From: dlucy@sandr.COM (Doug Lucy)
Subject: Re: Everex Step MP anybody?
Organization: S&R Software, Inc.
Date: Mon, 09 Nov 1992 17:33:02 GMT
Keywords: MP

In article <1992Nov08.040015.4766@jho.com>
  john@jho.com (John Ho) writes:

> Anybody has experience with the Everex Step MP multi-processor
> 486s running SCO-MPX software?

I've just received some replies from my similar question on
biz.sco.opendesktop. I've re-posted those replies and two earlier
tidbits below.

> From: Ed Cooley <openage.com!edc@uunet>
> Subject: HW questions for new ODT 2 install
> Date: Fri, 6 Nov 1992 8:45:58 -0500 (EST)
> Message-Id:  <9211060846.aa25854@openage.COM>
> 
> Netters,
> 
> > I'm putting together the design for a new development machine that
> > will be running SCO ODT 2 and supporting less than 8 users directly.
> > I'd like to explore some new h/w configurations with this machine
> > (I'll be working with it constantly and initial downtime due to
> > re-config and problems is acceptable).
> 
> > I'm considering the Everex Step Cube to try out EISA and keep the
> > possibility of adding MPX in the future.
> 
> > 1. Any big problems or limitations with the Cube?
> 
> We make a habit here of not disseminating negative information 
> about hardware, but in this case I feel it necessary to provide 
> you with an extreme warning concerning the Everex Step MP with 
> customer protection in mind.  Everex has not seen fit to 
> disseminate this information or notify owners of these machines 
> in an effective manner.  Although the machine has been on 
> manufacturing hold for some time.
> 
> Everex produced two different MP Cubes, one with an ISA bus, and 
> one with an EISA bus.  The ISA model is now discontinued.  Open 
> Age representatives did not have the opportunity to work with an 
> ISA model, but we had an extremely difficult experience with two 
> EISA models of this machine.  Let me explain further.
> 
> Today, even after the machine has been advertised for 10-12 
> months in national magazines, Everex has what I would call SEVERE 
> problems with the manufacturing process of the Corollary base set 
> boards, which has resulted in EISA operation that we would deem 
> questionable at best.  In fairness, I will point out that some 
> EISA boards appear to work correctly in the machine.  
> Unforunately, we were forced to try FOUR different base board 
> sets (primary processor and I/O board) in each of these machines. 
> Operational success of the EISA boards we were using changed with 
> the wind every time we changed board sets.  
> 
> The customer has since returned these two machines and about 
> $50,000 worth of other equipment on our suggestion.  Although we 
> were fortunate enough to meet a very helpful local Everex rep, 
> Steve Sundman, we found the Everex Advanced Systems Group to be 
> ill-informed and unorganized.  They try to handle telephone 
> support through ordinary channels, and there is very little 
> knowledge pertaining to third-party products.  Although, they are 
> eager to tell you everything "should" work.  There are NO lists 
> of compatible products, and even Everex reps are not sure which 
> EISA products work in this machine.  We specifically used the DPT 
> PM2012B EISA SCSI caching controller, and the Racal-Datacom 
> ES3210 EISA Ethernet adapter.  Since Everex wanted to OEM the DPT 
> adapter they have applied significant effort towards making the 
> the DPT adapter work, but after 4 base board sets manufactured 
> by two different Everex subcontractors, we still were unable to 
> verify proper controller operation as late as last month.  Everex 
> reps we knew did not even know what the Racal ES3210 or HP 
> Ethertwist/32 boards were, let alone whether or not they would 
> work.  In fact the Racal board never did work properly in either 
> machine.  You will find a general lack of knowledge within Everex 
> as to what products are even compatible with SCO, and to which 
> products are available.  This is no reflection on the individuals 
> within their Advanced Systems Group or Engineering departments, 
> but it does reflect badly on their dedication to SCO products and 
> their ability to communicate.
> 
> Symptoms of these problems were most obvious.  The machine would 
> continuously kernel PANIC and immediately halt - continuously.  
> We were hard-pressed to establish a few hours of uptime with 
> these boxes, let alone days or weeks.  Thankfully, the boxes 
> actually did work in multi-processor mode, but they did not when 
> we first received them until we.... you guessed it, swapped the 
> base board set.
> 
> There will be those who will say that their Step MP Cubes operate 
> fine, and we are extremely happy for them.  Our advice however is 
> that if you decide to buy one of these machines, first decide 
> which EISA boards you want to use.  Then, call the Advanced 
> Systems Group in California and pin them to the wall to address 
> compatibility on each and every board you want to add.  As 
> Technical Manager here, I would even go so far as to say you 
> should have the General Manager at the Advanced Systems Group 
> sign a document stating the machine will work in an approved 
> configuration.  We have slowly collected names and phone numbers 
> of key Everex ASG individuals if you need access to this 
> information. 
> 
> > 2. Which model of the Cube can take multiprocessors?
> 
> > Since this is my first experience in designing around the EISA bus,
> > I'm worried about which cards will work and play well with EISA and
> > SCO.
> 
> We have installed many different multi-processor machines, 
> specifically Compaq, DEC, and others.  Most or all are available 
> with an EISA bus, and we would suggest that you spend a little 
> more money to purchase one of these machines due to the 
> compatibility and performance they offer.  ODT 2.0 has a hardware 
> compatibility guide listing many EISA products that will work.  
> Feel free to e-mail myself or Paul FIscher if you would like 
> specific compatibility information.
> 
> > 3. Which EISA SCSI cards work well with ODT 2? (yes, I've got the h/w
> >    compatibility guide). Performance is not the biggest issue; I'm
> >    willing to trade 20% performance for ease of installation and
> >    configuration.
> 
> > The machine will be on an existing coax ethernet with other machines
> > running SCO Unix 3.2.2 and DOS PC/TCP.
> 
> > 4. Which Ethernet EISA card is well supported (by vendor or SCo,
> >    preferrably SCO) in ODT 2? The Racal-Interlan looks good, but if
> >    SMC's card is as easy to config and install as the WD80x3 line...
> 
> Racal ES-3210, HP Ethertwist/32, and Novell NE3200.
> 
> We wish you the greatest of luck, and hope that you have a good 
> experience with Everex should you decide to go that route.  Let 
> us know if we can supply more information.  Let the buyer beware.
> 
> Ed Cooley           12209 Bayswater Road    "An independent service and
> Technical Manager   Gaithersburg, MD 20878   support provider for SCO
> Open Age, Inc.      Main: 301/948-6422       products."
> edc@openage.com     Fax:  301/948-9644
> 



