Digital Equipment DECserver 300 Instruction sheet

DECserver 300
Problem Solving
June 1989
Thismanualdescribesproblemsolvingtools andproceduresfor
the DECserver 300 terminal server. Itis intended forthe server
manager.
Supersession/Update Information: This is a new manual.
Software Version: DECserver 300
Vl.0
This manual applies to Version 1.0 of DECserver 300 and all
subsequentmaintenance releases up tothe next majorproduct
release.
Order Number: AA-NE42A-TE

AA-NE42A-TE
June 1989
Theinformation inthisdocumentissubjecttochangewithoutnoticeand shouldnotbe construedas a
commitmentby Digital EquipmentCorporation. Digital EquipmentCorporation assumes no respon-
sibility for any errors that may appear in this document.
Thesoftwaredescribedin thisdocumentisfurnished underalicense andmayonlybe used or copied
in accordance with the terms of such license.
Noresponsibilityis assumedforthe use orreliability of software on equipmentthat Is notsupplied by
Digital or its affiliated companies.
Copyright © 1989 by Digital Equipment Corporation
All Rights Reserved.
Printed in U.S.A.
The following are trademarks of Digital Equipment Corporation:
DEBNA DESVA
DEBNET DEUNA
DEC
~D~DDmDr"
DECconnect LAN Bridge
DECnet LA120
DECserver LN01
DECUS LN03
DELNI LQP02
DELUA MASSBUS
DELQA Micro/RSX
DEMPR MicroVAX
DEQNA PDP
DESOA Professional
Q-Bus
Rainbow
RSX
RSX-11
M-PLUS
ThinWire
ULTRIX-32
UNIBUS
VAX
VAXcluster
VAXmate
VAXstation
VMS
This manual was produced by Networks and Communications Publications.

Contents
Preface
1 Introduction to DECserver 300 Problem Solving
2 Troubleshooting Tools
2.1
2.2
2.3
2.4
2.4.1
2.4.2
2.5
2.5.1
2.5.2
2.5.3
The Console Port
................................... .
The DECserver 300 Self-Test
.......................... .
Types
of Errors -Fatal and Non-Fatal .................. .
The Seven-Segment Status Display
..................... .
Diagnostic Status and Error Codes
.................... .
Server Software Status Codes
....................... .
DECserver 300
TEST Commands ...................... .
The TEST SERVICE Command
..................... .
The
TEST PORT Command ......................... .
The
TEST LOOP Command ........................ .
3 What to Do First
2-1
2-2
2-2
2-2
2-4
2-6
2-8
2-8
2-9
2-9
iii

4 Problems on All Ports
4.1 Status Display Is Off-No DC Voltage .................. 4-1
4.2 Diagnostic Dot Is Off -Fatal Error or Test in Progress ...... 4-2
4.3 Diagnostic Dot Blinking (Non-Fatal Error) ................ 4-2
4.3.1 Error Messages 920 and 921 ......................... 4-3
4.3.2 Error Message 922 and 923 .......................... 4-3
4.3.3 Error Messages 930 and 931 ......................... 4--4
4.3.4 Error Messages 935 and 936 ......................... 4--4
4.3.5 Error Messages 925 and 926 ......................... 4-5
4.3.6 Error Messages 941, 942, 950, and 952 -Code 9 on
Status Display . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-5
4.4 Insufficient Memory Resources ......................... 4-8
4.5 No Console Messages . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-9
4.6 Down-Line Loading Problems -Code 3 on the
Status Display. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. 4-10
4.6.1 Down-Line Load Starts, Then Fails. . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . .. .. 4-10
4.6.2 Down-Line Load Does Not Start. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. .. 4-12
4.7 Message Number 913 Appears. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . .... 4-16
4.8 Server Port or PortDevice Hardward Problems. . . . . . . . . . . .. 4-18
5 Problems with Individual Port Devices
5.1 Check These Things First. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-1
5.2 An Interactive Terminal Is Not Working .................. 5-3
5.3 A PC File Transfer Fails. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-7
5.4 A Line Printer Fails at a Remote-Access Port
5-8
6 Problems with Service Nodes
6.1 Message Timing Problem . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6-2
6.2 LAT Protocol Errors .................................. 6-3
6.3 Authorized Groups Mismatch . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6-4
6.4 Server Capacity Exceeded ............................. 6-4
iv

