System information

1-10
AlphaServer 800 Service Guide
1.3 Service Tools and Utilities
This section lists the tools and utilities available for acceptance testing, diagnosis,
and serviceability and provides recommendations for their use.
Error Handling/Logging Tools (DECevent)
DIGITAL UNIX, OpenVMS, and Microsoft Windows NT operating systems
provide recovery from errors, fault handling, and event logging.
The DECevent Translation and Reporting Utility provides bit-to-text translation
of event logs for interpretation for DIGITAL UNIX and OpenVMS error logs.
RECOMMENDED USE: Analysis of error logs is the primary method of
diagnosis and fault isolation. If the system is up, or you are able to bring it up,
look at this information first.
ROM-Based Diagnostics (RBDs)
Many ROM-based diagnostics and exercisers execute automatically at power-up
and can be invoked in console mode using console commands.
RECOMMENDED USE: ROM-based diagnostics are the primary means of
testing the console environment and diagnosing the CPU, memory, Ethernet, I/O
buses, and SCSI and DSSI subsystems. Use ROM-based diagnostics in the
acceptance test procedures when you install a system, add a memory module, or
replace the following components: CPU module, memory module, motherboard,
I/O bus device, or storage device. Refer to Chapter 3 for information on running
ROM-based diagnostics.
Loopback Tests
Internal and external loopback tests are used to isolate a failure by testing
segments of a particular control or data path. The loopback tests are a subset of
the ROM-based diagnostics.
RECOMMENDED USE: Use loopback tests to isolate problems with the COM2
serial port, the parallel port, and Ethernet controllers. Refer to Chapter 3 for
instructions on performing loopback tests.