> From: "Paul A. Fischer, Sr UNIX Sys Consultant" <paul@openage.COM>
> Subject: Everex Cube crash update
> Date: Tue, 29 Sep 1992 14:43:01 GMT
> Message-ID:  <9209291043.aa29757@openage.COM>
> 
> Hi All,
> 
> This is another Everex Cube update.  Last night I was at customer site until
> way after midnight.  We finally got the Everex cube stable with EISA boards,
> 2 processors, DPT caching controller, and MPX update A. There are still a few 
> issues I would like to share with you.
> 
> 1)      The system will crash with "op" (SCO Office Portfolio) loaded.
>         If you load MPX it still runs OK, but when you add update A running
>         "op" will crash the system.  We have a tap image of this setup and
>         it is being Fed-X'ed to Everex in Calf. this morning.  I'm hoping that
>         they can work with SCO to fix the problem.
> 
> 2)      You MUST have the current DPT ROMs in your SCSI controllers if this is
>         to work.  The Current revs are 3G (we had 3c) for the board ROMs and
>         Rev. J for the DPT SmartROM.  If you have earlier versions you will
>         still get system panics!
> 
> 3)      The Racal-Datacom ES-3210 EISA ethernet board runs fine now.
> 
> 4)      If you don't run "dptfmt" to set the drive type properly you will get
>         some really weird data corruption.
> 
> Finally, here is the current system configuration:
> HARDWARE:
> Everex Cube: 64MB RAM, latest base board set (486).
> Second 486 processor board.
> ES-3210
> DPT EISA Caching SCSI controller (15.5 MB RAM and Mirroring module)
> (2) HP 420 3.5" SCSI-2 HDD (mirrored)
> Wangtek ES-5525 SCSI tape drive
> SVGA
> monitor and mouse
> 
> SOFTWARE:
> SCO ODT 1.1
> Server upgrade
> Update G
> X11R4 EFS
> Mouseman EFS
> MPX 1.1
> MPX Update A
> XPG supplement
> DPT EISA drivers
> 
> I ran a balanced load test last night for 9 hours.  The system load averages 
> were about 5-7.  This morning it was running fine, with no crashes.  When
> my customer beats on it this afternoon, and it still stays up, then I will
> be happy.
> 
> Many thanks to Steve Sundman at Everex, who was there with me last night and
> Friday night trying to get the beastie working.
> 
> -----------------------------------------------------------------------------
> Independent SCO support and service provider in the D.C. metro area.
> No Incumbents in '92. Get the crooks out of office. Vote & Send a Message
> Paul A. Fischer           | Open Age Inc.  | paul@openage.com
> Sr. UNIX Sys. Consultant  | (301) 948-6422 | (301) 948-9644 Fax



> From: /dev/null <alexl@alvarez.COM>
> Subject: Everex Cube crash update
> Date: Wed, 30 Sep 1992 01:33:13 GMT
> Message-ID:  <9209292133.aa06849@alvarez.alvarez.COM>
> 
> 
> > 1)      The system will crash with "op" (SCO Office Portfolio) loaded.
> >         If you load MPX it still runs OK, but when you add update A running
> >         "op" will crash the system.  We have a tap image of this setup and
> >         it is being Fed-X'ed to Everex in Calf. this morning. I'm hoping
> >         that they can work with SCO to fix the problem.
> 
> I had the same problem with a 433MP (DEC) I solved it by 
> increasing the RAM to 24MB this made the machine scream..
> 
> ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
>   /  ) //            _//                   Alexander Lopez
>  /--/ // _  _.,      /    _____   _  __.   Alex Alvarez and Associates
> /  (_</_</_/ /\_    /___ (_) /_)_</_/  |_  alexl@alvarez.COM
>                             /         (|   305-649-8900
-- 
[ W. Douglas Lucy, VP Technical Services, S and R Software, Inc. ]
[ dlucy@sandr.COM                                                ]
Newsgroups: comp.unix.sysv386,comp.windows.x