My DECserver 700-16 cannot startup normally

[Hoangles]

My DECserver uses RAM for momery It also uses 16 MJ8 ports and 1 10BaseT port for communication.
Recent my DECserver was unexpected powered off due to power interrruption.
When we try to power on the server it cannot startup normally, the LED display runs lighting at 4 then 3 then 4 then 3...
Does anyone know what is haappening with my DECserver?

[Steven Schweda]

Is it trying to download its software (and
not finding anyone to send it)?

You might get some useful messages on a
terminal plugged into Port 1 on the terminal
server, or on an operator's terminal on a VMS
system (REPLY /ENABLE).

[Bill Hall]

From an old version of the DECserver 700 documentation:

If the seven-segment display has a "3" after power up, the DECserver 700 has a downline loading problem. To isolate and diagnose the problem, do the following:

1. Connect a terminal to the console port of the DECserver 700, then power up the terminal.

2. Configure the terminal to operate with a speed of 9600 bits per second and a character size of 8 bits (no parity). (Refer to the specific terminal user's guide if you need help setting up the terminal parameters.)

3. Initialize the DECserver 700 by pressing Ctrl/P on your console terminal or by power cycling the DECserver.

4. Read the message that appears on the terminal display.

Bill

[Hoff]

Some general DECserver 700 troubleshooting:

http://labs.hoffmanlabs.com/node/990

That code 3 indicates a bootstrap back-off, which implies the DECserver is not successfully requesting or not receiving a MOP download, which implies a network problem or a MOP server problem.

To learn more about and to set up MOP, see one of the following depending on which of the three typical MOP environment tools are in use here:

http://labs.hoffmanlabs.com/node/183
http://labs.hoffmanlabs.com/node/233
http://labs.hoffmanlabs.com/node/234

[Hoangles]

Can I use the Hyperterminal on Windows to monitor at port 1 of DECserver?
is there any port other than port1 which can be used for monitoring?

[Steven Schweda]

> Can I use the Hyperterminal on Windows to
> monitor at port 1 of DECserver?

Should be good enough. As I recall, 9600b/s,
8 data bits, one stop bit, no parity. You
also need a cable which gets the right
signals to the right places.

> is there any port other than port1 which
> can be used for monitoring?

I believe that to see the messages, you need
to use the DECserver's console port. As I
recall, Port 1 is the default console port.
(Perhaps it's possible to set some other port
to be the console port, but I've seen only
Port 1 used for this.)

[Hoff]

The version of Hilgreave Hyperterm that has been integrated within Microsoft Windows is not known for its compatibility nor its robustness; it's variously considered very old and somewhat buggy and rather incompatible.

Use it at your own risk.

It'll probably work for simple stuff.

Beyond that, tools such as PuTTY and the current Hyperterm downloaded from the Hilgreave folks are usually considered better options.

[Hoangles]

Everybody,
I'd like to outline all my configuration and then you can image the problem clearly.
- Device: DECserver 716
- No flash RAM, uses one SIM 4MB for memory.
- 8 RJ45 ports are connecting to printer, terminal, equipments...
- 1 10BaseT Ehternet port is connecting to LAN
- The host is Alphaserver 4100 running OpenVMS (Alphaserver 4100 is now running normally)
- The Ethernet LED lights steady
- When power on without pressing reset button, the 7-segment LED has "3"
- When power on while pressing reset button, the 7-segment LED has "4" and then "3" alternately.

I am confusing on solve this problem, I don't know where I should begin from.

Anyone can help me to analyze problem the advice me how to do.
Thanks alot

[Hoangles]

Unfortunately my DECserver 7-segment LED now has "E" when I power on and has "5" when power on with pressing reset button.

[Steven Schweda]

You might get some useful messages on a
terminal plugged into Port 1 on the terminal
server, or on an operator's terminal on a VMS
system (REPLY /ENABLE).

> - The host is Alphaserver 4100 running
> OpenVMS (Alphaserver 4100 is now running
> normally)

Uh, "now"? What was it doing before?

[Hoangles]

Hi Steven Schweda,
I tried to connect to port1 but unsuccessful I will try to connect from OpenVMS. Can you give me some detail commands to do?
Thanks

[Hoangles]

Can anyone help me pls?

[Hoff]

This DECserver 700 appears to have a hardware problem.

You can read chapter 7 in the hardware manual for this DECserver 700 series product:

http://vt100.net/dec/dsrvw-mg.pdf

to learn more about the codes and the indicator LED display.

Or you can contact your preferred hardware service provider, or you can swap this DECserver 700 for a spare terminal server device.

[Steven Schweda]

> I tried to connect to port1 but
> unsuccessful [...]

What does that mean? Cable not long enough?
My psychic powers are very weak, so I don't
know what you connected to what, or how, or
what happened when you did whatever you did.
A bad/wrong cable, wrong port settings,
unhelpful DECserver configuration, or any
number of other things could cause trouble
here.

> I will try to connect from OpenVMS.

Before I tried to talk to the thing from a
VMS system, I'd do that "REPLY /ENABLE" at
some terminal (or emulator) on the VMS
system, power-up the DECserver, and look for
download-related messages. You can't do much
with the DECserver until it gets its software
downloaded.

> Can you give me some detail commands to do?

