Digital Equipment DEC WANcontroller 618 Instruction sheet

Problem Solving
DEC WANcontroller 618
Part Number: EK–A0546–PS.001
Digital Equipment Corporation. 1992. All Rights Reserved.
1

Users are referred to
these cards if there is
apossible problem
with the line card and
its components.
DEC Network Integration Server Problem Solving
DECNIS Problem Solving Manuals
Network Interface Card (NIC) Problem Solving cards: are supplied with each NIC.
ThecardsoutlineproceduresforcheckingpossibleproblemswithNICs, theircables,
distribution panels and modems. Start problem solving with the flowchart.
DECNIS Installation and Service Manual: includes a problem solving section which
outlines procedures for checking hardware problems.
Loopback Connectors
DNSXT–CA
H3248
H3198
H3250
Part Number
DEC Network Integration Server Problem Solving: outlines NCL commands for
checking software problems.
DEC Network Integration Server Event Messages: this is an on-line text
file. Thefilelistseventmessagesthatcanindicatefaultswithhardwareand
software. The event message describes the meaning of each event and
what action to take.
50-way loopback connector (male)
V.28, EIA-232D
V.36/V.11, EIA-422
V.35
Loopback Connector
NIC and connecting
cable
Distribution panel
and extension cable
Component
There is no loopback test for the BT Kilostream cable. To check if these cables are
faulty,youmustreplacethemandretesttheline. Ifyouareunabletosolveyourprob-
lem, contact Digital Services.
BT Kilostream
Kilostream is a registered trademark of British Telecommunications, plc.
LKG–5721–91I

2

NIC LED States
Slow flash
Fast flicker
READY
HOTSWAP
FAULT
ATTENTION
The LED display shows the state of the NIC when the module self-test
orsystemself-testwaslastrun:seetheInstallationandServiceManual
for your DECNIS for more details.
Module self-test in progress.
TheNICiseitherwaitingtoloadoris load-
ing software.
The NIC has passed its module self-test
andhassuccessfullyloadedthesoftware.
The NIC is disabled.
(The NIC switch is set down.)
The NIC has failed its module self-test.
The NIC is partly working.
You can continue to use working port(s),
butyoumustisolateandreplacethefaulty
component as soon as possible.
Aflickering RUN LED indicates
that the NIC software is waiting
to load.
flash
flicker
flash
LKG–5722–91I
3

For details of tests and procedures, refer to the panel with the matching flag (see overleaf).
D
or ATTENTION READYFAULT Fast Flicker
The problem could be a loose cable
connection. Check all extension
cables are properly connected.
If this does not solve the problem,
continue along this path of the
flowchart.
Test
successful?
(READY state)
B
Perform a module loopback
test on the NIC.
Test
successful?
(READY state)
There is a possible problem
with the NIC.
Do
the system
displays on the processor
card display indicate that the
software is loaded and
running?
Load the DECNIS software
through the alternative port.
See the DEC Network
Integration Server Software
Installation card for the load-
host operating system.
Load
successful?
The problem was a faulty
cable.
D
Replace the distribution
panel.
C
Perform an NCL loopback
test on the faulty port of
the distribution panel.
Test
successful?
All
tests successful?
Check the local modem
and remote connections –
see DEC Network Integration
Server Problem Solving.
D
Replace the section of cable
that failed the test.
Perform NCL loopback test on the extension cables.
If there is more than one cable, test all cables in sequence:
1. Test the cable nearest the adapter cable.
2. If that cable passes the test, test the next section of cable.
3. Repeat step 2 until all sections of the cable have been
tested, or the test fails.
Check the LED display on
the processor card, then see
the Installation and Service
Manual for your DECNIS.
LKG-5726–91
C
A
Check the operational
communication ports for the
DEC WANcontroller 618.
Take note of the faulty port(s).
D
Replace the connecting cable.
Load the DECNIS software
through the suspect line.
See the DEC Network
Integration Server Software
Installation card for the load-
host operating system.
1
1
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
No
No
No
No
No
No
No
No
D
Replace all the extension
cables.
Problem Solving Flowchart – note the NIC LED state and follow the procedure indicated
Do
the system
displays on the processor
card display indicate that the
software is loaded and
running?
D
If this does not solve your
problem, replace the
distribution panel.
A
Check the operational
communication ports for the
DEC WANcontroller 618.
Take note of the faulty port(s).
C
Perform a module loopback
test on the connecting cable.
Yes
Can you
load software through
an alternative port on the
DEC WANcontroller
618 or another
NIC? A
4

