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Troubleshooting
B–1
B
Troubleshooting
The Alpha VME 5/352 and 5/480 SBCs include extensive diagnostic capabilities
that execute when you power on the system. These include both SROM and flash
ROM code. This appendix:
•
Briefly discusses SROM and flash ROM diagnostics, Sections B.1 and B.2
•
Provides guidance on troubleshooting systems that include a PMC I/O com-
panion card, Section B.3
•
Briefly discusses use of the dot matrix display by operating systems and
applications, Section B.4
•
Provides troubleshooting tips, Section B.5
For details about system diagnostics, see the Alpha VME 5/352 and 5/480 Single-
Board Computers User Manual.
B.1 SROM Diagnostics
SROM diagnostics execute when you power on the system and display decreasing
numeric codes (8, 7, ...1) on the dot matrix display to indicate status. All SROM
tests must pass successfully before the flash ROM and console diagnostics run. If
one or more SROM diagnostics fail, the flash ROM and console diagnostics are
not loaded and a single right angle bracket prompt (SROM>) appears on the con-
sole terminal. The code of the failing diagnostic appears on the dot matrix display.
In some cases, additional information appears on the console terminal.
B.2 Flash ROM Diagnostics
When the SROM diagnostics complete successfully, the flash ROM diagnostics
are loaded, decompressed, and executed. Flash ROM diagnostics use an ascend-
ing (A, B,..., I) character-based code to indicate progress. If one or more flash
ROM-based diagnostics fail, the code representing the first error remains on the
dot matrix display and alternates between dim and bright intensity.
If all SROM and flash ROM diagnostics pass, and you have not set any
AUTO_ACTION environment variables, the console prompt (>>>) appears on
the console terminal, and a “rotating bar” appears on the dot matrix display.