CHARON-AXP for Windows configuration

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Creation of your own configuration file using a template

By default, all the CHARON templates are located in the "C:\Program Files\CHARON\Build_XXXXX\x64" folder. Copy the appropriate template configuration file(s) to your home directory (or to any directory intended for CHARON-AXP).

Please do not edit the original template configuration files since they can be updated or even removed on update/deinstallation of CHARON-AXP

Once the file has been created you can open it in "Notepad" editor (or use the "CHARON Launcher" utility to open the configuration file) and proceed with modification to reflect the exact features of the system you are going to emulate.

We will review all the parameters step by step issuing some recommendations and guidelines.

Note: lines preceeded by the comment sign "#" inside the configuration files will not be interpreted. You can use this sign to debug your configuration.

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HP Alpha model specification

The first configuration statement is the specification of the exact HP Alpha hardware model to emulate, for example:

You must leave this line untouched.

If you create the CHARON-AXP configuration file from scratch it must be the very first uncommented line in the configuration file.

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Configuration name

The next configuration statement is the "Configuration name" option:

You can optionally uncomment this line to differentiate this CHARON-AXP instance from all others in a multi-instance environment. The configuration name can be any label that is meaningful.

The configuration name is reported in the log file and is used to set the log file name for rotating log (see further: Rotating log (default) ).

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Log file parameters

Execution of CHARON-AXP creates one log file or a set of log files reflecting the progress of its start-up and ongoing operation - start and end time of execution, system information, license and configuration details, warnings, reports on problems that may occur, etc. In case of possible problems either with the running CHARON-AXP or the emulated system configuration (such as the absence or malfunction of certain devices), the log file(s) is the primary source to be analyzed for troubleshooting. If it becomes necessary to contact Stromasys for support, the configuration and log files, plus the license number, will be requested to begin problem resolution.

Here is an example of a field test CHARON-AXP log file:

20150121:151204:INFO :0:00000249:ethane.cxx(9574): Logging started.
20150121:151204:INFO :0:000003A5:ethane.cxx( 744): session is loading built-in configuration "AlphaServer_ES40"...
20150121:151204:INFO :0:000003A6:ethane.cxx( 777): session has finished loading built-in configuration "AlphaServer_ES40".
20150121:151204:INFO :0:000003AA:ethane.cxx(1268): session is loading configuration file "es40.cfg"...
20150121:151204:INFO :0:000003AB:ethane.cxx(1310): session has finished loading configuration file "es40.cfg".
20150121:151204:INFO :0:0000032B:ethane.cxx(2562): Start request received.
20150121:151204:INFO :0:000003AC:ethane.cxx( 688): session's process affinity is 00000000000000FF, system affinity is 00000000000000FF.
20150121:151204:INFO :0:000003D1:ethane.cxx(1336): session's I/O domain affinity is 0000000000000003, CPU domain affinity is 00000000000000FC
20150121:151204:INFO :0:000003BA:ll_sentine( 639): Looking for a license key ...
20150121:151205:INFO :0:000003DC:ll_sentine( 734): ... found license key 1422726238.
20150121:151205:INFO :0:0000024D:ethane.cxx(2693): STROMASYS SA, (C) 2009-2014
20150121:151205:INFO :0:00000350:ethane.cxx(2739): CHARON-AXP (AlphaServer ES40), V 4.6 B 16603, Dec 15 2014 / net-nest / 1422726238
20150121:151205:INFO :0:00000336:ethane.cxx(2766): The end user of this software has agreed to STROMASYS' Terms and Conditions for Software License and Limited Warranty, as described at: http://www.stromasys.com/pub/doc/30-17-033.pdf
20150121:151205:INFO :0:0000009D:ethane.cxx(2843): License info:
CHARON product code: "CHAXP-460xx-WI".
Licensed to: "net-nest".
License KEY driver is installed as hasplms and is running.
Executable "C:\Windows\system32\hasplms.exe", version 16.0.1.41863.
20150121:151205:INFO :0:00000097:ethane.cxx(2852): OS Environment: Microsoft Windows 7 Professional, 64-bit, Service Pack 1 (Build 7601).
20150121:151205:INFO :0:00000098:ethane.cxx(2857): Host CPU: Intel(R) Xeon(R) CPU E31275 @ 3.40GHz x8.
20150121:151205:INFO :0:00000099:ethane.cxx(2862): Host Memory: 24320Mb
20150121:151205:INFO :0:0000032C:ethane.cxx(2598): "My_AlphaServer_ES40" started.
20150121:151221:INFO :0:0000032D:ethane.cxx(2644): "AlphaServer ES40" stop request received.
20150121:151221:INFO :0:00000348:ataunit.cx(1738): ide0 is being set OFFLINE
The previous message has been repeated 2 times.
20150121:151221:INFO :0:0000032E:ethane.cxx(2662): Stopped.
20150121:151221:INFO :0:0000024A:ethane.cxx( 328): Logging stopped.

