options:

    z - connect to EV7 com port
    quiet_mode enabled
    f - set frequency
    a - send a test alert
    EV7 COM%d port passthru mode on CPU%d, use <esc><esc>CMM to return.
    [...]

    [...]
    CMM Commands:
    [...]
    f <ev7 freq in Mhz> [ip ratio [io ratio [zbox ratio]]]

    Also:

    /tyCo/%d
    /tyCo/1
    Starting PPP to CMM %d, IP: %s, line: %s

    and

    192000
    cmm_serial_baud

    So there appears to be some way of connecting to the CMM via a serial console?

    show cmm_serial_baud
    cmm_serial_baud 192000


    Additionally, there are these strings:

    EV7 clock frequency set to %d MHz on next power cycle.
    ev7_clocks: M reg: %x, N reg: %x, YDIV reg: %x
    [...]
    Setting EV7 freqency to %d MHz on the next power-on
    Setting EV7 IP Clock Ratio to %d.%d on the next power-on
    Setting EV7 IO Clock Ratio to %d.%d on the next power-on
    Setting EV7 ZBOX Clock Ratio to %d.%d on the next power-on
    SetFreq
    [...]
    Setting CPU(or IO) 1.5 voltage to %d mV on the next power-on
    Setting Term voltage to %d on the next power-on
    Setting RIMM voltage to %d on the next power-on
    Setting EV79 Core voltage to %d on the next power-on
    SetVolts
    [...]
    Server Management has detected a memory/processor frequency combination that
    is not supported by Hewlett Packard. It is recommended that you contact hp
    support to correct this mis-match to guarantee highest system availability.

    Does anyone know how to configure the CPU frequency or to enter the "CMM>" menu?

    Thanks,
    Matt
    Change Frequency
    call cli_getFreq
    call cli_setFreq 1150 15 30 30
    call cli_setFreq 1000 15 30 30
    call cli_setFreq 1300 15 30 30

    Thanks a ton!

    call cli_setFreq 1150 15 30 30
    ~CLI-W-(tCLImodem) Setting EV7 freqency to 1150 MHz on the next power-on

    ~CLI-W-(tCLImodem) Setting EV7 IP Clock Ratio to 1.5 on the next power-on

    ~CLI-W-(tCLImodem) Setting EV7 IO Clock Ratio to 3.0 on the next power-on

    ~CLI-W-(tCLImodem) Setting EV7 ZBOX Clock Ratio to 3.0 on the next power-on

    cli_setFreq return value = 0
    call cli_getFreq
    Board EV7 Freq IP Ratio (MHz) IO Ratio (MHz) ZBOX Ratio (MHz)

    0 1150 MHz 1.5 (383 MHz) 3.0 (191 MHz) 3.0 (383 MHz) cli_getFreq return value = 0

    I found exactly one reference to "cli_getFreq" in "HP AlphaServer GS1280/ES80/ES47 - DUO/CPU Speed Check" (https://support.hpe.com/hpesc/public/docDisplay?docId=c02230996) and no references to cli_setFreq online.

    I did see both functions when I disassembled the firmware, but didn't try calling cli_setFreq before.

    How did you know about this?

    FWIW, my CPUs are now running happily at 1150 MHz. I tried 1300 MHz, but that requires PC1066 RAM which I don't have. For posterity, here's the message I see when powering on the partition:

    Running test 10, Initialize RAMBUS ... on 2 EV7s


    Server Management has detected a memory/processor frequency combination that is not supported by Hewlett Packard. It is recommended that you contact hp support to correct this mis-match to guarantee highest system availability.

    [2023/02/11 02:46:36]
    ~DIA-W-(pco_00) Test 10 [Initialize RAMBUS] failed on cpu [NS: 0 EW: 0] which is cab:00 drw:0 cpu:0
    BEGIN DIAGNOSTIC TEST FAILURE INFO BEGIN
    Test target cabinet:00 drawer:0 CPU0 Serial Num:JA41601098
    test number: 10 (hex) [Initialize RAMBUS]
    test status: 03
    rsvd1: 00
    result length: 003e
    revision: V1.0-31
    error number: 01 -- Timing Range in RIMM invalid or freq set incorrectly
    rsvd2: 00
    error format: 01
    severity code: 01
    FRU1: 0
    FRU2: 0
    FRU3: 0
    FRU4: 0
    P1: 00000000.00000012 Expected SPD value
    P2: 00000000.00000013 Actual SPD value
    P3: 00000000.0004041b Address in RAM memory
    P4: 00000000.00000000 (null)
    P5: 00000000.00000000 (null)
    P6: 00000000.00000000 (null)
    P7: 00000000.00000000 (null)
    P8: 00000000.00000000 (null)
    FRU suspect: RIMM - check all RIMMs
    FRU extra: Mem RIMM cab:00 drw:0 CPU0
    END DIAGNOSTIC TEST FAILURE INFO END
    ~CLI-F-(tCLImodem) Server Manager response fatal error
    [2023/02/11 02:46:37]
    ~DIA-W-(pco_00) Disabled: Memory on cab:00 drw:0 CPU:0


    Server Management has detected a memory/processor frequency combination that is not supported by Hewlett Packard. It is recommended that you contact hp support to correct this mis-match to guarantee highest system availability.


    Separately, do you happen to know how to change the fan speeds (they're incredibly loud at 100%) and enable the RAID memory option?

    For fans, I see the following in the strings output:

    Fan RPM Rsp
    Set Fan Speed Rsp
    Failed to get fan RPMs
    Failed to set fan speed
    _t2p_unk_fan_ctr
    _g_fanList
    _g_fanFault
    _envmon_maxAllPSFans
    _envmon_maxAllFans
    _envmon_fans
    _envmon_fanVsTemp
    _envmon_fanTest
    _envmon_enableFanCheck
    _envgrp_setFanSpeed
    _envgrp_getFanRpm
    _env_SetSmallFanSpeed
    _env_SetPSFanSpeed
    _env_SetLM80FanDivisors
    _env_SetFanSpeed
    _env_PollFans
    _env_InitFanSpeed
    _env_GetPresFans
    _env_GetPresFan
    _env_GetNumOfFans
    _env_GetNumOfFanSpeeds
    _env_GetFanRPM
    _env_GetFanName
    _env_GetCurrFanSpeed

    But grepping for RAID doesn't produce much that looks compelling:
    %6iMB (exclude RAID)
    Disabled RAID (remap)
    Disabled: RAID (remap) on cab:%02X drw:%X CPU:%x
    RAID channel Test
    RAID RIMM failure during levelize
    S_ev7diags_RAID_MISMATCH
    RIMM - incapable of RAID
    Single bit error(s) RAID RIMM. J%d
    Warning Zbox%d Raid Remap
    Ev7 not capable of RAID
    _bcd_RAID_RIMM_Jnumber
    _RAID_RIMM_Jnumber

    Thanks a bunch!
    Matt

    --- SoupGate-Win32 v1.05
    * Origin: fsxNet Usenet Gateway (21:1/5)