kernel v2.4.11 seems to work now for my Alpha machine

["James D. Freels" <freelsjd@ornl.gov>]

Recall several instances in the past to this mailing list with regard 
to previous versions of the 2.4.x Linux kernel causing one of my Alphas 
to lock up (hard).  There have been several explanations offered 
including the de4x5 driver (for DE-500-aa card), tulip driver, scsi 
driver (ncr-53c810), compiler version (gcc vs egcs), etc.  Well, it 
doesn't matter now because it is working.  I did nothing particular 
revolutionary in the configuration (it is a straight oldconfig from the 
2.2.19 configuration), but for some reason, it is now working as it 
should.  This has been going on since 2.4.0 release.

Usually the symptom of the failure was when the network started some 
major traffic, the system locked up.  Other versions appeared to be 
related to scsi.  I cannot really say for sure.

I am using a current version of SRM firmware.  The software is the 
present distribution of Debian/Testing for Alpha (Woody).  The machine 
is a Microway screamer with 500 Hhz 21164a chip.  I had a success story 
similar to this before, and it failed in a few minutes.  Usually, it 
failed within seconds or upon boot up.  It is going on over 30 minutes 
now with major load tests being down (cpu, net, i/o, etc.).

I am sending this to all who have responded to me to try and help out 
in my previous postings.

My goal all along has been to try out reiserfs since it works so well 
on my Intel machines.  I plan on running about a week or so and then 
give it a whirl.  

Thanks for all who have helped, and, especially thanks to all the 
Linux/Debian developers for such a fine operating system!

-- 
James D. Freels, P.E._i, Ph.D.
Oak Ridge National Laboratory
freelsjd@ornl.gov - work
jdfreels@home.com - home