alphaserver 255 continuosly crashing

[Wim Van den Wyngaert]

We once had simular crashes due to microcoupures (very short power cuts). Of course with no crash (dump).

Wim

[Volker Halle]

Juan,

your would normally get a halt message like this, if you press the HALT button or type CTRL-P on the serial console line.

You can try to look at the program counter in the running system:

$ ANAL/SYS
SDA> EXA/INS 8011AE04-40;50
SDA> EXIT

to determine, which module the HALT PC is in.

What is the setting of AUTO_ACTION ? Did you set it as >>> SET AUTO_ACTION RESTART

If this happens again, try

>>> CRASH

to force a system crash in this situation. This may preserve error log entries, if there were any HW errors prior to this halt.

Volker.

[Juan PiNero_1]

Hi Volker

With
>ANAL/SYS
SDA> EXA/INS 8011AE04-40;50

I get a table but can't understand.
AUTO_ACTION is set to boot and I didn't try >>> CRASH

(if happens again I'll try to force the crash)

Anyway yesterday HP changed my mainboard into the alpha. It is up since yesterday, I'm waiting a couples of days more just to be sure.

Thank you very much

[Volker Halle]

Juan,

SDA> EXA/INS ...

should show you the instruction stream. Please just post this data and I can decode or interpret it for you.

Volker.

[Juan PiNero_1]

Ok Volker
Here you are:
SYS>ANAL/SYS

OpenVMS (TM) system analyzer

SDA> EXA/INS 8011AE04-40;50
SCH$CALC_CPU_LOAD_C+002B4: BLBC R28,#X000004
SCH$CALC_CPU_LOAD_C+002B8: LDQ R26,#XFF88(R13)
SCH$CALC_CPU_LOAD_C+002BC: LDQ R27,#XFF90(R13)
SCH$CALC_CPU_LOAD_C+002C0: BIS R31,#X32,R0
SCH$CALC_CPU_LOAD_C+002C4: JSR R26,(R26)
SCH$CALC_CPU_LOAD_C+002C8: BIS R31,#X03,R16
SCH$CALC_CPU_LOAD_C+002CC: BIS R31,R0,R27
SCH$CALC_CPU_LOAD_C+002D0: BIS R31,R1,R26
SCH$CALC_CPU_LOAD_C+002D4: MTPR IPL
SCH$CALC_CPU_LOAD_C+002D8: BIS R31,R27,R0
SCH$CALC_CPU_LOAD_C+002DC: BIS R31,R26,R1
SCH$CALC_CPU_LOAD_C+002E0: BIS R31,R31,R8
SCH$CALC_CPU_LOAD_C+002E4: LDL R17,#X0688(R6)
SCH$CALC_CPU_LOAD_C+002E8: AND R17,#X08,R25
SCH$CALC_CPU_LOAD_C+002EC: BEQ R25,#X00004A
SCH$CALC_CPU_LOAD_C+002F0: LDQ R24,#X0590(R6)
SCH$CALC_CPU_LOAD_C+002F4: ADDQ R24,#X01,R23
SCH$CALC_CPU_LOAD_C+002F8: STQ R23,#X0590(R6)
SCH$CALC_CPU_LOAD_C+002FC: LDL R22,#X0068(R6)
SCH$CALC_CPU_LOAD_C+00300: BEQ R22,#X000053
SCH$CALC_CPU_LOAD_C+00304: LDQ R28,#XFEC8(R13)
SDA> exit

[Volker Halle]

Juan,

assuming that you didn't change system parameters and the instruction stream shown is the actual instruction stream present at these virtual addresses at the time of the 'operator initiated halt', then this HALT must have been forced 'externally' (someone pressing HALT button or entering CTRL-P). There is NO instruction in that instruction stream, which could have caused this halt. This means this could NOT have been an OpenVMS software problem.

Volker.

[Juan PiNero_1]

Hi Volker
This machine is in a safe room, only me have access to it. Could be a reset button problem?

Cheers
Juan

[Volker Halle]

Juan,

I can't recall, if the AlphaStation 255 has a separate HALT button or a combined Reboot/Halt button, that needs to be jumpered for either HALT or REBOOT.

If there is a separate HALT button or if the single Reboot/Halt button is jumpered to HALT, then a problem with this button is certainly possible.

Volker.

[Volker Halle]

Juan,

the system just has a 'Reset Push Button'. It's function can be switched between 'Halt Request' or 'Reset' via Switch 4 on the motherboard.

See the Digital AlphaStationâ ¢ 255 Family User Information Guide page B-10 and B-11:

http://h18002.www1.hp.com/alphaserver/download/ek-vllxa-ui-b01.pdf

Volker.

[Juan PiNero_1]

Hi Volker
I checked the switch and it was (and is) in the reset position. I checked reset button and replaced firmly in the frontal.
Right now the machine is up since three days right now.

Thanks a lot
Juan