My HP server DS15 does not boot anymore

[scampsd123]

Good afternoon,

I am logged on to my DS15 using a serial connection, linked to my PC.

When I try to "boot" my DS15 server, nothing happens: the screen hangs for several minutes, then the "^X" character appears and I see the original prompt back.

In order to investigate what happens, I have launched a test, with following results:

#SLE2>>>test
Testing the Memory (full)
00000000 is not a valid zone address.  Use dynamic to list valid zones.
. 00000000 is not a valid zone address.  Use dynamic to list valid zones.

No DY* Disks available for testing
No DZ* Disks available for testing
Testing the DK* Disks (read only)
file open failed for dka100.1.0.8.0
00000000 is not a valid zone address.  Use dynamic to list valid zones.
No DR* Disks available for testing
Testing the DQ* Disks (read only)
dqa0.0.0.13.0 has no media present or is disabled via the RUN/STOP switch
file open failed for dqa0.0.0.13.0
No DF* Disks available for testing
Testing the MK* Tapes (read only)
mka400.4.0.8.0 has no media present or is disabled via the RUN/STOP switch
file open failed for mka400.4.0.8.0
No MU* Tapes available for testing
No VGA available for testing
Testing the EI* Network
#SLE2>>>

As the "dka100.1.0.8.0" is part of the boot definition, I have tried to pass around it while booting (boot dka0.0.0.8.0) but this did not solve the issue.

Does anybody know what I can do in order to start up my machine or to determine what to do for understanding what is going on?

Thanks

Dominique

[abrsvc]

There's not alot to go on here. Post the output from a SHO DEV. Let's see what the machine thinks exists first.

Dan

[Bob Blunt]

Dominique, it does look like your regular console (and I'm guessing a VGA/graphics one) is different from your PC that you've connected to the system via a serial cable.  Is your system's SRM prompt "#SLE2>>>?"

If so when you're at that prompt please type "SHOW CONSOLE" and post the results.  If you get "graphics" then you might try "SET CONSOLE SERIAL<CR>" and then "INIT" and wait a bit. Self-test should print on your PC.  Errors that the system experiences should also print if there are any.  Additional information that would be helpful for starters:

O/S you're using on this system and it's version

"SHOW DEVICE"  and

"SHOW CONFIG"  and

"SHOW B*"

from the console.

Thanks

bob

[scampsd123]

Hello,

Let me first thank you for the fast replies.

You're right, I don't give you much  to start on. In fact I'm quite a newbie in HP machines.

Answering your questions: "#SLE2" indeed is a prompt.

Concerning the commands you wanted me to run, hereby the results:

#SLE2>>>show console
console                 serial
#SLE2>>>show device
dka0.0.0.8.0               DKA0              COMPAQ BD07296B44  HPB6
dka100.1.0.8.0             DKA100            COMPAQ BD07296B44  HPB6
dqa0.0.0.13.0              DQA0       HL-DT-ST RW/DVD GCC-4481  2.03
dva0.0.0.1000.0            DVA0
mka400.4.0.8.0             MKA400                    HP C7438A  V312
eia0.0.0.9.0               EIA0              00-0F-20-D8-71-DC
eib0.0.0.10.0              EIB0              00-0F-20-D8-71-DB
pka0.7.0.8.0               PKA0                  SCSI Bus ID 7
pkb0.7.0.108.0             PKB0                  SCSI Bus ID 7
#SLE2>>>show config
                           hp AlphaServer DS15

Firmware
SRM Console:    V6.7-2
PALcode:        OpenVMS PALcode V1.98-6, Tru64 UNIX PALcode V1.92-7
SROM Extended:          V1.0-1
SROM Fail Safe:         V1.0-0
RMC Runtime:            V1.1-0
RMC Booter:             V1.1-0

Processors
CPU 0           Alpha EV68CB pass 4.0 1000 MHz  2MB Bcache

Core Logic
Cchip           Rev 18
Dchip           Rev 17
PPchip 0        Rev 17
TIG             Rev 1.11
Acer Chip Revision A1-E

Memory
  Array       Size       Base Address    Intlv Mode
---------  ----------  ----------------  ----------
    0       2048Mb     0000000000000000    1-Way

     2048 MB of System Memory

 Slot   Option                  Hose 0, Bus 0, PCI - 33 MHz
   7    Acer Labs M1543C                                Bridge to Bus 1, ISA
   8/0  Adaptec AIC-7899        pka0.7.0.8.0            SCSI Bus ID 7
                                dka0.0.0.8.0            COMPAQ BD07296B44
                                dka100.1.0.8.0          COMPAQ BD07296B44
                                mka400.4.0.8.0          HP C7438A
   8/1  Adaptec AIC-7899        pkb0.7.0.108.0          SCSI Bus ID 7
   9    Intel 82559ER Ethern    eia0.0.0.9.0            00-0F-20-D8-71-DC
  10    Intel 82559ER Ethern    eib0.0.0.10.0           00-0F-20-D8-71-DB
  13    Acer Labs M1543C IDE    dqa.0.0.13.0
                                dqb.0.1.13.0
                                dqa0.0.0.13.0           HL-DT-ST RW/DVD GCC-4481

        Option                  Hose 0, Bus 1, ISA
        Floppy                  dva0.0.0.1000.0

SROM loads from Flash
Console loads from SRM
Flash updates are Enabled for RMC
Flash updates are Enabled for SRM
Flash updates are Enabled for FailSafe
Flash updates are Disabled for RMC Booter
Halt/Reset is set to HALT
#SLE2>>>show B*
boot_dev                dka0.0.0.8.0
boot_file
boot_osflags            A
boot_reset              ON
bootbios
bootdef_dev             dka0.0.0.8.0 dka100.1.0.8.0
booted_dev
booted_file
booted_osflags

Hopefully this helps you further.

Meanwhile I have found out that there are other test commands for retrieving diagnostics information from a machine. Are there any of those commands that I could launch for giving you more information?

Best regards

Dominique

[abrsvc]

I noticed this:
boot_osflags A

This is for booting OSF right? If you are attempting to boot VMS, the flags should look like #,# where the first is the VMS root number (usually 0) and the second is the actual flags (0 for normal boot 1 for conversational boot).

Perhaps this is the problem?

Dan

[scampsd123]

Hello,

I have just verified: boot_osflags "A" means 'autoboot' and indeed, it is the intention that the machine reboots without intervention, which is OK, so that's not the cause of the problem.

Thanks anyway

Dominique

[abrsvc]

If you are booting TRU64, you are correct. Please note that this is the OpenVMS forum NOT Tru64. Perhaps you are inquiring in the wrong place?

Should you wish to boot OpenVMS. the correct console variabel for autoboot is AUTO_ACTION

See the Owner's Guide page 3-7 for Tru64 and 3-9 for OpenVMS.

Dan

[scampsd123]

Thanks for the explanation, I have opened a new question on the HP-UX forum.