6.5 Service Node Software Not Rwming ..................... 6-5
6.6 Service Node Not Available ............................ 6-5
7 Problems with the Ethernet
8 Digital Equipment Corporation Service
8.1 Before You Contact Digital Equipment Corporation. . . . . . . . . 8-1
8.2 Repackaging a DECserver for Shipping . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
8-2
8.3 Forwarding Up-Line Dump Data ........................ 8-2
Index
Figures
1-1 Network Components . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-1
1-2 Composition of Network Components . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-2
2-1 DECserver 300 Seven-Segment Status Display. . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-3
Tables
2-1 Self-Test Diagnostics Status and Error Codes .............. 2-5
2-2 Server Software Status Codes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-6
5-1 Port Device Problem -Check These Things First .......... 5-1
5-2 Port Device Problem -Check These Things First ........... 5-2
v

Preface
DECserver 300 ProblemSolving describes how to troubleshoot the DECserver 300
system softwareandhardware. Themanual also describes the troubleshooting tools
and their use.
Intended Audience
The manual is intended mainly for the server manager, but also Digital Equipment
Corporation training, field service, and manufacturing personnel. Knowledge
of
Ethernet local area networks is a prerequisitefor using the manual effectively.
Document Structure
Chapter 1
Chapter 2
Chapter 3
Chapter 4
Chapter 5
Chapter 6
Chapter 7
Chapter 8
Briefly introduces DECserver 300 problem solving.
Describes the troubleshooting tools and the hardware and
software features that are useful for troubleshooting.
Describes the initial steps to take when you see a problem.
Describes how to troubleshoot problems that involve all the
server ports.
Describes how to troubleshoot problems that affect one or
more, but not all, ports and port devices.
Describes problems involving communication with service
nodes on the Ethernet.
Describes problems on the Ethernet interface.
Describes how to use Digital Equipment Corporation main-
tenance services.
vii

Graphic Conventions Used In This Guide
viii
To use this manual effectively, familiarize yourselfwith the conventions discussed
below.
The following conventions apply to numbers:
• All numbers are decimal unless otherwise noted.
• All ethemetaddresses are given in hexadecimal.
Convention
Special type
Red type
UPPERCASE
Meaning
This special type in examples indicates system output or user
input.
Red type
in examples indicates user input.
Uppercase letters
in command lines indicate keywords that
must
be entered. You canenter them in either uppercase or
lowercase.; You can abbreviate command keywords to the
fust three characters or the minimum unique abbreviation.
lowercase italics Lowercase italics in command syntax or examples indicate
variables for which either the user
or the system supplies a
value.
I Key Indicates that you press the specified key.
I CTRUx Indicates that you should hold the CONTROL key down and
press the key specified by the
x. The server displays the key
combination as AX.
/ This indicates related alternative commands oroptions. For
example, SET/DEFINE PORT refers to the SET PORT and!
or DEFINEPORT command(s).

1
Introduction to DECserver 300 Problem
Solving
Problem solving, or troubleshooting, of the DEC server 300unit involves isolating
server problems from port device or network problems.
A problem
can derivefrom afailure in one of thefive networkcomponents shown in
Figure 1-1. Eachnetworkcomponentis broken down into its parts as shown in Fig-
ure 1-2.
In Figure 1-2, hardware devices are represented by solid-line rectangles.
Software is represented by rectangles outlined with dashed-line rectangles.
Someexternalcomponents andparts arecustomer-replaceable,but most parts must
be replaced by a qualified Digital Equipment Corporation service representative.
Figure 1-1: Network Components
PORT DEVICE DECserver 300 ETHERNET
SERVICE
NODE
DECnet
LOAD HOST
NODE
LKG-2890-89
1-1

