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MicroVAX 3100 Model 40 and Model 80 Troubleshooting and Diagnostic Information Order Number: EK-A0518-TM.001 October 1991 This manual describes the troubleshooting procedures and diagnostic commands that you can use to solve basic problems with the MicroVAX 3100 Model 40 and Model 80 systems. This is a new manual.
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October 1991 The information in this document is subject to change without notice and should not be construed as a commitment by Digital Equipment Corporation. Digital Equipment Corporation assumes no responsibility for any errors that may appear in this document. The software described in this document is furnished under a license and may be used or copied only in accordance with the terms of such license.
Preface This manual describes the troubleshooting procedures and diagnostic commands that you can use to solve basic problems with the MicroVAX™ 3100 Model 40 and Model 80 systems. Audience This manual is intended for people who have some experience of computers. Structure of This Manual This manual has one chapter and an index.
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Conventions The following conventions are used in this manual: Convention Description MONOSPACE Text displayed on the screen is shown in monospace type. italic type Italic type emphasizes important information and indicates the complete titles of manuals. boldface type Boldface type in examples indicates user input. Boldface type in text indicates the first instance of terms defined either in the text, in the glossary, or both.
Troubleshooting and Diagnosing Problems This chapter describes the troubleshooting procedures and diagnostic commands that you can use to solve basic problems with the MicroVAX 3100 Model 40 and Model 80 systems. It contains information on the following: • Troubleshooting • Diagnostic tests and commands •...
• Expansion box power cords • ThinWire™ Ethernet cable or standard Ethernet cable 6. Check that the following terminators, if installed, are correctly connected and are not damaged: • SCSI terminator • ThinWire Ethernet terminator (T-connector and two terminators) • Standard Ethernet loopback connector If you have correctly followed steps 1 to 5, the on/off switches on all the components are set to the off (O) position, and you have solved any...
Table 1–1 Basic Troubleshooting Symptom Possible Cause Suggested Solution System Problems The system unit fan is off The power cord is not Make sure that all the power cords or the power light is off. connected. The power cord are connected correctly at both may be faulty.
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Table 1–1 (Cont.) Basic Troubleshooting Symptom Possible Cause Suggested Solution System Problems The terminal cable may be Connect the terminal cable and faulty. the terminal to another system. If the connected terminal works, the DZ circuitry or MMJ connector is faulty. Otherwise, the cable is faulty.
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Table 1–1 (Cont.) Basic Troubleshooting Symptom Possible Cause Suggested Solution RRD42 Compact Disc Drive Problems The drive does not accept The disc is upside-down in Remove the disc from the caddy the caddy. the caddy or it is not placed and reinsert it properly.
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Table 1–1 (Cont.) Basic Troubleshooting Symptom Possible Cause Suggested Solution TZ30 Tape Drive Problems The TZ30 green LED The drive mechanism is Press and release the unload button flashes rapidly. faulty or the tape cartridge to clear the fault. If the LED is damaged.
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Table 1–1 (Cont.) Basic Troubleshooting Symptom Possible Cause Suggested Solution TZK10 Quarter Inch Cartridge (QIC) Tape Drive Problems The data read from the QIC The drive head is dirty. Clean the drive head. See the tape is corrupted. MicroVAX 3100 Model 40 and Model 80 Operator Information manual.
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Table 1–1 (Cont.) Basic Troubleshooting Symptom Possible Cause Suggested Solution RX™26 Diskette Drive Problems The system cannot read The diskette is not Format the diskette. from or write to the formatted. diskette. The diskette is not correctly Eject the diskette. Try inserting inserted.
1.2 Diagnostic Tests and Commands There are a number of diagnostic tests and commands that can help you to isolate a problem with the system unit. These tests and commands are as follows: • Power-up tests • Self-tests • Configuration display •...
1.2.1 Power-Up Tests The system runs the power-up tests each time you turn on the system. If the system passes the tests, it responds with a display similar to the following: KA45−A V1.0 08−00−2B−1A−0B−BB 16MB >>> Central Processing Unit (CPU) Name and Firmware Version Number—The KA45 is the CPU in the Model 40 system;...