The next group of parameters defines the name of the CHARON-AXP log file and how CHARON-AXP will use it:

Rotating log (default)

By default CHARON-AXP utilizes a so-called "rotating log". This means that a new default log file is always created each time CHARON starts and can switch to another log file if the size of the log file exceeds 64Kb.

This mode is turned on if all the log parameters above are disabled (commented out) or the "session_log" parameter is pointing to a directory rather than to a file. If a directory is specified, the log files will be created in that directory.

Names of the rotating log files are composed as follows:

If the "Configuration name" parameter described before is omitted (commented out), the log name has the following format instead:

Note that "xxxxxxxxx" is an increasing decimal number starting from "000000000" to separate log files with the same time of creation.

Single log

Alternatively it is possible to use just a single log file. Uncomment the "set session log" line and specify the desired CHARON-AXP log file name. Optionally, a path can be added to the log file name. If the path is not specified, the log file is created in the directory from where the guest (emulated machine) is started.

The log file can be extended ("log_method = append") or overwritten ("log_method = overwrite") by CHARON-AXP.

Below is a specification of a CHARON-AXP log file located in the "C:\CHARON logs" directory which will be overwritten each time CHARON-AXP starts:

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CPU affinity

This setting binds the running instance of the emulator CPUs to particular host CPUs.This should be used for soft partitioning host CPU resources or for isolating multiple CHARON instances on the same host from each other. By default the emulator instance allocates as many host CPUs as possible.

“Affinity” overrides the default and allows explicit specification of which host CPUs will be used by the instance. Affinity does not reserve the CPU for exclusive use.

The example above directs CHARON-AXP to use CPU 0,1,2 and 3.

If this parameter is omitted CHARON host will allocate available CPUs automatically.

 Note that the number of the specified host CPUs must correspond to the number of the emulated CPUs (one host CPU for one emulated CPU). This value is specific for each HP Alpha model.

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Number of host CPUs dedicated to CHARON I/O

This setting reserves host CPUs (of those specified by “affinity” parameter, if any) for use by the emulator for I/O handling. By default the emulator instance reserves one third of available host CPUs for I/O processing (round down, at least one). 

The “n_of_io_cpus” overrides the default by specifying the number of I/O host CPUs explicitly

Example:

The example above directs CHARON-AXP to use 2 CPUs for CHARON I/O operations.

 Note that the number of the specified CPUs dedicated to CHARON I/O operations must correspond to the total number of available CPUs and the number of the virtual HP Alpha CPUs to be emulated.

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Setting a specific HP Alpha model

CHARON-AXP allows to specify an exact model of HP Alpha.

For example for HP AlphaServer ES40 family the "es40.cfg" sample configuration file contains the following options:

#============================================================================
#
# AlphaServer ES40 6/500
#
#----------------------------------------------------------------------------

#set ace cpu_architecture = EV6
#set rom dsrdb[0] = 1816 system_name = "AlphaServer ES40 6/500"
#set rom version[1] = 1.98-4 version[2] = 1.92-5

#============================================================================
#
# AlphaServer ES40 6/667
#
#----------------------------------------------------------------------------

set ace cpu_architecture = EV67
set rom dsrdb[0] = 1820 system_name = "AlphaServer ES40 6/667"

Just uncomment the provided lines to apply a certain model (It is "AlphaServer ES40 6/667" in the example above).