Figure 1-2: Composition of Network Components
I PORT DEVICE H DEVICE CABLE H ~erver
Terminal Component Parts
I
DECserver 300
HARDWARE UNIT
TRANSCEl~
CABLE
r.---~-----. r--------~ r-----L----.
I PORT LJ SERVER I ,SERVER I
I CHARACTERISllCS rl SOFTWARE r-------------'CHARAClERISllCS I
~---------~ ~--------~ ~---------~
DECserver 300 Component Ports
SER\1CE
NODE
ElHERNET CABLE
REPEATERS.
CONNECTORS
Ethernet Component Parts
ElHERNET
TRANSCEIVER
Service Node Component Parts
ETHERNET TRANSCEIVER
DECs.rver
300
TRANSCEIVER
CABLE
TRANSCEIVER
CABLE
ElMERNET
INTERFACE
ETHERNET
INlERFACE
ElHERNET
I
.- ___ .J ____ .,
I SERVICE NODE I
I SOFTWARE I
L.. ________ ..I
I
DECnet Load Host Component Parts
;loAD HosTs-1 rloro...JH"oSf-'
'NODE DATABASE r-, SOFTWARE I
~ _________ ~ L.. ________ ..I
LKO-289....89
1-2
DECserver 300 Problem Solving

2
Troubleshooting Tools
This chapter describes some DECserver 300 terminal server features designed to
help you in troubleshooting.
2.1 The Console Port
For the effective troubleshooting of problems involving server initialization or
down-line loading,youshouldhavea port setupas the consoleport. The portshould
haveaninteractiveterminalconnectedto it.
The consoleportterminaldisplays status
messages thatmake troubleshooting easier. Forinstallation of your DEC server 300
unit, the consoleterminal mustbeconfiguredto operatewitha speed of9600 bitsper
second(bps)andacharacter size of 8 bits with no parity. Afterinstallation, youcan
usetheDEFINE/SET
PORTcommands to setuptheconsole port with other values
for speed, character size, and parity. Port 1 is the default consoleport. Notice that
the factory-set defaults establish port 1 as the console port.
The DECsenJer 300
Management manual has more details about the console port.
2.2 The DECserver 300 Self-Test
The DECserver300diagnostic self-testperforms anumber of DECserver 300 hard-
waretests. Self-testexecuteswhenevertheDECserverinitializes. Youcaninitialize
the server in a number
of ways: (1) by powering up the server, (2) by executing the
INITIALIZEcommand, (3)
by executing a NCP LOAD orTRIGGERcommandon
a DECnet load host, and (4)
by pressing I CTRUP Ion the console port terminal if
therewasanerrorthatprevented down-line loadingduringthemostrecentself-test.
2-1

The results of self-test are indicated on the server's seven-segment status and error
display (refer to Section 2.3).
2.3 Types of Errors -Fatal and Non-Fatal
Afatal errormeans thatyourDECserver300terminal serveris defective andcannot
be used until
it is repaired at Digital Equipment Corporation Service Center.
Anon-fatal errormeansthat youcancontinueto useyour server. Thefollowingare
typical non-fatal errors that occur during self-test:
• One or more ports failed the server's self-test.
• The Ethernet externalloopback test failed.
2.4 The Seven-Segment Status Display
2-2
TheDECserver300 seven-segmentstatus displayis locatedonthecontrol/indicator
panel
of the server unit (see Figure 2-1). The seven-segment status display is also
referred to as the status display.
The status display shows status anderror codes that
indicate whetherthe server is operatingproperly or whether ithas failed.
In case of
failure, the error code helps you isolate the fault. Tables 2-1 and 2-2 describe the
status anderrorcodes. The status display also has a diagnostic dot which indicates
whether hardware errors were encountered for the server during self-test. This dot
also indicates the severity
of a hardware error (see Section 2.4.1). A pattern also
appears in the status display to indicate that the server software is running.
DECserver 300 Problem Solving

