Installing Linux on an AlphaStation 200

1. Get as200_vX.exe file and mkboot.exe
2. Rename as200_vX.exe to fwupdate.exe
3. Use mkboot.exe to put the image on a floppy:
   mkboot.exe fwupdate.exe
4. Boot your Alpha.
5. Set os_type variable to NT (might not be necessary)
   set os_type NT
6. Insert the floppy you just created
7. Load the floppy:
   >>> boot dva0
8. You should get to a menu system.  Choose "Update" then choose "Update ARC ROM"
9. Answer yes, etc., then exit utility.
10. Shutdown and restart (cold boot).
11. You should be at the ARC console (a menu driven console).
    
    

LINLOADER v1.5 or the one that came with your distro. This file doesn't seem to change. (Don't forget to rename it.)

Choose your milo!

• DEC's - worked for RH 5.0
• Debian Stylee - worked for Redhat 5.2 (Solved an "out of memory" problem for me).
• You might want to try the milo that came with your distro (unless it's Redhat, then you're probably wasting your time.)

NOTE:  David Miller say there's a new milo-avanti that corrects the E2 cursor problem (see below).  You might want to check it out.

NOTE: milo and the kernel have to be from the same kernel version (or so I have read - although in practice this doesn't seem to be so...mmm...).
*  Slink might be something else now (like stable).  Look around the site.
**avanti-s.img are supposedly for the SRM console (if you're so inclined).

1. Get a ramdisk image
   Debians are called root.bin (same directory as the kernel).
   Redhats are called ramdisk.img (same directory as the kernel).
2. dd or rawrite it onto a floppy
   
   
   

1. Boot into the ARC console.
2. Insert MILO disk.
3. In ARC console choose "Supplementary menu..." then "Set up the system..." then "Manage boot selection menu..." then "Add a boot selection..." then "New system partition" then "Floppy Disk"  (you'll change this later to make it boot directly from the HD).
4. Change the following (there's more, but these are the two biggees):
   OSLOADER=\linload.exe
   OSLOADFILENAME=\milo
5. Go back two screens (with <esc>) and save changes.
6. Choose your selection (the one you just modified) from the boot menu. You should be on your way!

Note 1:  After eveything is installed and you want to boot from the hard drive and not the floppy, you'll use OSLOADOPTIONS to add your boot string.  See RedHat manual.
Note 2:  If you're unfortunate to have a ZLXp-E2 or 3 card, you're screen may be "funky." Wait til the floppy has not activity and then continue - the screen should clear up later (watch your typing!).

1. You should be at the MILO prompt.
2. Insert the KERNEL disk.
3. At the prompt type:
   boot floppy:vmlinux.gz "rw root=/dev/fd0 load_ramdisk=1 prompt_ramdisk=1"
4. Cross your fingers.
   
   

1. Insert your RAMDISK when prompted.
2. Follow the instructions of your particular installation.
3. Leave a 2MB DOS partition for MILO (or you won't be able to boot from the HD).

Note:  I had better luck using the Debian partitioner.  If you have trouble with Redhat (i.e. it hangs when partitioning, making files sytems, formating, or while installing packages) partition and make file systems with Debian, then quit the install, and use RedHat next time and do not remake the file systems!

1. Your installation should be finished and everything should be ok.
2. Copy the milo and linloader.exe files from your MILO floppy to your 2MB DOS partition. 
3. Add a new boot selection in the ARC console (see "Boot MILO disk from ARC console" above). 
4. This time choose appropriate"SCSI Bus..." 
5. Enter milo and linloader.exe like above. 
6. In OSLOADOPTIONS you need to put the boot string for the kernel (the partition where your kernel is (i.e. NOT milo)).  Mine looks like this: 
   boot sda2:vmlinux.gz root=/dev/sda2
   
   

• Alpha Linux
• RedHat Manual
• Debian Documentation.
  
  
  

Okay, so you want to get back to the SRM console (maybe you want to try installing Linux from SRM???).  You can NOT use the same firmware disk you used to get to the ARC console.  You must make a new one:

1. Get a DOS formatted floppy
2. Rename as200_v6_X.exe to fwupdate.exe
3. Copy fwupdate.exe to the floppy
4. Boot your Alpha
5. From Boot Menu choose "Supplementary menu..."
6. Insert your floppy.
7. From "Supplementary menu" choose "Update Firmware"
8. Program will load then choose "Update"
9. Then choose "Update SRM ROM"
10. Answer yes, etc., then exit utility
11. Do a cold boot and you should be back at the SRM console.
    
    
    

• ZLXp-E2/3 graphic cards are not supported under X =(   The E2 seems to work in console mode, although I get a "funky" cursor.   If someone can get the ZLXp-E2 card to work properly in the console (or even better - under X),  please let me know!  Note:  Tim Rowley did a  patch and patched XF86_TGA that I haven't had time to try.  Also, see "Create MILO disk" above.  Give 'em a try.
• If you get a green/garbled screen when trying to install, it's the E2 graphics card.
• The AlphaStation 200 is in the Avanti family.  (I've had better luck with Avanti images than AS200 images.)
• Some of the files listed above will probably have changed.  Try the newer ones.
• I bought my Alpha at www.onsale.com.   I've also seen them at www.webauction.com.