AST RESEARCH, INC.        TECHNICAL BULLETIN # 1542         07-26-96 
 
 
 
TITLE: Manhattan S/6200 Pentium Pro BIOS Utility
 
 
SUMMARY 
 
   When using the Manhattan S/6200 or Commerce Pro server with two 
   Pentium Pro CPUs that have different processor steppings, the 
   server should use BIOS version 3.20 or later and the Intel Pentium  
   Pro BIOS utility (file PPBIOSUP.EXE) to ensure the correct level of  
   Pentium Pro BIOS for each CPU.

   This issue affects the following systems: 501832 and 503076.
 
 
ISSUE 
 
   The Manhattan S/6200 or Commerce Pro servers, with dual Pentium Pro 
   CPUs installed, could fail if the following three conditions 
   exist simultaneously:

   - the processors are not the same stepping, 
   - the BIOS revision is earlier than version 3.20, and
   - the correct Intel Pentium Pro BIOS update patches are not 
     installed.  

   With version 3.20 of the system BIOS for Manhattan S6200
   and Commerce Pro servers, AST added support for mixed processor 
   steppings in dual CPU environments.  If the processor steppings
   are different in a dual processor system, and the correct Intel 
   Pentium Pro patches are not installed, the system may lock-up after
   approximately five minutes of operation.  This issue does not affect
   systems with a single processor installed. 
 
 
BACKGROUND 
 
   Intel Pentium Pro processors use a small amount of code stored in 
   the system BIOS that is related to each stepping of the Pentium Pro
   processor.  This code, sometimes called a Pentium Pro BIOS or a 
   Patch, is unique to each stepping of the CPU.

   The Manhattan S/6200 and Commerce Pro servers reserve space in their 
   system BIOS for two Pentium Pro patches.  This allows the correct 
   patch to be loaded for each processor when two processors in the 
   system are different steppings.

   The utility described in the following section checks the processors
   for their step level and then places the appropriate patch into 
   system BIOS.  This allows the processors to take advantage of all 
   Intel enhancements and corrections related to each processor 
   stepping.  AST added support for the Intel Pentium Pro BIOS utility 
   in version 3.20 of the system BIOS.  Dual CPU systems should use 
   version 3.20 or later and should follow the instructions provided 
   to run the Intel utility.


ACTION 
 
   To operate a Manhattan S/6200 or Commerce Pro server with dual 
   processors of different steppings, update the system BIOS to 
   version 3.20 or later.  After running the system BIOS update utility,
   run the Intel Pentium Pro BIOS update utility.  The utility will 
   ensure that the proper patches are loaded into the AST system BIOS.
   



   To run the Intel BIOS Update Utility, follow the instructions below:

   1. Ensure that the files UPDATE.EXE and PEB.PDB are located on a 
      bootable floppy diskette.  You can download file <A HREF="ftp://ftp.ast.com/S-BIOS/PPBIOSUP.EXE">PPBIOSUP.EXE</A> 
      (which includes the files mentioned above) from one of AST's 
      On-Line! services listed below.
   2. Turn the system ON with the floppy disk in the floppy drive.
   3. From the DOS command prompt, run the file UPDATE.EXE.
   4. Remove the floppy disk from the floppy drive.
   5. Reboot the system.

   Always run the Intel Pentium Pro BIOS utility after updating the 
   system BIOS.  This will ensure that the proper patches as always 
   in place to support the Pentium Pros installed in the system.


NOTES 
 
   AST's On-Line! services include:

      AST WWW Site:  http://www.ast.com
      AST On-Line! BBS*:  See IB0001.TXT
      CompuServe:  GO: ASTFORUM
      Prodigy: Jump: astsupport
 
   * Refer to IB0001.TXT for a list of AST's international BBS  
     numbers. 
 
   To decompress this file, create a temporary directory on your 
   hard drive, copy the downloaded file to that directory, and run 
   the file.  

 
TAN N/A
 
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