Figure 2-1: DECserver 300 Seven-Segment Status Display
DIAGNOSTIC
DOT
LKG-2893-88
The codes displayed by the status display fall into two general categories:
• Diagnostic status and error codes-these codes are displayed while the server
self-test diagnostics are running.
• Server software status codes-these codes are displayed after successful com-
pletion of server diagnostics and initiation of the down-line load request for
server software.
TroubleshootingTools 2-3

2.4.1 Diagnostic Status and Error Codes
2-4
The seven-segment status display indicates which test is running during self-test.
Eachtesthas a code(seeTable 2-1). Duringself-test, thedisplaycountsdownfrom
codeF throughcode5, while each successiveblock
of tests is carried out. If a fatal
error occurs during self-test, self-test stops, and the code that corresponds
to the
failing test flashes
off and on. An exception to this is that self-teststops when the
Ethernet externalloopback test fails. Although this is a non-fatal hardware error,
self-test stops, code9 flashes, and the diagnostic dotblinks
in the status display.
After self-test, the diagnostic dot (See Table 2-1) indicates the following:
• If the diagnostic dot remains off after the self-test, there is a fatal hardware
error.
• If the diagnostic dot is blinking, there is a non-fatal hardware error. For non-
fatal hardware errors,
an error message appears on a terminal attached to the
consoleport (see Section 2.1).
• If the diagnostic dot is on and is not blinking, self-test did not detect any
hardware errors.
A DSR/DTR erroris
an example of a non-fatalhardware error. Withthis error, the
following activities occur:
• The diagnostic dot blinks.
• The console terminal displays an error message.
DECserver 300 Problem Solving

Table 2-1: Self-Test Diagnostics Status and Error Codes
Seven-Segment
Status Display
DIAGNOSTIC CODES
OFF
F
E
D
C
B
A
9
7
5
Diagnostic dot (.)
is on.
Diagnostic dot (.)
is blinking.
Diagnostic dot (.)
is off.
Troubleshooting Tools
Indication
Indicates no power or a broken display.
Indicates thatthe bootstrap test is running; tests core RAM and
basic CPU functionality.
Indicates that the RAM subsystem tests are running.
Indicates thatthe interrupt subsystem tests are running.
Indicates that the timer tests are running.
Indicates that the ROM subsystem tests are running.
Indicates thatthe Ethernet subsystem tests are running; tested
in internalloopback.
Indicates that Ethernet subsystem tests are running; tested in
external loopback.
Indicates thatthe asynchronous subsystem test is running;
tested in internal loopback.
Indicates thatthe system exerciser test
is running.
Indicates that no errors were encountered during self-test.
Indicates that one or more non-fatal errors were detected dur-
ing self-test.
Indicates that a fatal error was detected during self-test. The
display flashes the code for the test encountering the fatal
error.
2-5

2.4.2 Server Software Status Codes
2-6
The server's software status codes indicate one of the following activities:
• Requesting a down-line load
• Deferring a down-line load request
• Loading the server software
• Requesting anup-line dwnp of the server software
• Dwnping the server software
• Running the server software
Table2-2shows the softwarestatuscodesandexplainswhateachcodemeans.
It also
explains the pattern that appears in the display.
Table 2-2: Server Software Status Codes
Seven-Segment
Status Display
SOFTWARE STATUS
CODES
4
3
2
o
Pattern*
Indication
Indicates that the server is requesting a down-line load of the
server image.
Indicates that down-line load requests are deferred.
Indicates that the server image is being down-line loaded.
Indicates that the server is requesting an up-line dump of server
memory.
Indicates that server memory is being dumped to a host com-
puter.
Indicates that the software is running.
*One segment in the display moves continuously to form a figure-of-eight pattern.
DECserver 300 Problem Solving