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If the power-up tests encounter an error, the system responds with a display similar to the following: KA45−A V1.0 08−00−2B−1A−0B−BB 16MB ?? 001 0104 >>> Error Type—Double question marks (??) indicate a hard error, that is, a fatal error that prevents the system from booting. A single question mark (?) indicates a soft error, that is, a nonfatal error that does not prevent the system from booting.
1.2.2 Self-Tests Self-tests perform the same tests as the power-up tests except for one difference; the power-up tests test all the devices in the system, whereas the self-tests allow you to test a single device. If you encounter a hard error in the power-up test display, follow these steps: 1.
If the device fails the self-test, the system responds with the following display: >>> TEST 9 ?? 001 0172 84 FAIL >>> 4. If the error remains, contact your Digital Services representative (see Section 1.3). Table 1–2 lists all the device numbers, mnemonics, and device names. Table 1–2 Device Numbers, Mnemonics, and Names Number Mnemonic...
1.2.3 Configuration Display The configuration display shows the system configuration and the error messages that were detected while the most recent power-up tests and self- tests were running. If you add expansion boxes to the system and do not run the power-up tests or self-tests, the configuration display does not recognize the reconfiguration.
If the system detects errors in the most recent power-up tests and self-tests, it responds with a configuration display similar to the following: KA45-A V1.0 08-00-2B-16-44-48 DEVNBR DEVNAM INFO ------ --------- ------------------------- CACHE 8MB = SY=8MB, S0/1=0MB, S2/3=0MB, S4/5=0MB ?? 001 0104 SCSI 3-RZ23L 6-INITR COMM...
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To run the system exerciser, enter the following command: >>> TEST 100 The system responds with a display similar to the following: KA45/47 V1.0 System Test CU 0 00:01:29 DZ # NI # SCSI # COMM # ASYNC # ***** SYT_DISPLY_SUMRY ((’1’=Y), (’0’=N))....? Central Processing Unit (CPU) Name and Firmware Version Number –...
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If a device fails the system exerciser tests, the system displays the following: KA45/47 V1.0 System Test CU 0 00:00:59 DZ # NI # SCSI # COMM # ?? 14 ASYNC 40 0305 0 00:01:26 ***** SYT_DISPLY_SUMRY ((’1’=Y), (’0’=N))....? Error Report—The error report replaces the status bar when a device fails the system exerciser tests.
1.2.5 Summary Screens The system exerciser generates summary screens that show the progress or results of the most recent system exerciser test. You do not need to use or understand the summary screens, however, your Digital Services representative might ask you to display a summary screen when you call. The system displays a screen summary when one of the following conditions is satisfied: •...
1.2.6 Error Display The error display lists the errors detected by the most recent self-test or system exerciser test. To see the error display, enter the following command: >>> SHOW ERROR The system responds with a display similar to the following: ? 000 NVR 0003 ?? 001...
Figure 1–1 Status LED Display RE_EN06326A_91 Status LED Display Troubleshooting and Diagnosing Problems 1–21...
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Index Cables checking the console terminal cable, 1–1 troubleshooting, 1–3 checking the Ethernet cables, 1–1 checking the expansion box power cords, 1–1 checking the expansion box SCSI cables, Loopbacks 1–1 checking, 1–1 checking the system unit power cord, 1–1 checking connection, 1–2 checking the terminal power cord, 1–1 standard Ethernet, 1–1 troubleshooting, 1–1...
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checking connection, 1–2 SCSI, 1–2 ThinWire Ethernet, 1–1 SCSI terminator, 1–2 Test results Standard Ethernet, 1–2 for system exerciser, 1–18 System exerciser ThinWire Ethernet, 1–2 test results, 1–18 Troubleshooting, 1–1 to 1–8 System unit RRD42 compact disc drive, 1–4 checking power cord, 1–1 RX26 diskette drive, 1–7 troubleshooting, 1–3 system unit, 1–3...
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