Digital Equipment AlphaServer 800 User manual

AlphaServer 800
Service Guide
Order Number: EK–ASV80–SG. A01
This guide describes diagnostics used in troubleshooting system
failures, as well as the procedures for replacing field-replaceable
units (FRUs).
Digital Equipment Corporation
Maynard, Massachusetts

First Printing, April 1997
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.
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, 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.
Copyright 1997 by Digital Equipment Corporation. All rights reserved.
The following are trademarks of Digital Equipment Corporation: AlphaServer, OpenVMS,
StorageWorks, and the Digital logo.
The following are third-party trademarks: Lifestyle 28.8 DATA/FAX Modem is a trademark
of Motorola, Inc. UNIX is a registered trademark in the U.S. and other countries, licensed
exclusively through X/Open Company Ltd. U.S. Robotics and Sportster are registered
trademarks of U.S. Robotics. Windows NT is a trademark of Microsoft Corporation. All
other trademarks and registered trademarks are the property of their respective holders.

iii
Contents
Preface .................................................................................................ix
Chapter 1 Troubleshooting Strategy
1.1 Questions to Consider..............................................................................1-1
1.2 Problem Categories..................................................................................1-2
1.3 Service Tools and Utilities..................................................................... 1-10
1.4 Information Services.............................................................................. 1-12
Chapter 2 Power-Up Diagnostics and Display
2.1 Interpreting Error Beep Codes ................................................................. 2-2
2.2 Power-Up Display ................................................................................... 2-5
2.2.2 Console Event Log ...........................................................................2-9
2.3 Mass Storage Problems..........................................................................2-10
2.4 Storage Device LEDs ............................................................................ 2-15
2.5 Control Panel LEDs............................................................................... 2-17
2.6 PCI Bus Problems.................................................................................. 2-19
2.7 EISA Bus Problems............................................................................... 2-20
2.8 Fail-Safe Loader....................................................................................2-23
2.9 Power-Up Sequence............................................................................... 2-24
2.9.1 AC Power-Up Sequence.................................................................. 2-24
2.9.2 DC Power-Up Sequence.................................................................. 2-24
2.10 Firmware Power-Up Diagnostics ........................................................... 2-25
2.10.1 Serial ROM Diagnostics ................................................................. 2-25
2.10.2 Console Firmware Diagnostics........................................................ 2-26

iv
Chapter 3 Running System Diagnostics
3.1 Command Summary................................................................................3-2
3.2 Command Reference ...............................................................................3-3
3.2.1 test....................................................................................................3-3
3.2.2 sys_exer............................................................................................3-6
3.2.3 cat el and more el..............................................................................3-8
3.2.4 crash.................................................................................................3-9
3.2.5 memexer......................................................................................... 3-10
3.2.6 net -s............................................................................................... 3-13
3.2.7 net -ic ............................................................................................. 3-14
3.2.8 kill and kill_diags ........................................................................... 3-15
3.2.9 show_status..................................................................................... 3-16
Chapter 4 Server Management Console
4.1 Operating the System Remotely............................................................... 4-2
4.2 First-Time Setup......................................................................................4-5
4.3 Resetting the RMC to Factory Defaults....................................................4-8
4.4 Remote Management Console Commands...............................................4-9
4.5 RMC Troubleshooting Tips ................................................................... 4-19
Chapter 5 Error Log Analysis
5.1 Fault Detection and Reporting................................................................. 5-2
5.2 Machine Checks/Interrupts ...................................................................... 5-3
5.2.1 Error Logging and Event Log Entry Format...................................... 5-5
5.3 Event Record Translation ........................................................................5-5
5.3.1 OpenVMS Alpha Translation Using DECevent................................. 5-6
5.3.2 DIGITAL UNIX Translation Using DECevent.................................. 5-6
Chapter 6 System Configuration and Setup
6.1 Verifying System Configuration .............................................................. 6-2
6.1.1 System Firmware.............................................................................. 6-2
6.1.2 Switching Between Interfaces...........................................................6-4
6.1.3 Verifying Configuration: AlphaBIOS Menu Options
for Windows NT............................................................................... 6-5
6.1.4 Verifying Configuration: SRM Console Commands
for DIGITAL UNIX and OpenVMS..................................................6-5
6.2 CPU, Memory, and Motherboard........................................................... 6-17
6.2.1 CPU Daughter Board...................................................................... 6-17

