Compaq AlphaServer GS60 Operation Manual page 117

Once you have installed a Windows NT system (see Chapter 8), the Windows NT
operating system is booted from the AlphaBIOS firmware. How this firmware is
started depends on the setting of the SRM console's auto_action environment variable
(see Table 5-3) and the setting of the Auto Start and Auto Start Count options in the
CMOS Setup screen of AlphaBIOS Setup. Figure 5-3 shows the boot screen
displayed when the Auto Start option from the CMOS Setup screen of AlphaBIOS is
disabled.
NOTE: The os_type environment variable must be set to nt before Windows NT can be
booted.
Table 5-3 SRM Console auto_action Environment Variable
auto_action
Setting Action Taken
halt (default) At system restart (power-up, reset, or init command), the system
self-test displays on the serial console terminal, along with lines
showing initialization of certain devices on both the serial and
graphics console terminals. The display stops with the SRM
console prompt. At this point, to boot Windows NT, make sure
that the os_type environment variable is set to nt and type the
alphabios command. For example:
P08>>> show os_type
os_type
P08>>> alphabios
AlphaBIOS starts, displaying screens showing the initialization of
devices and terminating with the Windows NT boot screen. What
happens at this point depends on the setting of AlphaBIOS options
(see Sections 5.5.2 and 5.5.3).
boot At system restart (power-up, reset, or init command), the system
self-test displays on the serial console terminal, along with lines
showing initialization of certain devices on both the serial and
graphics console terminals. AlphaBIOS then starts automatically,
displaying screens showing the initialization of devices and
terminating with the Windows NT boot screen. What happens at
this point depends on the setting of AlphaBIOS options (see Section
5.5.2 and 5.5.3.)
NOTE: Once auto_action is set to boot, AlphaBIOS will be started
automatically and proceed to the boot screen. To reach the SRM
console, you must follow the directions described under the
Ctrl/Alt/Delete option described in Table 5-4.
nt
Booting an Operating System 5-19