test-arc

name	test-arc
description	Boot the ARC/AlphaBIOS console from a pre-programmed flash image with the S3 Trio64 on the SDL window. Use to verify the ARC/Windows-NT path (flash boot, nvram auto-arc script, S3 graphics).

ARC / AlphaBIOS test

ARC (AlphaBIOS) is required for Windows NT-family guests. It lives in the 2 MB system flash and displays on the VGA (S3) — there is no serial console once ARC takes over.

Ingredients (all fetchable)

mkdir -p test/arc && cd test/arc
# Pre-programmed flash: SRM + AlphaBIOS + nvram auto-arc script
curl -sL -o flash-programmed-auto-arc.zip \
  'https://archive.org/download/es40-flasher/flash-programmed-auto-arc.zip'
unzip -o flash-programmed-auto-arc.zip          # -> flash.rom
# Real S3 Trio64 VGA BIOS (required by the s3 device)
curl -sL -o 86c764x1.bin \
  'https://github.com/86Box/roms/raw/master/video/s3/86c764x1.bin'
wget -q -O cl67srmrom.exe 'http://raymii.org/s/inc/downloads/es40-srmon/cl67srmrom.exe'

(The same archive.org item also has flash-programmed.zip without the auto-arc nvram script, and es40-flasher.7z with the v7.3 firmware update CD for flashing manually via the LFU — SRM boot dqbX, manual update, must program the TIG; on LFU exit the TIG SRCR write triggers a full emulated system reset and reboot from flash.)

Config: test/arc/es40.cfg — gui=sdl, pci0.2 = s3 { rom = "86c764x1.bin"; }, arc_year_compat = true, the flash.rom above, serial on 21000.

Run

cd test/arc && pkill -9 -x axpbox; sleep 1
rm -f decompressed.rom dpr.rom                 # force fresh flash boot
AXPBOX_DUMP_FB=fb ../../build/axpbox run > arcrun.log 2>&1 &

What happens (verified behavior)

1. LoadROM detects the CPQ boot signature in flash and decompresses SRM from flash (console message %SYS-I-READFLASH).
2. This flash's SRM environment uses the graphics console: the whole SRM boot renders on the S3/SDL window (verify with the framebuffer dumps, see the verify-vga-sdl skill).
3. The nvram auto-script runs show dev then arc; the serial log shows loading ARC firmware.
4. ARC clears the screen to solid blue with a blinking top-left cursor and sits in its first-boot phase (NVRAM data error / power-up memory test — the NT guides document "screen goes black/blank, hit Enter to continue" and recommend disabling the power-up memory test in Advanced CMOS Setup once inside).

Interactive step

Getting past the blue screen needs Enter/F2 in the SDL window at the right moment. For headless runs there is a debug hook: AXPBOX_AUTOKEY_ENTER=<seconds> presses Enter every N seconds via the emulated keyboard.

Timing pitfall: an Enter press while SRM is still running the nvram script aborts the script (you end at a graphical P00>>> instead of ARC). ARC loads ~35–45 s in; use a period like 75 s, or press by hand once the screen goes blue.

Console-side markers

test/arc/arcwatch.py <seconds> <logfile> captures the serial side and reports markers (P00>>>, loading ARC firmware, ...). Remember the serial goes quiet once ARC owns the VGA.