Full description of the parameters and other models that can be also configured is available in the "Configuration details" chapter of this User's Guide.

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Reducing number of emulated CPUs

If CHARON host contains not enough CPUs to emulate full range of the CPUs provided by a certain HP Alpha model it is possibe to direct CHARON-AXP to reduce number of the emulated Alpha CPUs in the configuration:

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Setting system serial number

The next configuration option that can be applied is setting a specific system serial number instead of the default one:

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TOY and ROM containers

The next objects to be configured are TOY and ROM containers (their presence depends on the HP Alpha model). It is always recommended to enable them. If a container file of the given name does not exist, CHARON-AXP will create it. It is recommended to specify the path for each file so that time and console parameters will be kept whatever the current directory is when starting the guest.

TOY means "Time of Year"; its container records time, date and some console parameters while CHARON-AXP is not running. To enable, uncomment the following line:

The ROM container stores an intermediate state of the Flash ROM and some console parameters. It is highly recommended to define its location:

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Emulated memory (RAM) size

The next parameter defines the amount of host memory the chosen CHARON-AXP model reserves for the emulation:

The amount of RAM is specified in MB. It cannot exceed or be lower than certain values specific for each HP Alpha model. It is very important to keep the listed predefined increment between possible memory values.

The following table shows all the parameters:

It is possible to leave the RAM line commented out. In this case the model's default RAM amount is used. 

Note that in some particular orders your license may restrict the maximum RAM amount of each HP Alpha model.

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Console

Mapping to system resources

The next step is the specification of the HP Alpha console (OPA0) serial line:

#load physical_serial_line OPA0 line="COM1:"
#load virtual_serial_line OPA0 port=10003
#load virtual_serial_line OPA0 port=10003 application="opa0.ht"
load virtual_serial_line OPA0 port=10003 application="putty -load OPA0"
#load virtual_serial_line OPA0 port=10003 application="c:\kea\user\opa0.ktc"

The goal of this configuration step is to tell CHARON-AXP what host device to use as the virtual system console. The following options are available:

The default setting is "load virtual_serial_line/chserial OPA0 port=10003 application="putty.exe -load OPA0".

The second console line "TTA0" can be also optionally configured (for 1 CPU models such as HP AlphaServer 400, HP AlphaServer 800, HP AlphaServer 1000, HP AlphaServer 1000A, HP AlphaServer DS10, HP AlphaServer DS10L and HP AlphaServer DS15):

 Note there are a number of additional parameters for CHARON-AXP serial lines configuration. Follow this link for details.

Exit on pressing F6 button

Despite the fact that CHARON-AXP can exit with "power off" command given in its SRM console it is also recommended to set a hot key to stop the guest from the console in addition to the system tray icon:

This line provides CHARON-AXP the ability to exit by pressing the "F6" button.

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Improve granularity of emulated timer

The next configuration option can be applied for improving granularity of emulated CHARON-AXP timer:

Do not uncomment this parameter unless there are some problems with system time or system clock intervals in guest OS.

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ATAPI CD/DVD-ROM configuration

If the sample configuration file provides this parameter it is possible to map this particular CHARON-AXP emulator's "DQA0" CD-ROM to the host CD/DVD-ROM with the following setting:

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Networking

CHARON-AXP supports DE435, DE450, DE500AA, DE500BA and DE602 virtual network adapters.

All of them are configured in a similar way:

In the example above the first line loads DE500BA virtual adapter with a name "EWA"; the following line maps it to host network interface having a name "Charon" ("connection" is a key word). Note that the mapping is performed in 2 steps:

1. A mapping object "packet_port" with a name "EWA0" is loaded and connected to host interface having a name "Charon", so CHARON-AXP will use this interface for its networking
2. The loaded DE500BA virtual adapter "EWA" is connected to the "packet_port" object "EWA0"

It is possible to load several DE435, DE450, DE500AA, DE500BA or DE602 controllers, for example:

Some network adapters available in CHARON-AXP are preloaded (for example, HP AlphaServer DS15 contains 2 preloaded adapters EWA and EWB), so their configuration is even more simple:

Follow this link for more details of CHARON-AXP network controllers configuration.