On power-up, theserverturns on the sevensegmentsin the status display(lookslike
an8). These segments and the diagnostic dot appear for approximately 0.5 second.
Then, self-test begins executing. During self-test, the display shows which test
is
currently running. Mter two minutes, you can determine if the server is running
properly.
If it is running properly, the server attempts to load the server software
from thehost and shows status code 4 inthe status display. Once the server software
is loaded and is running properly, the figure-of-eight pattern appears in the status
display.
If the server is not running properly, refer to Chapters 4 through 7.
2.5 DECserver 300 TEST Commands
TheTESTSERVICEcommandlets youtest the communications betweena port on
yourDECserveranda servicenodethatoffers a service. TheTESTPORTcommand
lets you test a serverport or port device. The
TEST LOOP commandlets you test
communication between the server and any
DEC net node. Refer to the Terminal
SenJer Commands
and Messages manual for details on using these commands.
2.5.1 The TEST SERVICE Command
TheTESTSERVICEcommandestablishes aspecialLAT sessionbetweentheserver
port issuing the command and the service node and port you specify. You cannot
use theTESTSERVICEcommand
if Multisessions is enabledat the port where you
are issuing the command.
Datais transmitted to the service node and is loopedbackfor integrity checking by
the server. The user then receives a status message.
Data can
be looped back from the service node in one of three ways:
• By the service node at the protocol level
• By using intemalloopback at the specified port
• By using an extemalloopback connector at the specified port
By default, aloopback is performedatthe protocol level. TheDECserver 300hard-
ware supports intemalloopbackand extemalloopback.
TroubleshootingTools 2-7

Someservicenodes may not support internalloopback. Thesystem displays aner-
ror message when you request a loopback type that is not supported by the remote
node you specified.
Externalloopbackrequires thatyouplacealoopbackconnector
in thespecifiedport
on the specified node.
The
TEST SERVICE command can be issued from a remote host by using the Re-
mote Console feature.
NOTE
The TEST SERVICE command does not apply to all
teoninal server products. See the Software Product
Description (SPD) for the server you are trying to test.
2.5.2 The TEST PORT Command
2-8
TheTESTPORTcommand sends a stream of data to the internal porthardware, the
external porthardware, orto the portdevice. Whenyouspecify that the data
be sent
to the internal
or externalporthardware, the data is loopedback, andthe DECserver
sends a status message to theport where
TEST PORT was issued. (You must use a
DECserver port loopback connector for the external test.)
Whenyouspecify thatthe data
be sentto theport device, the dataappears as output
on the device itself. The user examines the data for errors.
NOTE
If you do not specify a value for the COUNT option in
the
TEST PORTcommand,thedefaultcountisineffect,
and 23 lines are displayed.
You can stop the test by
pressingI
BREAK Iorthe local switch character.
Withthe RemoteConsole Facility (RCF), you can stop
the test using the local switch character.
DECserver 300 Problem Solving

2.5.3 The TEST LOOP Command
The TEST LOOP command tests communication between a server and a DECnet
node.
If an Ethernetcomponentis notworkingnormally, the testdisplays,atyour terminal,
one or more errormessages indicating the fault. See the DECnet documentation
of
theDECnet node fora list and explanation of all the error messages generatedbythe
loopback tests.
Youcanalsoruncircuit-levelloop-assisttests tocheckmorecomplexproblems with
Ethernetcircuits. Loop-assist tests loop data between a source node and a destina-
tionnodeontheEthernet; the testsuse a third node on the Ethernet to relay the data.
Thisthirdnode is calledanassistantnode;
it is physicallylocatedbetweenthe source
and the destination nodes. You can use the assistant node in three ways:
• The assistant node relays the test data on the way to the destination node
(transmit assist).
• The assistant node relays the test data on the way back from the destination
node (receive assist).
• The assistant node relays the test data both on the way to and from the des-
tination node (full assist).
Troubleshooting Tools 2-9