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Conference adissw::vme

Title:VME Bridge Support - See note 231 for DWPVC status
Notice:DEC VME support
Moderator:MNATUR::LISTON
Created:Wed Apr 26 1989
Last Modified:Tue May 27 1997
Last Successful Update:Fri Jun 06 1997
Number of topics:295
Total number of notes:1067

295.0. "3D30 problem" by TKOVOA::MATSUMOTO () Tue May 20 1997 10:29

	I think the PowerStorm 3D30 graphics card interrupt DMA transfer of
	DWPVC.

	Configurations.

	- Hardware
	   AlphaStation 600/333 ( unofficial, I know )
	   PowerStorm 3D30
	   Bit3 M617 PCI-VME adapter (PCI rev.G)

	- Software
	 + Digital UNIX 3.2G
	   Open3D V3.2
	   DWPVC V3.22

	 + Digital UNIX 4.0B
	   Open3D V4.3
	   DWPVC V4.11
	       
	   The same problem was caused under both software confirations.

	 + Test code
	   qb_dma_test.c 
		for repeating read()/write(), added while(1) loop. 

	Problem.

	   During DMA transfer, then the X server process was going to finish. 
	   It was not system crash. 

	   I tried to following arguments for Xserver, 
	   /usr/lib/X11/xdm/Xservers under UNIX 3.2C or /var/X11/Xserver.conf 
	   under UNIX 4.0B. But result was same.

	   -I ffbDoDMA 0 -su -bs

	   I tried to test DMA tranfer without X server process, DMA of DWPVC 
	   had no problem.

	regards,
	 Kenji
T.RTitleUserPersonal
Name		DateLines
295.1update your hardware...ADISSW::TENHAVEWed May 21 1997 12:3528
    
    Hello Kenji,
    
    The Bit3 adapter you have is old.  There have been a number of
    revision changes since then.
    
    A few months ago, we found certain high performance PCI cards can
    cause different "bad" things to happen when running with the older
    Bit3 PCI cards.  Bit3 Corp. did some investigating and identified
    a problem with their boards.  They have since come up with a hardware
    fix for this problem.  This "fix" is in revision "P" or "Q" of their 
    PCI board.
    
    I recommend you get your hardware updated to the latest.  The Bit3
    manual explains how to do this.  If you have any questions, send
    me mail at ADISSW::TENHAVE.  Bit3 will do the update for any hardware
    less than 1 year old.  Their tech support people can find out the
    age of your hardware.  After 1 year old, Bit3 will charge for the work.
    
    I would like to see any "crash" files or "messages" files you may have.
    Please also include a copy of "dwpvc_data.c" file for UNIX 3.2X or 
    "sysconfigtab" file for UNIX 4.0, versions of the DWPVC kit.
    
    Let me know or post here what you decide to do...
    
    
    			Thanks, Tim Tenhave
295.2question about Bit3 ECOTKOVOA::MATSUMOTOMon May 26 1997 05:4638
    Thanks Tenhave-san,

	I understood I will must change Bit3 hardware. However, I have some 
    OEM customer who configured old Bit3 hardware to their system. If possible,
    please tell me the reason why must change later Bit3 PCI card.
    Because I have never heard the problem about old Bit3 card from my 
    customer. Should every customer update to later Bit3 PCI card ?

        I hsten to inform you the following facts about this problem.

	- Configuration parameter
	  I used default dwpvc_data.c, default sysconfigtab, excluding VME
	  probe address.
	
	- No error message 
	  I could not find any error log from UNIX. 

	- Irregurar appearance
	  Bad state was not irrelevant to size of DMA transfer, number of DMA
          transfer.

	- Reappear bad state
	  
	- Lock timing
	  When VGA console was displaied on screen for abort, if I quickly 
	  stopped process of continuously DMA transfer invoking CTRL/C, 
	  UNIX understood some command, for examples "/usr/sbin/xdm stop", 
	  but Xserver could not restart.
	  If I invoked CTRL/C late, UNIX did not reply. Sorry then I did not 
	  tried to login via network or login via serial port.

	Sorry it was not importance now that I settle this question, sales 
    person decided to propose other way to him customer. Rather I concern 
    about replacement of Bit3 hardware.

    regards,
	Kenji
295.3Yes and No...ADISSW::TENHAVETue May 27 1997 13:2546
    
    Hello Matsumoto-san,
    
    >> Should every customer update to later Bit3 PCI card ?
    
    This is difficult to answer.  If it is not broken, do not fix it.  But,
    if the same Bit3 adapter may be used on newer Alpha systems in the
    future, you may want to fix it.  This problem brings up a larger
    problem.  Since DIGITAL does not manufacture and control the Bit3
    hardware, it is very difficult for us to control all the various ways
    that these adapters are used and the various systems they end up in.
    
    
    I also understand that if you are not in the United States, it is even
    more difficult to get boards updated.
    
    The best thing to keep in mind, is that if everything is OK in one
    system, it may not be OK in a newer system.  This may not be acceptable
    to everyone, but DIGITAL does NOT control the hardware design of the
    Bit3.  
    
    I am also not saying Bit3 Corp is doing a bad job.  Their product is 
    used on PC's, Workstations, and Servers from many different venders. 
    It is not just for DIGITAL Alpha systems.  They cannot possibly test
    and design for every venders hardware using every possible PCI add-on
    card.  
    
    This is one reason why we take so long to make a system official.
    
    --------------------
    
    Now back to your problem:
    
    Make sure that the DWPVC kit is the first thing in the HOSTNAME.list
    file.
    
    Without seeing and having the equipment to see you exact problem, I
    can not do much more than this.
    
    ------------------
    
    Please feel free to ask about any concerns, 
    
    					Tim Tenhave