SUMMARY: DEC3000-M500 startup error w/CXT device

From: Charles Vachon <cvachon2_at_mrn.gouv.qc.ca>
Date: Thu, 08 Oct 1998 09:13:43 -0400

Original query is at end of message

Thanks to jason andrade <jason_at_dstc.edu.au> and "Sean O'Connell"
<sean_at_stat.Duke.EDU> for their replies.

Well, it seems that the onboard video on my DEC3000-500 just died :-(

Jason experienced the same error, and the graphics board was indeed
fried. Furthermore, Compaq Services just returned my call and their
conclusion was the same.

Sean suggested a way around the problem, by turning off the graphics
board:

> Do have the alternate console switch (S3 on back) pointing toward
> the left. This could be in graphics mode, but it fails over since
> you (I would guess) do not have a keyboard plugged in.

> Also, what if you turn on the SERVER prom variable

> >>> setenv SERVER ON

> (this determines which startup tests to perform...maybe if
> on it won't look at the CXT at all).

I could not try this so far, but thanks anyway!

-----------------Original message------------------
Hi DU managers,

While doing a firmware update on a DEC3000-M500 that I newly administer,

I realized that setting the POWERUP_TIME variable to STD would result in

an error while the server is conducting hardware checks: "CXT ?? 000
00bc" (The POWERUP_TIME=MIN setting does not show this error, since no
tests are conducted).

Seeing this, I used the TEST command on CXT, as follows:

test CXT

CXT SIGNATURE TEST
  ADDRESS=0x00000004 EXPECT=0x00000085, ACTUAL=0x00000070
?? 000 CXT 0x00bc

84 FAIL

After using the INIT command, a SHOW CONFIG will no longer report an
error with CXT, but the expected CTX OK message.

This error does * not* prevent the server from booting correctly to
Digital Unix. The CXT device is the "Integral two-dimensional graphics",

which is not used on this server, a serial console being used instead.
Could this message simply mean "there is no monitor plugged" or is it a
real error with the video hardware?

Clues welcome, will summarize.


--
Charles Vachon -- Administrateur de systhme
Fonds de la Riforme Cadastrale du Quibec
Ministhre des Ressources Naturelles du Quibec
cvachon2_at_mrn.gouv.qc.ca  --  (418) 627-6355 x2760
Received on Thu Oct 08 1998 - 13:22:49 NZDT

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