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Conference wonder::turbolaser

Title:TurboLaser Notesfile - AlphaServer 8200 and 8400 systems
Notice:Welcome to WONDER::TURBOLASER in it's new homeshortly
Moderator:LANDO::DROBNER
Created:Tue Dec 20 1994
Last Modified:Fri Jun 06 1997
Last Successful Update:Fri Jun 06 1997
Number of topics:1218
Total number of notes:4645

1200.0. "console diagnostics available ??" by FIREBL::LEEDS (From VAXinated to Alphaholic) Thu May 15 1997 19:17

I just had a customer hit me with the following:

" We've been told that the 8400 does not have console-level diagnostics
  like the 7000 platform. In other words, if the system is having 
  problems, there is nothing like a 'test nnn' which can be issued
  to help isolated the problem. We understand DEC did this to save
  money, but we don't feel comfortable with this. Will this be addressed 
  in a future version of the console firmware? "

I don't ever get a chance to work at the console level of a Turbolaser,
so I didn't know how to respond. Are there console-level diagnostics which 
can be run to help isolate system failures ?? If so, where can I get a list 
of the available tests (since I don't have an 8400 to go look at) ?

If there are no console-level diags, how do I respondd to their issue ?

(BTW, they also asked if the same was true for Rawhide)


Thanks

Arlan
T.RTitleUserPersonal
Name		DateLines
1200.1extensive console-level diagnosticsVYGER::BRYCEGFri May 16 1997 08:1053
    
    In manufacturing we use console-level diagnostics extensively and have
    found them to be excellent in system/module diagnosis.
    
    >>> there is nothing like a 'test nnn' which can be issued
    
    Below is a list of options available for testing via the console - 
    
    P04>>>help test
    NAME
             test
    FUNCTION
    
    SYNOPSIS
             test [-qualifier] [option]
                    where qualifier:
                    q - quiet
                    t <time> - run time
                    omit <device> - omit device
                    v - verbose
                    where option:
                    kn* CPU
                    ms* Memory
                    ti* TIOP
                    dw* Bus Adapter
                    xm* Bus
                    fb* Bus
                    kf* Adapter
                    ci* Adapter
                    de* Adapter
                    kd* Adapter
                    kz* Adapter
                    ex* Units
                    fx* Units
                    du* Units
                    ds* Units
                    dk* Units
                    mu* Units
                    mk* Units)
    
    As you can see the console-level diagnostics are very extensive,and can
    be used to isolate system failures quite easily.
    
    There is also further console-level diagnostics available which are
    used in manufacturing.
    
    Gordon Bryce
    
    (Stage 1 Manufacturing)
1200.2HARMNY::CUMMINSFri May 16 1997 14:463
    BTW, Rawhide implements TEST as well. And both 8X00 and 4X00 provide a
    full suite of power-up tests. Finally, operating system based tools
    such as DEC VET are provided for O/S-based testing.
1200.3so where did this come from ?FIREBL::LEEDSFrom VAXinated to AlphaholicFri May 16 1997 16:018
Supposedly, this came out by a couple of major customers at a Digital 
Technology meeting a couple of weeks ago in Nashua. The claim from the other 
customers (which my customer overheard) was that due to the lack of 
diagnostics and unstability of the TLaser, they forced DEC to replaced them 
with DEC 7000s. This made my customer very wary of using 8400s in a 
production environment. Any idea where I can get more details on this issue?

ASrlan
1200.4HARMNY::CUMMINSWed May 21 1997 13:1714
    Do you know if the lack of diagnostics and instability statement was
    directed at DEC VET or at console/powerup-based diagnostics? I'd be
    willing to bet that TurboLaser has more ROM-based, test-directed
    diagnostics than probably any other computer system in the world.
    
    DEC VET on SMP UNIX systems was highly unstable, and indeed broken.
    Perhaps this is what the customer was referring to? My understanding
    is that this SMP issue with UNIX/VET has since been fixed.
    
    If there's any way you could provide more details about the customer
    complaint/claim, I'd love to hear them.
    
    Thanks,
    BC