Everhart,Glenn From: Fred Kleinsorge [kleinsorge@star.enet.dec_nospam.com] Sent: Thursday, May 07, 1998 8:27 AM To: Info-VAX@Mvb.Saic.Com Subject: Re: Dual-boot OpenVMS + Unix? Ferry Bolhar-Nordenkampf wrote: > > Nigel Barker wrote: > > > > On Fri, 1 May 1998 15:22:53 -0600, "Jean Norton" > > wrote: > > > > >Can an Alpha 2100 dual-boot between OpenVMS and Digital Unix? > > > > Yes, the only proviso is that the different operating systems must be > > installed on separate disks e.g. VMS on DKA100 & UNIX on DKA200 Then > > simply >>>B DKA100 It would also be a good idea to ensure that e.g. > > when you boot VMS that you don't mount the UNIX disk or mount it read > > only. > > Are you sure about this? There are different PAL code versions for VMS > and UNIX on most systems! You can't use an Alpha with UNIX PAL code to > boot VMS (at least not a 200/4 166, i have tried it). There is PAL and there is console firmware. They are packaged together for the SRM console. There is a VMS PALcode image that is used not only by OpenVMS - but by the console. And there is a UNIX PALcode image that UNIX switches to when it boots. The console firmware (SRM) itself is common between VMS and UNIX, and generally speaking, the latest release of VMS and UNIX can use the same console firmware. It is possible that if you have great differences in release timeframes for the UNIX and VMS versions, that you might require incompatable console revisions. You also need to set the OS type variable in the console, and do an INIT before you can boot the other OS type. -- Frederick G. Kleinsorge | Standard disclaimer: All opinions OpenVMS Engineering | expressed are mine, and not those of my Digital Equipment Corporation | employer, or any one else with half a kleinsorge@star.enet.dec.com | clue. No refunds on sale items.