Digital Equipment VAX 4000 105A Guide

VAX4000Model105A/106A
Troubleshooting and Diagnostics
Information
Order Number: EK–515AA–TS. B01
MAY 1995
This manual describes the troubleshooting and diagnostic procedures that
you can use to solve basic problems with VAX 4000 Model 105A and Model
106A systems.
Digital Equipment Corporation
Maynard, Massachusetts

May 1995
Digital Equipment Corporation makes no representations that the use of its products in the
manner described in this publication will not infringe on existing or future patent rights, nor do
the descriptions contained in this publication imply the granting of licenses to make, use, or sell
equipment or software in accordance with the description.
Possession, use, or copying of the software described in this publication is authorized only
pursuant to a valid written license from Digital or an authorized sublicensor.
© Digital Equipment Corporation 1995. All Rights Reserved.
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evaluation to assist in preparing future documentation.
The following are trademarks of Digital Equipment Corporation: DECnet, Digital, OpenVMS,
RRD42, RRD43, RX, ThinWire, TK, VAX, VAXcluster, VAX DOCUMENT, VT, and the
DIGITAL logo.
All other trademarks and registered trademarks are the property of their respective holders.
S2852
This document was prepared using VAX DOCUMENT Version 2.1.

Contents
Preface ..................................................... v
1 Troubleshooting and Diagnosing Problems
1.1 Troubleshooting Procedure . . . ........................... 1–1
1.2 Using the Troubleshooting Table ......................... 1–2
2 Diagnostic Tests and Commands
2.1 Diagnostic Tests and Commands ......................... 2–1
2.1.1 Power-Up Tests ................................... 2–1
2.1.2 Self-Tests ........................................ 2–4
2.2 Contacting Digital™ Services. ........................... 2–8
Index
Examples
2–1 Show Configuration Command ........................ 2–4
2–2 Listing Diagnostics ................................ 2–5
Figures
2–1 Status LED Display ................................ 2–9
iii

Tables
1–1 Basic Troubleshooting .............................. 1–3
2–1 Status LED Display and Break Enable Meanings . . ....... 2–10
iv

Preface
This manual describes the troubleshooting and diagnostic procedures that you
can use to solve basic problems with VAX 4000 Model 105A/106A systems.
This manual is intended for people who have had some experience using
computers.
This manual has two chapters and an index.
See VAX 4000 Model 105A/106A Operator Information, EK–513AA–OP, for the
list of associated and related documents.
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.
v

1
Troubleshooting and Diagnosing Problems
This chapter describes the troubleshooting procedure that you can use to solve
basic problems with VAX 4000 Model 105A and Model 106A systems.
1.1 Troubleshooting Procedure
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
• Expansion box Q–bus cables
• Expansion box DSSI cable(s)
• Expansion box power cords
• ThinWire™ Ethernet cable or standard Ethernet cable
Troubleshooting and Diagnosing Problems 1–1

6. Check that the following terminators, if installed, are correctly connected
and are not damaged:
• DSSI terminator(s)
• SCSI terminator
• ThinWire Ethernet terminator (T-connector and two terminators)
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 1.2.
1.2 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 causes of the 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 2.2 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 console terminal is plugged into port 0. The console only functions via port 3. Move connection to port 3.
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 VAX 4000 Model 105A /106A 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
console 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 test display
contains unexpected
characters.
The terminal settings are
incorrect or the console
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 OpenVMS Factory
Installed Software User Guide, then
try booting the system again. If
the system still fails to boot, contact
your Digital services representative.
EF/RF-Series Integrated Storage Element (ISE) Problems1
A write error message is
displayed; the Write-Protect
button glows orange. For
EF/RF ISEs,
Mounted
wrtlck
displays when DCL
command SHOW
DEVICE DI is issued.
The ISE is write-protected. Press and release the Write-Protect
button. For EF/RF, remove Write-
Protect.
The fault indicator is lit or
blinking. The bus node ID plug is not installed. Install the appropriate plug.
Two or more devices have
the same node ID on the
same bus.
Make sure all devices and
controllers or adapters on the
same bus have unique IDs.
1Only RF3X drives are internal; all other RF-series drives are external.
(continued on next page)
1–4 Troubleshooting and Diagnosing Problems