SHOW NETWORK /FULL

"running OpenVMS" is not much of a
description of the OS or its network
software.

On my (VMS V8.3, DECnet V) system, I can
connect to my DECserver 200/MC using SET HOST
/MOP:

ALP $ set host /mop /circuit = csmacd-3 sp2
%CCR-I-CONNEST, connection established to remote system 08-00-2B-08-75-F5
Press CTRL/\ to disconnect, CTRL/] to send break

#
DECserver 200 Terminal Server V3.1 (BL37) - LAT V5.1
DS200 (Saint Paul 2)

Please type HELP if you need assistance

Enter username> sms

Local> show server

DECserver 200 V3.1 BL37 LAT V5.1 ROM BL20 Uptime: 402 05:32:15

Address: 08-00-2B-08-75-F5 Name: SP2 Number: 0

Identification: DS200 (Saint Paul 2)

Circuit Timer: 80 Password Limit: 3
Console Port: 1 Prompt: SP2 Local>
Inactivity Timer: 30 Queue Limit: 24
Keepalive Timer: 20 Retransmit Limit: 8
Multicast Timer: 30 Session Limit: 64
Node Limit: 100 Software: PR0801ENG

Service Groups: 0- 10

Enabled Characteristics:

Announcements, Broadcast, Dump, Lock

Local>
[...]


Note: "Console Port: 1".

But my DECserver has downloaded its
software, so it knows how to communicate.

[Hoangles]

Hello,
I got the following message after doing command SHOW NETWORK /FULL:
%SYSTEM-F-UNSUPPORTED, unsupported operation or function

As you experience, is it able to access to DECserver from terminal when the 7-segment LED has "E" at initializing?

[Volker Halle]

Hoangles,

you seem to be running an older version of OpenVMS, which does not support the SHOW NETWORK command.

'E' indicates, that the DECserver 700 is running it's internal tests during startup.

You should connect your terminal (or PC with terminal emulator) to Port 1 of the DECserver 700 (8-bit, no parity, 9600 bd). This is the default console port and should display messages during startup and load.

Volker.

[Hoangles]

Hi everyone,
As told, my DECserver uses 4MB SIM for memory, and as my understanding the DECserver will load the software from host (OpenVMS V6.2-1H3).
At present, it cannot start up, I tried to access to DECserver from OpenVMS and console port1 but I have not been successful so far.

It's accidental that I have a SRAM on my hand, it has the following infor:
- STAR CARD ITTCannon
- Type: SRAM 2MBYTE
- Model CSCJ-002M-SM-464

I tried to insert this card to flash RAM of decserver and it is well fitted.
I'm confusing whether this card is compatible with DECserver700 or not.
In generally, which information will be stored in this card?
I have heard about WWENG1.SYS and WWENG2.SYS
Does DECserver will use this image file for start up? Where I can find this file?

Any one can help me pls.

[Volker Halle]

Hoangles,

if the DECserver 700 software has been installed on your AlphaServer, you should find one of those files in SYS$SYSROOT:[DECSERVER]. The DECserver needs to download this file via MOP to become operational.

Have you ever successfully used your PC/laptop and terminal emulator on a serial line ? If not, you may want to test this first, e.g. on the serial port of your AlphaServer 4100.

Volker.

[Hoangles]

Volker Halle,
Sorry, my knowledge on OpenVMS is very poor, I tried your command on my system and then receive message:

************
ADMIN$ sysroot:[decserver]
%DCL-W-NOLBLS, label ignored - use only within command procedures
\SYSROOT:\
%DCL-W-NOCOMD, no command on line - reenter with alphabetic first character
************

Unlucky I have ever successfully used PC/laptop and terminal emulator on a serial line.
Do you mean that I should use a line to connect port1 of DECserver and serial port of AlphaServer 4100?

[Volker Halle]

Hoangles,

try $ DIR SYS$SYSROOT:[DECSERVER]

Your answer regarding using your PC/laptop and a serial line is unclear to me. If you've NEVER successfully done this before, I suggest that you try this with the serial port of your AlphaServer first, so that you have an example of a working serial port.

Volker.

[Hoangles]

OK I understand,
you know, My system has a VT501 terminal and it is now connecting to serial port of Alphaserver for monitoring, they work normally.

I have used the this line and this VT501 terminal to connect to port1 of DEC but unsuccessful.

[Hoangles]

Volker Halle,
Well,
Now I can see file WWENG1.SYS;1 after doing the command.

What do I do next with this file, SRAM, and DECserver?

[Volker Halle]

Hoangles,

you have to make the DECserver 700 boot and load this file via MOP from your AlphaServer...

Issue a REPLY/ENABE command on your OpenVMS system, then connect the VT501 to port 1 of the DECserver 700 and power it on. Then wait what happens...

Volker.

[Hoangles]

Volker Halle,
How is about my solution regarding to SRAM (flash RAM)?
I'm going to copy WWENG1.SYS to this SRAM card, then force the DECserver boot from this flash RAM.
Can I?

[Volker Halle]

Hoangles,

how do you think you can 'copy' the WWENG1.SYS file to the SRAM card ?

What's the state of the 7-segment display after you power-on the DECserver 700 ? Any messages on port 1 ?

Volker.