v
6.2.2 Memory Modules............................................................................ 6-17
6.2.3 Motherboard...................................................................................6-18
6.3 EISA Bus Options.................................................................................. 6-20
6.3.1 Identifying ISA and EISA Options.................................................. 6-20
6.4 EISA Configuration Utility.................................................................... 6-21
6.4.1 Before You Run the ECU ............................................................... 6-22
6.4.2 How to Run the ECU...................................................................... 6-22
6.4.3 Configuring EISA Options.............................................................. 6-24
6.4.4 Configuring ISA Options ................................................................ 6-25
6.5 PCI Bus Options.................................................................................... 6-27
6.6 SCSI Bus............................................................................................... 6-27
6.6.1 Configuring Internal Storage Devices ............................................. 6-28
6.6.2 External SCSI Expansion................................................................ 6-33
6.7 Console Port Configurations.................................................................. 6-34
6.7.1 set console...................................................................................... 6-35
6.7.2 set tt_allow_login ........................................................................... 6-36
6.7.3 set tga_sync_green.......................................................................... 6-37
6.7.4 Setting Up a Serial Terminal to Run the AlphaBIOS Console
and the ECU ................................................................................... 6-37
6.7.5 Using a VGA Controller Other Than the Standard
On-Board VGA............................................................................... 6-38
Chapter 7 FRU Removal and Replacement
7.1 AlphaServer 800 FRUs............................................................................7-1
7.2 Removal and Replacement ......................................................................7-5
7.2.1 Accessing FRUs, Pedestal Systems................................................... 7-5
7.2.2 Accessing FRUs, Rackmount Systems..............................................7-8
7.2.3 Cables............................................................................................. 7-11
7.2.4 CPU Daughter Board...................................................................... 7-20
7.2.5 Control Panel Module..................................................................... 7-21
7.2.6 Fan ................................................................................................. 7-22
7.2.7 Hard Disk Drives............................................................................ 7-23
7.2.8 Memory Modules............................................................................ 7-24
7.2.9 Disk Status Module......................................................................... 7-26
7.2.10 System Motherboard....................................................................... 7-27
7.2.11 NVRAM Chip (E14) and NVRAM TOY Clock Chip (E78)............ 7-30
7.2.12 PCI/EISA Options........................................................................... 7-31
7.2.13 SCSI Disk Drive Backplane............................................................ 7-32
7.2.14 Power Supply.................................................................................. 7-34
7.2.15 Speaker........................................................................................... 7-36
7.2.16 Removable Media........................................................................... 7-37

vi
Figures
2-1 AlphaBIOS Boot Menu.....................................................................2-8
2-2 Hard Disk Drive LEDs.................................................................... 2-15
2-3 Floppy Drive Activity LED............................................................. 2-16
2-4 CD-ROM Drive Activity LED........................................................ 2-17
2-5 Control Panel LEDs........................................................................ 2-17
3-1 AlphaServer 800 Memory Layout................................................... 3-12
4-1 Remote Management Console Block Diagram..................................4-2
6-1 System Architecture: AlphaServer 800 Systems................................ 6-2
6-2 Device Name Convention................................................................. 6-8
6-3 Motherboard Connectors................................................................. 6-19
6-4 EISA and ISA Boards ..................................................................... 6-20
6-5 PCI Board....................................................................................... 6-27
6-6 SCSI Bus IDs.................................................................................. 6-28
6-7 RAID/SCSI Cable for Internal Disk Drive Backplane..................... 6-30
6-8 Wide SCSI Cable for Breakouts at Rear of Enclosure..................... 6-31
6-9 Wide SCSI Dual Connector Cable for Standard
Bulkhead Connector ...................................................................... 6-32
6-10 Removing Divider to Allow for Full-Height Device........................ 6-33
7-1 Opening Front Door, Pedestal Systems ............................................. 7-6
7-2 Removing Top Cover and Side Panels, Pedestal Systems..................7-7
7-3 Accessing FRUs, Rackmount Systems.............................................. 7-9
7-4 FRUs, Pedestal and Rackmount Enclosure...................................... 7-10
7-5 Floppy Drive Cable (34-Pin)........................................................... 7-11
7-6 Control Panel Module Cable...........................................................7-11
7-7 Power Cords ................................................................................... 7-12
7-8 Hard Disk Drive Status Cable (20-Pin)............................................ 7-14
7-9 SCSI (Embedded 16-Bit) Disk Drive Cable (68-Pin).......................7-15
7-10 SCSI (Embedded 8-Bit) Removable Media Cable (50-Pin)............. 7-16
7-11 SCSI (16-Bit) RAID Option to Disk Drive Backplane (68-Pin)....... 7-17
7-12 Wide SCSI Cable for Breakouts at Rear of Enclosure..................... 7-18
7-13 Wide SCSI Dual Connector Cable for Standard PCI/EISA
Bulkhead Connector ....................................................................... 7-19
7-14 Removing CPU Daughter Board..................................................... 7-20
7-15 Removing Control Panel Module.................................................... 7-21
7-16 Removing Fan ................................................................................ 7-22
7-17 Removing Hard Disk Drives........................................................... 7-23
7-18 Memory Slots on Motherboard........................................................ 7-24