Checking the Operational Communication Ports
W618–3–5
NCL> SHOW NODE server DEVICE UNIT unit–name –
_NCL> ALL STATUS
Device name for
the DEC WAN-
controller 618
where server and unit–nameare the names for the DECNIS and DEC
WANcontroller 618, respectively.
Operational communication ports = {W618–3–0,
W618–3–1, W618–3–2, W618–3–3, W618–3–4, W618–3–6,
W618–3–7}
Port number
For example, if port 5 is faulty, the display reads:
Slot number
1. Start NCL
on the load
host.
2. Enter the following command:
3. Find the attribute “operational communication ports”. This lists the
working ports by device name, where:
4. The working ports, or lines, can still be used. You can continue using
theNICifnecessary,butitisbesttoisolateandreplacethefaultycom-
ponentassoonaspossible. Todothis,followtheproceduresindicated
for the ATTENTION state on the problem solving flowchart.
A
NCL>
5

Module Loopback Test
NIC: Connecting cable:
1. MovetheNIC
switch up. 2. Wait until READY LED stops flashing (max. 2
min)
3. Observe the test result on the
LED display.
NOTE
If loading has been
disabled for this slot,
the READY LED will
not stop flashing. To
enable the slot, see
the manual DEC Net-
workIntegrationServ-
er Management.
1. Disable the NIC – move the NIC switch down.
2. Attach the 50-way
loopback connector
(male) to the port or
cable to be tested.
3. Run the module loopback test:
4. If the test passes, the LEDs show the RUN state.
If the test fails, the LEDs show the FAULT or ATTENTION state.
5. Disable the NIC. Reconnect the connecting cable if you have to perform
more testing.
(a)
(b)
(a)
(b)
B
Unfasten
screws
Loopback
connector
flash no
flash
LKG–5723–91I
Unfasten
screws
Loopback
connector
6

NCL Loopback Test
NCL> STARTLOOP NODE server MODEM CONNECT LINE –
_NCL> line–name MODE CONNECTOR
NCL> LOOP NODE server MOP CIRCUIT circuit [COUNT –
_NCL> integer,] [LENGTH integer,] [DATA type]
1. Start NCL
on the load
host.
2. Attach the cable loop-
back connector to the
port or cable to be
tested.
3. Enter the following command at the NCL prompt:
4. If the test passes, no message is displayed.
If the test fails, an error message is displayed.
Distribution panel port: Synchronous cable:
When the prompt returns, enter the following command:
server name
nameof physical line
circuit name
=
=
=
COUNT, LENGTH, and DATA specify the number of blocks, length, and type of data to be sent
inthetest. Thedefaultsends1blockof40byteswithanalternatingsequenceof1sand0s(hexa-
decimal value=55). For more details, see DEC Network Integration Server Problem Solving.
NCL Command Information
server
line–name
circuit
(a)
(b)
(a)
(b)
C
Unfasten
screws
Loopback
connector
NCL>
LKG–5724–91I
Loopback
connector
Unfasten
screws
7

Replacing Faulty Components
If replacingthefaultycomponentdoesnotsolvetheproblem,
checkthe InstallationandServiceManualforyourDECNIS:donot
performanyproceduresinthemanualunlessyouareaserviceper-
son (see the Installation and Service Manual for your DECNIS).
Faulty Components
NIC
Distribution panel
Connecting cable
Extension cable
Action
Installa new NIC. Referto the Installationand
ServiceManual for your DECNIS:DO NOTdo
this unless you are a service person.
Refer to the panel for installing the distribution
panel and connecting cable in the DECWAN-
controller618CablingInformationandSpecifi-
cations card.
Before replacing these components, you
MUST disable the NIC.
Refertothepanelforattachingcommunication
cables in the DECWANcontroller 618 Cabling
Information and Specifications card.
D
8