IBM RS/6000 SP, Problem Determination Manual

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This soft copy for use by IBM employees only.
information to the primary dump device. If you start your own dump before
copying the information in your dump device, your new dump will overwrite the
existing information.
A user-initiated dump is different from a dump initiated by an unexpected system
halt because the user can designate which dump device to use. When the
system halts unexpectedly, a system dump is initiated automatically to the
primary dump device.
You can start a dump using one of the following methods:
•
Command Line
This method uses the
sysdumpstart
command. Note, however, this command
is only available if you install the Software Service Aids
(bos.sysmgt.serv_aid) package.
You must have root authority to run this command. First you might want to
check the current settings of your system dump devices by using the
sysdumpdev -l
command. Then initiate the dump with
sysdumpstart -p
(for
primary device) or -s (for secondary device). Note that if the LED display is
blank, the dump was not started. Try again using a different method.
• Using SMIT
You can use the fast path:
smity dump
.
• Using special key sequence
This option is only valid for the Control Workstation. You can initiate a
dump, either to the primary or secondary dump device, by using the
following key sequence:
<crtl-alt-NUMPAD1>
•
Using the reset button
This procedure works for all system configurations and will work in
circumstances where other methods for starting a dump will not. Turn the
key into service position and press the reset button once. The system writes
the dump information to the primary dump device.
If a system dump is initiated by kernel panic, the LEDs will display 0c9 while the
dump is in progress, and then flash 888. Using the reset button to rotate through
the other LED codes, you will eventually encounter one of the codes shown in
the foil. The code you want is
0c0, indicating that the dump completed
successfully. All of the LED codes following the flashing
888 should be recorded.
For user-initiated system dumps to the primary dump device, the LED codes
should indicate
0c2 for a short period, followed by 0c0 upon completion.
Other common codes include:
0c4 This indicates that the dump routine ran out of space on the specified
dump device. It may still be possible to examine and use the data on
the dump device, but this tells you that you should increase the size
of your dump device.
0c5 This indicates you should check the availability of the medium to
which you are writing the dump.
Chapter 8. Producing a System Dump
205