DEC MicroVAX 3100 40 Guide

MicroVAX3100
Model40andModel80
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.
Revision Information: This is a new manual.
Digital Equipment Corporation
Maynard, Massachusetts

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.
No responsibility is assumed for the use or reliability of software on equipment that is not
supplied by Digital Equipment Corporation or its affiliated companies.
Restricted Rights: Use, duplication, or disclosure by the U.S. Government is subject to
restrictions as set forth in subparagraph (c)(1)(ii) of the Rights in Technical Data and Computer
Software clause at DFARS 252.227-7013.
© Digital Equipment Corporation 1991.
All Rights Reserved.
The postpaid Reader’s Comments forms at the end of this document request your critical
evaluation to assist in preparing future documentation.
The following are trademarks of Digital Equipment Corporation: Digital, MicroVAX, RX,
ThinWire, VAX, VAX DOCUMENT, VMS, and the DIGITAL logo.
This document was prepared using VAX DOCUMENT, Version 2.0.

Contents
Preface ..................................................... v
1 Troubleshooting and Diagnosing Problems
1.1 Troubleshooting . . . ................................... 1–1
1.1.1 Using the Troubleshooting Table . . . ................... 1–2
1.2 Diagnostic Tests and Commands ......................... 1–9
1.2.1 Power-Up Tests ................................... 1–10
1.2.2 Self-Tests ........................................ 1–12
1.2.3 Configuration Display . . . ........................... 1–14
1.2.4 System Exerciser .................................. 1–15
1.2.5 Summary Screens ................................. 1–18
1.2.6 Error Display . . ................................... 1–20
1.3 Contacting Digital Services . . ........................... 1–20
Index
Figures
1–1 Status LED Display ................................ 1–21
Tables
1–1 Basic Troubleshooting . . . ........................... 1–3
1–2 Device Numbers, Mnemonics, and Names ............... 1–13
iii

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.
Additional Information
See the MicroVAX 3100 Model 40 and Model 80 Operator Information manual
for the list of associated and related documents.
v

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.
Note A note contains information that is of special importance to the user.
vi

1
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
• Contacting Digital™ Services
It also lists the information that you must give to your Digital Services
representative and where to find this information.
1.1 Troubleshooting
If a problem occurs, you must first make sure that all the cables, loopback
connectors, and terminators are correctly connected and that the connectors
are not damaged, for example, the pins may be broken or short-circuited.
Follow these steps:
1. Shut down the operating system following the procedures described in the
operating system documentation.
2. Turn off the console terminal and all the peripheral devices such as
printers and modems.
3. Turn off all the expansion boxes.
4. Turn off the system unit.
5. Check that the following cables, if installed, are correctly connected at both
ends and that the connectors are not damaged:
• Console terminal cable (linking the console terminal to the system unit)
• Console terminal power cord
• System unit power cord
• Expansion box SCSI cables
Troubleshooting and Diagnosing Problems 1–1

• 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
problems caused by incorrectly connected cables or terminators.
7. Set the on/off switches on the following equipment to the on (|) position in
the following order:
a. Expansion boxes
b. Peripherals
c. Console terminal
d. System unit
The system responds with the power-up test display. If it does not, see
Section 1.1.1.
1.1.1 Using the Troubleshooting Table
Table 1–1 suggests the corrective actions for certain system problems. If you
have a problem with the system, follow these steps:
1. Write down the symptoms of the problem.
2. Check the Symptom column in Table 1–1 for a match.
3. Check the conditions for that symptom in the Possible Cause column. If
the column lists more than one possible cause, check the possible causes
and their suggested solutions in the order listed.
4. Follow the advice in the Suggested Solution column.
5. See Section 1.3 if the problem persists.
1–2 Troubleshooting and Diagnosing Problems

Table 1–1 Basic Troubleshooting
Symptom Possible Cause Suggested Solution
System Problems
The system unit fan is off
or the power light is off. The power cord is not connected. The power cord
may be faulty. The power
socket may not be working.
Make sure that all the power cords
are connected correctly at both
ends. Try a power cord that works
or test the power socket with an
appliance that works.
The overload protection
circuitry of the power
supply may have shut down
because of an abnormal
condition on the power line.
Turn the system off and then turn
it back on.
The power supply unit
(PSU) is faulty. Contact your Digital Services representative.
The power-up display does
not show after 20 seconds. The terminal cable is not correctly connected. Make sure that all the cables are connected at both ends.
The power cord is not
connected. The power cord
may be faulty. The power
socket may not be working.
Make sure that all the power cords
are connected correctly at both
ends. Try a power cord that works
or test the power socket with an
appliance that works.
The terminal fuse may have
blown. Replace the blown terminal fuse. See the terminal documentation.
The terminal settings may
be incorrect. See the MicroVAX 3100 Model 40 and Model 80 Operator Information
manual for the list of correct
terminal settings. See the terminal
documentation for information on
setting up the terminal.
The port to which the
terminal connects may be
faulty.
Try connecting the terminal to
another system. If this solution
works, the port to which the
terminal was connected is faulty.
If the terminal still does not
operate, it is faulty. In either
case, contact your Digital Services
representative.
(continued on next page)
Troubleshooting and Diagnosing Problems 1–3

Table 1–1 (Cont.) Basic Troubleshooting
Symptom Possible Cause Suggested Solution
System Problems
The terminal cable may be
faulty. Connect the terminal cable and the terminal to another system.
If the connected terminal works,
the DZ circuitry or MMJ connector
is faulty. Otherwise, the cable
is faulty. Contact your Digital
Services representative.
The break/enable switch is
in the wrong position. Turn off the system unit. Set the break/enable switch to the down
position, then turn on the system
unit.
The power-up display
contains question marks. A soft error or hard error. A single question mark (?) followed by numbers in the power-up display
indicates a soft error. Do not take
any action unless the system fails
to boot. If the system does not boot,
see Section 1.3.
Double question marks (??)
followed by numbers in the power-
up display indicate a hard error.
See Section 1.3.
The power-up test display
contains unexpected
characters.
The terminal settings are
incorrect or the DZ circuitry
is faulty.
Make sure the terminal settings
are correct, then run the power-
up test again. If the terminal is
set correctly, contact your Digital
Services representative.
The system fails to boot the
operating system. The system defaults are incorrectly set. Set the system defaults as described in the VMS Factory
Installed Software User Guide,
then try booting the system again.
If the system still fails to boot,
contact your Digital Services
representative.
(continued on next page)
1–4 Troubleshooting and Diagnosing Problems

Table 1–1 (Cont.) Basic Troubleshooting
Symptom Possible Cause Suggested Solution
RRD42 Compact Disc Drive Problems
The drive does not accept
the caddy. The disc is upside-down in the caddy or it is not placed
correctly in the caddy.
Remove the disc from the caddy
and reinsert it properly.
The eject button fails to
eject the caddy. The eject button is disabled by software. Reenable the eject button or manually eject the caddy.
The system does not have
power. Set the system unit on/off switch to the on (|) position and press the
eject button again.
(continued on next page)
Troubleshooting and Diagnosing Problems 1–5