vii
7-19 Removing DIMMs from Motherboard............................................. 7-25
7-20 Installing DIMMs on Motherboard.................................................. 7-25
7-21 Removing Disk Status Module........................................................ 7-26
7-22 Removing EISA and PCI Options................................................... 7-27
7-23 Removing CPU Daughter Board..................................................... 7-28
7-24 Removing Air Flow Baffle and Motherboard.................................. 7-29
7-25 Motherboard Layout ....................................................................... 7-30
7-26 Removing PCI or EISA Option....................................................... 7-31
7-27 Removing Hard Disk Drives........................................................... 7-32
7-28 Removing Disk Drive Backplane.................................................... 7-33
7-29 Removing Power Supply................................................................. 7-34
7-30 Removing Speaker and Its Cable .................................................... 7-36
7-31 Removing the Floppy Drive............................................................ 7-37
7-32 Removing the CD-ROM Drive........................................................ 7-38
A-1 Motherboard Jumpers (Default Settings).......................................... A-2
A-2 AlphaServer 8005/400 and 5/333 CPU
Daughter Board (Jumper J3) ............................................................ A-4
A-3 Jumper J1 on the CPU Daughter Board............................................ A-5
A-4 SCSI Hard Disk Backplane Jumper Settings (J5).............................. A-6
B-1 Internal Connectors...........................................................................B-2
B-2 External Connectors..........................................................................B-3
Tables
1-1 Power Problems................................................................................1-3
1-2 Problems Getting to Console Mode................................................... 1-4
1-3 Problems Reported by the Console....................................................1-6
1-4 Boot Problems..................................................................................1-8
1-5 Errors Reported by the Operating System ......................................... 1-9
2-1 Interpreting Error Beep Codes ..........................................................2-3
2-2 Console Power-Up Countdown Description and FRUs...................... 2-6
2-3 Mass Storage Problems................................................................... 2-11
2-4 Troubleshooting RAID Problems.................................................... 2-14
2-5 Hard Disk Drive LEDs.................................................................... 2-16
2-6 Control Panel LEDs........................................................................ 2-18
2-7 PCI Troubleshooting....................................................................... 2-19
2-8 EISA Troubleshooting ....................................................................2-21
3-1 Summary of Diagnostic and Related Commands...............................3-2
4-1 Dial and Alert String Elements .........................................................4-6
4-2 RMC Troubleshooting ....................................................................4-19
5-1 AlphaServer 800 Fault Detection and Connection............................. 5-2
6-1 Environment Variables Set During System Configuration............... 6-11

viii
6-2 Summary of Procedure for Configuring EISA Bus
(EISA Options Only) ...................................................................... 6-24
6-3 Summary of Procedure for for Configuring ISA Options................. 6-25
6-4 Serial Line Keyboard Commands.................................................... 6-38
7-1 AlphaServer 800 FRUs ..................................................................... 7-2
7-2 Power Cord Order Numbers (Pedestal Systems).............................. 7-13
7-3 Power Cord Order Numbers (Rackmount Systems)......................... 7-13
Appendix A Default Jumper Settings
Appendix B Connector Pin Layout
Index

ix
Preface
Intended Audience
This guide describes the procedures and tests used to service AlphaServer 800
systems and is intended for use by Digital Equipment Corporation service personnel
and qualified self-maintenance customers.
The material is presented as follows:
• Chapter 1, Troubleshooting Strategy, describes the troubleshooting strategy
for AlphaServer 800 systems.
• Chapter 2, Power-Up Diagnostics and Display, provides information on how
to interpret error beep codes and the power-up display.
• Chapter 3, Running System Diagnostics, describes how to run ROM-based
diagnostics.
• Chapter 4, Server Management Console, describes the use and operation of
the remote management console (RMC).
• Chapter 5, Error Log Analysis, describes how to interpret error logs reported
to the operating system.
• Chapter 6, System Configuration and Setup, provides configuration and setup
information for the system and system options.
• Chapter 7, FRU Removal and Replacement, describes the field replacement
procedures for AlphaServer 800 systems.
• Appendix A, provides the location and default settings for all jumpers in
AlphaServer 800 systems.
• Appendix B, provides the pin layout for external and internal connectors.

