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VAX 4000 Model 300 Troubleshooting and Diagnostics Order Number EK–386AB–TS–002 Digital Equipment Corporation Maynard, Massachusetts...
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The software, if any, described in this document is furnished under a license and may be used or copied only in accordance with the terms of such license. No responsibility is assumed for the use or reliability of software or equipment that is not supplied by Digital Equipment Corporation or its affiliated companies.
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Preface Troubleshooting is the process of isolating and diagnosing problems. When your system does not operate as described in your Operation manual, use the information in this manual to isolate and diagnose the problem. This manual contains three chapters and one appendix: •...
Chapter 1 Troubleshooting During Power-Up After you turn on your system, the processor performs a series of self-tests and startup routines. After successful completion of the self-tests, if the Break Enable/Disable switch is set to disable (down), your system autoboots system software.
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System has power; AC Problem in CPU. Call your Digital service representa- Present and DC OK in- tive. dicators lit; nothing dis- plays on console termi- nal. 1–2 VAX 4000 Model 300 Troubleshooting and Diagnostics...
Problem Possible Cause Corrective Action System has power; DC Problem in CPU. Call your Digital service representa- OK indicator lit; noth- tive. ing displays on console terminal; LED on con- sole module displays E or F. Self-tests halt; error mes- System detected error Copy number following question mark sage or error summary...
Tape not bootable (does Use bootable tape to start system not contain bootstrap software. program). Tape worn or damaged. Try another tape cartridge. Problem in controller or Call your Digital service representa- tape drive. tive. 1–4 VAX 4000 Model 300 Troubleshooting and Diagnostics...
Chapter 2 Troubleshooting During Normal Operation Problems that occur during normal operation of your system may result from a system defect, faulty setting, or incorrect procedure. The following sections list problems, possible causes, and corrective actions. If the action(s) listed do not solve the problem, call your Digital service representative.
Bus node ID plug not Install that plug. blinking. installed. Two or more devices Make sure all devices and controllers have same node ID on or adapters on same bus have unique same bus. IDs. 2–2 VAX 4000 Model 300 Troubleshooting and Diagnostics...
Problem Possible Cause Corrective Action Problem in controller or If Fault indicator stops blinking, ISE. system may have corrected itself. Run MDM as described in Chapter 3. If Fault indicator remains lit, call your Digital service representative. Read error message dis- ISE not spun up.
Digital service representative. Passes self-test; does Problem in controller Call your Digital service representa- not work. or connection between tive. drive and controller. 2–4 VAX 4000 Model 300 Troubleshooting and Diagnostics...
2.5 TK70 Tape Drive Problems Problem Possible Cause Corrective Action Green light blinking af- Tape leader defective. Pull handle open and remove cartridge. ter tape insertion. Use another cartridge. Orange, yellow, Problem in drive. Press Unload button once. If orange green lights blinking.
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Dirty read/write heads Use head cleaning cassette. If problem tape indicator blinking or worn tape. persists, try another cassette. green or yellow. Tape and drive indicators Excessive humidity. Adjust room climate. yellow. 2–6 VAX 4000 Model 300 Troubleshooting and Diagnostics...
Chapter 3 Running the MicroVAX Diagnostic Monitor (MDM) The MicroVAX Diagnostic Monitor (MDM) is an optional software package containing diagnostic tests that isolate and identify faults in your system. MDM also lets you display your system configuration and test how devices work together.
MDM. NOTE: If you have a diskless or tapeless system that is not part of a local area network, you cannot run MDM. To diagnose problems, call your Digital service representative. 3–2 VAX 4000 Model 300 Troubleshooting and Diagnostics...
3.2.2 Preparing to Run MDM on an RF-Series Integrated Storage Element (ISE) or Hard Disk You can install MDM on an RF-series ISE or hard-disk drive by using the MDM Hard Disk Kit. Installation of that kit requires your completion of the Diagnostic Software Installation Acknowledgment.
Warn all users to log off. b. Perform system shutdown as described in your software manuals. 2. Set the Break Enable/Disable switch on the host to be tested to enable (up). 3–4 VAX 4000 Model 300 Troubleshooting and Diagnostics...
3. Insert the tape cartridge containing MDM into the tape drive and lock it in place. 4. Restart the host to be tested. 5. After the self-test countdown completes and the prompt displays, >>> enter the command BOOT MUx0, where x is the controller port letter, to load MDM from the tape.
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TK70 or TF85 drive blinks while loading occurs. Section 3.4 describes the display you see after loading completes. 8. After loading completes, make sure all RF-series ISEs are on line. 3–6 VAX 4000 Model 300 Troubleshooting and Diagnostics...
3.3.1.2 Booting MDM Automatically Use this procedure to boot MDM from a TK50 or TK70 tape drive. Do not use this procedure for a TF85 tape drive. 1. If software is installed on your system: a. Warn all users to log off. b.
If the date and time are not correct, type the correct date and time using the format shown in the display. For example, enter 10–JUN– 1991 02:30 and press to continue. Return The Main Menu appears. Section 3.5 describes the options on that menu. 3–8 VAX 4000 Model 300 Troubleshooting and Diagnostics...
3.5 Main Menu Options The Main Menu provides six options as shown in Figure 3–1. Figure 3–1: Main Menu MAIN MENU Release nnn Version xx.xx 1 - Test the System 2 - Display System Configuration and Devices 3 - Display the System Utilities Menu 4 - Display the Service Menu 5 - Display the Connect/Ignore Menu 6 - Select Single Device Tests...