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Disk/tape subsystem

The next step is configuration of the disk/tape subsystem and mapping it to system resources using the samples given in the template configuration files.

CHARON-AXP supports KZPBA and KGPSA-CA adapters.

KZPBA PCI SCSI disk/tape controller

Below is the typical configuration options for KZPBA PCI SCSI disk/tape controller:

The first line ("load KZPBA PKA") loads disk controller KZPBA with name "PKA", followed by 8 group of lines showing different ways of mapping to the host resources:

Additionally it is possible to specify a parameter "media_type" to assign the type of the attached media explicitly.

Example:

Numbers in the square brackets represent SCSI addresses and LUNs associated with each container of the KZBPA controller. They have the following structure:

[XXYY], where

It is possible to load several KZPBA controllers: DKB, DKC, etc. by configuring specific placement for them on the PCI bus. It is discussed in details in the "Configuration details" chapter of this Guide.

Some HP Alpha systems emulated by CHARON-AXP have already had one or two KZPBA controllers pre-loaded. If the system has only one preloaded controller, the template configuration file usually provides some sample line on how to add another one, for example:

Follow this link for details of KZPBA controllers configuration.

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KGPSA-CA PCI FC disk controller

Optionally it is possible to configure KGPSA-CA FC disk controller.

It can be configured in 3 modes:

• Direct mapping to the host resources
• Usage of "presentation mode" of connected or external storage controllers
• Pass Through mode

Below is an example of KGPSA-CA controller loading:

Optionally another KGPSA-CA adapter can be loaded similar way:

Follow this link for details of KGPSA-CA controllers configuration.

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KGPSA-CA mapping to the host resources

Below is the typical configuration options for KGPSA-CA PCI FC disk controller, mapped to the host resources:

The first line ("load KGPSA FGA") loads disk controller KGPSA with name "FGA", followed by 2 group of lines showing different ways of mapping to the host resources:

Numbers in the square brackets represent KGPSA-CA units. They can be in the range 0..32766, but no more than 255 units can be configured on a single controller.

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KGPSA-CA mapping to a storage controller using its "presentation" mode

Some storage controllers allows CHARON-AXP to use their resources using so called "presentation" mode. 

In this type of mapping CHARON-AXP automatically creates a set of virtual FC devices for each of the units provided by the storage controller and connects to them through its KGPSA-CA FC adapter.

The main benefit in this type of mapping is a flexible way of the virtual disks management depending on the mapped storage controller configuration. For example if an extra disk is added to the storage controller it automatically appears as a new disk unit on the corresponding KGPSA-CA virtual adapter mapped to that storage controller.

Below is an example of KGPSA-CA PCI FC disk controller, mapped to some storage controller (for example SAN) using its "presentation" mode:

This line loads an instance of KGPSA-CA controller and maps it to some extarnal controler having ID "5008-05F3-0005-2950-5008-05F3-0005-2951".

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KGPSA-CA pass through mode

It is also possible to use the emulated KGPSA-CA in "pass through" mode to address a physical EMULEX LightPulse PCI/PCI-X/PCIe FC adapter plugged into the host’s PCI/PCI-X/PCIe slot.

The sample configuration file provides a template for this type of mapping:

The "host_bus_location" parameter addresses the host EMULEX LightPulse PCI/PCI-X/PCIe FC adapter in the following way:

To establish "pass through" mode do the following:

1. Install the EMULEX LightPulse PCI/PCI-X/PCIe FC adapter (see below for a list of supported models) to some spare PCI/PCI-X/PCIe slot of the host system
2. Boot a Windows operating system
3. Install the EMULEX LightPulse PCI/PCI-X/PCIe FC adapter driver from the following directory "C:\Program Files\CHARON\Drivers\EMULEX_X.X.0.XXXXX" by choosing the "Install from a list or specific location (Advanced)" option and then selecting the "emulex_lp_ppt_amd64.inf" file.
4. Reboot the host

Now it is possible to collect the parameters for CHARON-AXP mapping to the EMULEX LightPulse PCI/PCI-X/PCIe FC adapter.