x
Conventions
The following conventions are used in this guide:
Convention Meaning
WARNING: A warning contains information to prevent injury.
CAUTION: A caution contains information essential to avoid damage to
equipment or software.
NOTE: A note calls the reader’s attention to important information.
[ ] In command format descriptions, brackets indicate optional
elements.
italic type In console command sections, italic type indicates a variable.

xi
Related Documentation
Table 1 lists the documentation kits and related documentation for AlphaServer 800
systems.
Table 1 AlphaServer 800 Documentation
Title Order Number
AlphaServer 800 System Information Kit QZ–00XAA–GZ
AlphaServer 800 User's Guide EK–ASV80–UG
AlphaServer 800 Basic Installation EK–ASV80–IG
AlphaServer 800 Maintenance Kit QZ–00XAB–GZ
AlphaServer 800 Service Guide (hard copy) EK–ASV80–SG
Online Service Information (diskette) AK–R2MAA–CA
AlphaServer 800 Illustrated Parts Breakdown EK–ASV80–IP
Reference Information
DEC Verifier and Exerciser Tool User’s Guide AA–PTTMD–TE
Guide to Kernel Debugging AA–PS2TD–TE
OpenVMS Alpha System Dump Analyzer Manual AA–PV6UB–TE
DECevent Translation and Reporting Utility for
OpenVMS Alpha, User and Reference Guide AA–Q73KC–TE
DECevent Translation and Reporting Utility for
DIGITAL UNIX, User and Reference Guide AA–QAA3A–TE
DECevent Analysis and Notification Utility for
OpenVMS Alpha, User and Reference Guide AA–Q73LC–TE
DECevent Analysis and Notification Utility for
DIGITAL UNIX, User and Reference Guide AA–QAA4A–TE

Troubleshooting Strategy 1-1
Chapter 1
Troubleshooting Strategy
This chapter describes the troubleshooting strategy for AlphaServer 800 systems.
• Questions to consider before you begin troubleshooting
• Diagnostics flows for each problem category
• List of service tools and utilities
• List of information services
1.1 Questions to Consider
Before troubleshooting any system problem, first check the site maintenance log for
the system's service history. Be sure to ask the system manager the following
questions:
• Has the system been used and did it work correctly?
• Have changes to hardware or updates to firmware or software been made to the
system recently? If so, are the revision numbers compatible for the system?
(Refer to the hardware and operating system release notes).
• What is the state of the system? Is the operating system running?
If the operating system is down and you are not able to bring it up, use the
diagnostic beep codes and console environment diagnostic tools, such as the
power-up display on the VGA terminal and ROM-based diagnostics (RBDs).
If the operating system is running, use the operating system environment
diagnostic tools, such as the DECevent management utility (to translate and
interpret error logs), crash dumps, and exercisers (DEC VET).

1-2 AlphaServer 800 Service Guide
1.2 Problem Categories
System problems can be classified into the following five categories. Using these
categories, you can quickly determine a starting point for diagnosis and eliminate the
unlikely sources of the problem.
1. Power problems (Table 1-1)
2. No access to console mode (Table 1-2)
3. Console-reported failures (Table 1-3)
4. Boot failures (Table 1-4)
5. Operating system-reported failures (Table 1-5)

Troubleshooting Strategy 1-3
Table 1-1 Power Problems
Symptom Action
System does not power on. • Check the power source and power cord.
• Check the On/Off setting on the operator
control panel. Toggle the On/Off button to
off, then back to the On position to clear a
remote power disable.
• Check the indicator lights on the operator
control panel. If the green Power OK light is
off and amber Halt/Remote Power Off light is
on, the system may be powered off by one of
the following:
− a remote management console command
− system software
− fan failure
− overtemperature condition
− power supply failure
− power select switch on power supply is
set to 120V for a 220V power source
• Check that the ambient room temperature is
within environmental specifications
(10–40°C, 50–104°F).
• Check that internal power supply cables are
plugged in at the system motherboard.
Power supply shuts down after
a few seconds (fan failure). Listen to hear if the fan is spinning at power-up. A failure of the fan causes the system to shut down
after a few seconds.
Enter the remote management console and query
system status/alerts (using the status command)
for an indication of fan failure or overtemperature
condition. Refer to Chapter 4 for instructions.