At the end of the tests, press to return to the Main Menu. Return From the Main Menu you can exit MDM as described in Section 3.6 or you can select one of the other options. 3–10 VAX 4000 Model 300 Troubleshooting and Diagnostics...
3.5.2 Display System Configuration and Devices Option The Display System Configuration and Devices option identifies devices recognized by MDM. After you select this option, the diagnostics are prepared for testing. If this is the first option you selected, the diagnostics are loaded. Loading takes several minutes.
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After all devices are listed, you can return to the Main Menu by pressing Return From the Main Menu you can exit MDM as described in Section 3.6 or you can select one of the other options. 3–12 VAX 4000 Model 300 Troubleshooting and Diagnostics...
3.5.3 Display the System Utilities Menu Option The Display the System Utilities Menu option displays the System Utilities Menu. If system utilities in addition to the IOADDRES function are available on your system, they are listed on that menu. After you select this option, the diagnostics are prepared for testing. If this is the first option you selected, the diagnostics are loaded.
After loading completes, you are prompted to press Return After you press , a list of the devices in your system is displayed. Return Figure 3–5 shows an example of such a display. 3–14 VAX 4000 Model 300 Troubleshooting and Diagnostics...
Figure 3–5: Select Single Device Test Menu MAIN MENU Release nnn Version xx.xx SELECT SINGLE DEVICE TEST Select the device number to be tested. The functional tests will be run followed by the exercisers for 4 minutes. 1 - CPUA - MicroVAX CPU 2 - MEMA - MicroVAX memory system 3 - PDIA - SHAC DSSI Subsystem 4 - SGCA - Second Generation Ethernet Controller...
Ethernet controller After a failure message appears, the testing stops. Press to return to the Select Single Device Test menu for more testing. Return To exit MDM, press or the Restart button. Break 3–16 VAX 4000 Model 300 Troubleshooting and Diagnostics...
3.6 Exiting MDM Exit MDM in one of the following ways. • Press Break • Press and then release the Halt button. • Press the Restart button. Remove the tape cartridge as described in your Operation manual. If you ran MDM on a new system, you are ready to install your software. Set the Write-Protect button to write-enable and then follow the instructions in your software manuals.
Appendix A System Controls and Indicators The illustrations in this appendix show the controls and indicators on your system: Figure A–1: System Control Panel and Power Supply Figure A–2: Integrated Storage Element and Console Module Figure A–3: TK50 and TK70 Tape Drives Figure A–4: TF85 and TLZ04 Tape Drives System Controls and Indicators A–1...
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Figure A–1: System Control Panel and Power Supply System Control Panel Over Temperature Warning Indicator DC OK Indicator Halt Button Restart Button Power Supply Power Switch AC Present Indicator DC OK Indicator Fan Failure Indicator Over Temperature Condition Indicator Power Bus Connectors Power Cable Connector...
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Figure A–2: Integrated Storage Element and Console Module Integrated Storage Element Run/Ready Button Write-Protect Button Bus Node Fault Indicator ID Plug Console Module Power-Up Mode Switch Modified Modular Jack Baud Rate Baud 300___________0 600___________1 Select Switch 1200__________2 2400__________3 4800__________4 9600__________5 19200_________6 Break Enable/ 38400_________7...
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Figure A–3: TK50 and TK70 Tape Drives TK50 TAPE DRIVE Load/Unload Button, Red Light Handle Closed Green Indicator Light TK70 TAPE DRIVE Orange Light Yellow Light Green Light Unload Button Handle MLO-005341 System Controls and Indicators A–7...
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Figure A–4: TF85 and TLZ04 Tape Drives TF85 TAPE DRIVE Orange Light Yellow Light Orange Light Green Light Cartridge Insert/ Release Handle Bus Node ID Plug TLZ04 TAPE DRIVE Unload Button Tape Indicator Drive Indicator MLO-006361 System Controls and Indicators A–9...
Index Disc caddy See RRD-series disc Autobooting system software, 1–1 Diskless or tapeless system See System, diskless or tapeless Display System Configuration and Booting Devices option, MicroVAX integrated storage element, Diagnostic Monitor Main power-up problems, 1–4 Menu, 3–11 tape drive, power-up problems, Display the Connect/Ignore Menu 1–4 option, MicroVAX Diagnostic...
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MicroVAX Diagnostic Monitor (Cont.) Indicators, system, A–1 Display the Service Menu option, Integrated storage element Main Menu, 3–14 operation problems, 2–2 Display the System Utilities power-up booting problems, 1–4 Menu option, Main Menu, 3–13 Introductory display, MicroVAX exiting, 3–17 Diagnostic Monitor, 3–8 Hard Disk Kit, 3–3 IOADDRES function, MicroVAX Diagnostic Monitor System...
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MicroVAX Diagnostic Monitor Preparing disc caddy, RRD-series (Cont.) disc, 3–8 starting, booting TK70 tape Preparing to run MicroVAX automatically, 3–7 Diagnostic Monitor starting, booting TK70 tape See MicroVAX Diagnostic Monitor, manually, 3–6 preparing to run starting, RRD-series disc, 3–7 Problems Test the System option, Main See Operation problems or Power- Menu, 3–9...
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Starting MicroVAX Diagnostic TK50/TK70 tape, starting MicroVAX Monitor (Cont.) Diagnostic Monitor, 3–5 See MicroVAX Diagnostic Monitor, TK70 tape drive starting operation problems, 2–5 Storage element TLZ04 tape drive operation See Integrated storage element problems, 2–5 System Troubleshooting controls and indicators, A–1 MicroVAX Diagnostic Monitor, diskless or tapeless, preparing to 3–1...
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