Open “Computer Management” application and select “Device Manager”:

On the right panel select desired physical EMULEX LP FibreChannel adapter under "CHARON PCI Pass Through":

Open its properties sheet by double-clicking on selected adapter:

The “Location:” on the above picture gives X, Y, and Z for the "host_bus_location" parameter, for example:

 Non-US-EN installations of Windows may present “Location:” string in local language, but "host_bus_location" parameter requires English notation, so the words “PCI”, “bus”, “device”, and “function” must be specified in English.

The following is the list of EMULEX LightPulse PCI/PCI-X/PCIe FC adapters supported by CHARON-AXP PCI Pass Through driver and suitable for emulation ofKGPSA-CA PCI FC adapter in CHARON PCI Pass Through mode:

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FDDI support via DEFPA PCI FDDI controller in "pass through" mode

Optionally it is possible to configure DEFPA PCI FDDI controller in "pass through" mode, mapped to a physical DEFPA FDDI adapter installed on the host:

Pay attention to proper placement of the emulated DEFPA adapter on the virtual HP Alpha PCI bus (it is controlled by "bus", "device", "function", "irq" and "irq_bus" parameters). Refer to the this chapter of this Guide for more information.

The "host_bus_location" parameter addresses the host DEFPA FDDI adapter in the following way:

To establish the "pass through" mode do the following:

1. Install the DEFPA FDDI adapter to some spare PCI slot of the host system. 
    Note that PCIe and PCI-X are not supported by the DEFPA FDDI adapter.
2. Boot a Windows operating system
3. Install the DEFPA FDDI adapter driver from the following directory: "C:\Program Files\CHARON\Drivers\DEFPA_X.X.X.XXXXX" by choosing the "Install from a list or specific location (Advanced)" option and then selecting the "defpa_ppt_amd64.inf" file.
4. Reboot the host

Now it is possible to collect the parameters for CHARON-AXP mapping to the DEFPA FDDI host adapter.

Open “Computer Management” application and select “Device Manager”:

On the right panel select the installed DEFPA adapter:

Open its properties sheet by double-clicking on the selected adapter:

The “Location:” on the above picture gives X, Y, and Z for the "host_bus_location" parameter, for example:

 Non-US-EN installations of Windows may present “Location:” string in local language, but "host_bus_location" parameter requires English notation, so the words “PCI”, “bus”, “device”, and “function” must be specified in English.

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Serial lines support via emulated PBXDA-xx family PCI controllers in "pass through" mode

Optionally it is possible to configure the folIowing models of PBXDA-xx family controllers mapped to specific models of the physical DIGI serial lines adapters installed on CHARON-AXP host:

Below is an example of mapping to a physical DIGI adapter installed on the host:

Pay attention to proper placement of the emulated PBXDA-xx adapter on the virtual HP Alpha PCI bus (it is controlled by "bus", "device", "function", "irq" and "irq_bus" parameters). Refer to the this chapter of this Guide for more information.

The "host_bus_location" parameter addresses the host DIGI adapter in the following way:

To establish the "pass through" mode do the following:

1. Install the DIGI adapter of the required type to some spare PCI/PCI-X/PCIe slot of the host system. 
2. Boot a Windows operating system
3. Install the DIGI adapter driver from the following directory: "C:\Program Files\CHARON\Drivers\DIGI_X.X.X.XXXXX" by choosing "Install from a list or specific location (Advanced)" option and then selecting the "digi_ppt_amd64.inf" file.
4. Reboot the host

Now it is possible to collect the parameters for CHARON-AXP mapping to the DIGI host adapter.

Open “Computer Management” application and select “Device Manager”:

On the right panel select proper physical DIGI adapter:

Open its properties sheet by double-clicking on the selected adapter:

The “Location:” on the above picture gives X, Y, and Z for the "host_bus_location" parameter, for example:

 Non-US-EN installations of Windows may present “Location:” string in local language, but "host_bus_location" parameter requires English notation, so the words “PCI”, “bus”, “device”, and “function” must be specified in English.

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Auto boot

CHARON-AXP can be configured to automatically boot an operating system at start up by specifying the default boot device and setting the 'auto_action' parameter to 'restart' from the console.

Example: dka0 is defined as the default boot device

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