Re: Running SRM Console Diagnostics

[Maurice Hilarius <maurice harddata com>]

With regards to your message at 04:26 PM 11-29-98 -0800, Michael Schmitz.
Where you stated:
>
>I decided to switch my LX164 to the SRM console (in order to try
>NetBSD, but that's another story).  So I took the latest SRM
>version V5.3-3 and flashed in over the AlphaBIOS.  Since then
>using the aboot-0.5-7 sources from the RedHat source CD and the
>axplinux-2.0.35-2 kernel,  I've gotten as far as starting to load
>the packages on to the hard disk.  After a few packages, the system
>invariably stops with a "machine check while executing in PALcode."
>
>I've replaced the hard disk, I've tried netinstall from the RedHat
>CDROM mounted from another machine, but I still get a machine check
>in random places during disk I/O, maybe after 20 or 30 packages are
>installed.
>
>I think that SRM console software (and its UX Palcode) may be broken, or
>else the system board is flaky.  I ran some of the SRM console's
>diagnostic commands.  
>
>"memexer" with 1 thread runs overnight with no problems
>"memexer" with more that 1 thread immediately machine checks
>"test" runs OK
>"sys_exer" immediately machine checks
I think you just answered your own question here. Under SRM the boards are
MUCH more sensitive to bad memory than with AlphaBIOS. My opinion is that
you need better RAM.

>Question 1:  Is this normal behavior for an LX164?  Maybe the
>SRM isn't fully implemented or tested on LX164 and these problems
>can be ignored.  Or maybe I need to replace hardwareg.  Anyone know?
>
>Question 2: Is there a known working SRM LX164 boot disk image out
>there anywhere?  There doesn't appear to be one on gatekeeper.
>
>**************** SRM Console Transcript ****************
<<<<snip>>>>
>*** Unexpected Processor Machine Check through vector 670
								^^^^^^^^^^
Indicates problems with RAM---------------------|||||||||||


Best regards,

  Maurice W. Hilarius                   Telephone: 01-403-414-9319
  Hard Data Ltd.                      **FAX:       01-403-456-1510
  11060 - 166 Avenue                    email:maurice@harddata.com
  Edmonton, AB, Canada  - T5X 1Y3       http://www.harddata.com