1-4 AlphaServer 800 Service Guide
Table 1-2 Problems Getting to Console Mode
Symptom Action
Power-up screen is not
displayed. Interpret the error beep codes at power-up (Section 2.1) for a failure detected during self-tests.
Check that the keyboard and monitor are properly
connected and turned on.
If the power-up screen is not displayed, yet the system
enters console mode when you press the Return key,
check that the console environment variable is set
correctly.
If you are using a VGA monitor as the console
terminal, the console variable should be set to
graphics. If you are using a serial console terminal, the
console environment variable should be set to serial.
If you are using the standard onboard VGA controller,
the VGA enable (J27) jumper on the motherboard must
be enabled. Refer to Appendix A.
If a VGA controller other than the standard on-board
VGA controller is being used, refer to Section 6.7 for
more information.
If console is set to serial, the power-up screen is routed
to the COM1 serial communication port (Section 6.7)
and cannot be viewed from the VGA monitor.

Troubleshooting Strategy 1-5
Table 1-2 Problems Getting to Console Mode (continued)
Symptom Action
Try connecting a console terminal to the COM1 serial
communication port (Section 6.7). Check the baud rate
setting for the console terminal and the system. The
system baud rate setting is 9600. When using the
COM1 port, you must set the console environment
variable to serial.
If none of the above considerations solve the problem,
check that the J1 jumper on the CPU daughter board is
not missing. Refer to Appendix A for the standard boot
setting.
If the system has a customized NVRAM file, try
powering up or resetting the system with the Halt
button set to the “In” position. The NVRAM script will
not be executed when powering up or resetting the
system with the Halt button depressed.
For certain situations, power up using the fail-safe
loader (Section 2.8) to load new console firmware from
a diskette.

1-6 AlphaServer 800 Service Guide
Table 1-3 Problems Reported by the Console
Symptom Action
Power-up tests do not complete. Interpret the error beep codes at power-up
(Section 2.1) and check the power-up screen
(Section 2.2) for a failure detected during self-
tests.
The system attempts to boot from
the floppy drive after a checksum
error is reported (error beep code
1-1-2 or 1-1-4).
Reinstall firmware by inserting a fail-safe loader
diskette. Refer to the procedure provided with
the firmware update documentation.
Console program reports error: Use the error beep codes (Section 2.1) and/or
console terminal (Section 2.2) to determine the
error.
• Error beep codes report an
error at power-up.
• Power-up screen includes
error messages.
Examine the console event log (enter the more
el command) or the power-up screen (Section
2.2) to check for errors detected during power-
up.
• Power-up screen or console
event log indicates problems
with mass storage devices.
• Storage devices are missing
from the show config
display.
Use the troubleshooting tables in Section 2.3 to
determine the problem.
Use the troubleshooting tables in Section 2.3 to
determine the problem.
• Power-up screen or console
event log indicates problems
with EISA devices.
• PCI devices are missing from
the show config display.
Use the troubleshooting tables in Section 2.6 to
determine the problem.
Use the troubleshooting tables in Section 2.6 to
determine the problem.

Troubleshooting Strategy 1-7
Table 1-3 Problems Reported by the Console (continued)
Symptom Action
• Power-up screen or console
event log indicates problems
with EISA devices.
• EISA devices are missing
from the show config
display.
Use the troubleshooting table in Section 2.7 to
determine the problem.
Use the troubleshooting table in Section 2.7 to
determine the problem.
Run the ROM-based diagnostic (RBD) tests
(Chapter 3) to verify the problem.

1-8 AlphaServer 800 Service Guide
Table 1-4 Boot Problems
Symptom Action
System cannot find boot
device. Check the system configuration for the correct device parameters (node ID, device name, and so on).
• For DIGITAL UNIX and OpenVMS, use the show
config and show device commands (Section 6.1.4).
• For Windows NT, use the AlphaBIOS menus to
examine and set the system configuration (Section
6.1.3).
Check the system configuration for the correct
environment variable settings.
• For DIGITAL UNIX and OpenVMS, examine the
auto_action, bootdef_dev, boot_osflags, and
os_type environment variables (Section 6.1.4.4).
For problems booting over a network, check the
ew*0_protocols environment variable settings:
Systems booting from a DIGITAL UNIX server
should be set to bootp; systems booting from an
OpenVMS server should be set to mop (Section
6.1.4.4).
• For Windows NT, examine the Auto Start and
Auto Start Count CMOS Setup Menu Options.
Device does not boot. For problems booting over a network, check the
ew*0_protocols environment variable settings:
Systems booting from a DIGITAL UNIX server should
be set to bootp; systems booting from an OpenVMS
server should be set to mop (Section 6.1.4.4).
Run the device tests (Chapter 3) to check that the boot
device is operating.