OpenVMS (Alpha V6.2-H3)Application troubleshooting

[geir_2]

Hi,
We have running av specific application for more than 10 years without trouble. (:-))

Suddenly we got trouble with the application
Error message says following:

"missing math argument". It's strange se we have run the same application for many years nowwithout trouble.

Hope OpenVMS have som tools I can use for application/and or OpenVMS troubleshooting?

[Hakan Zanderau ( Anders]

Geir,

Nothing just stop working.......
Have you done anything to the system prior to the errors ?

A VMS system looks like %DCL-W-IVVERB,......
Is "missing math argument" the only thing reported ?

Hakan

[marsh_1]

hi,

this sounds like it's from within your application, do know what it is written in and do you have access to the source code ?

[Brad McCusker]

Hello Geir,

I agree that it sounds like it's coming from your application. If you could tell us more about it, such as any layered or third party products it uses (databases, messaging, transaction monitors, etc) that might be helpful.

Where did you see this error message? Is it in a log or error file, or does it pop up on someone's terminal screen? If it's a log file, is there anything else immediately preceeding this message?

Do you have the source code for this application?

Has anything in the environment changed? Has the workload changed?

You need to give us much more information if we are to help you.

Brad McCusker
Software Concepts International
www.sciinc.com

[Robert Gezelter]

Geir,

As has been noted, this message is not in the standard OpenVMS format.

Some condition has changed. As a start, I would suggest attempting to identify precisely where the message came from.

The question of whether sources exist is critical. Without sources, solutions are difficult. As a start, I would suggest trying to identify the source of the message by using SEARCH to see where the message is coming from.

If there is little knowledge of the internals of the application, it could be an interesting and challenging hunt.

- Bob Gezelter, http://www.rlgsc.com

[geir_2]

Hi,

The problems are not caused by applications. Yesterday the server needed several tries to reboot (third try). T oday it's not possible to boot at all.

The error messages vary from try to try. But some of them are:

1: HWRPB invalid
2: unable to load SYS$BASE_iMAGE.EXE, base
3: +++

[marsh_1]

hi,

what system is this on ? can you boot from cd ?

[Brad McCusker]

Geir,

> 1: HWRPB invalid

You more than likely have a hardware problem.

Do you have an alternate boot capability? Can you boot off a CD?

Brad McCusker
Software Concepts International
www.sciinc.com

[marsh_1]

hi,

do you get any error messages if you do an ínit' in the srm console.

[geir_2]

Hi,

Thanks to all. Agree, it must be a HW-failure. Fortunately we have HP support on all servers.

Is it possible to run a specific command from eeprom/console mode to collect more info??

Rgds
Geir

PS:
I will try to boot from a CD

[marsh_1]

hi,

there is the test command , do a help to see available commands in srm, run without params it should test all the system components, a show config might show something obvious. you may have memexer / sysexer options, memexer is useful as full memory tests are not usually run at startup to save time (esp. for systems with many gb's of memory)

fwiw

[Robert Gezelter · Accepted solution]

Geir,

I concur with the Mark and Brad. This has all the appearances of a hardware problem.

Of course, there are the usual suspects (e.g., CPU, memory, disk). However, particularly with hardware that is quite a few years old, I have seen some "interesting" intermittent failures involving power supplies and cabling.

I have also seen situations where the machine was untouched for so long that it got choked with dust and the fans jammed. In some of those cases, simply cleaning the machine resolved the problem. Overheating can cause impressive failures.

As is often true, check the simple things first.

- Bob Gezelter, http://www.rlgsc.com

[geir_2]

Hi Bob,

I follow your advice and cleaned the computer. The advice is simple and excellent. I have rebooted the server several times now without problem. Thanks again.

:-)

Geir

PS:
Assume the dust was the problem.

[Robert Gezelter]

Geir,

You are most welcome.

It is not a solution for everything, but it is worth trying the simple things first.

Ironically enough, one of my machines just came down with a similar problem, after running without incident for several years. I am breaking out the air compressor and vacuum to give it a thorough cleaning.

- Bob Gezelter, http://www.rlgsc.com