Ref: 99980003
Title: Obtaining a Memory Dump
Date: 9/1/87

Copyright 3Com Corporation, 1991.  All rights reserved.

.br;Obtaining a Memory Dump

Use this procedure on the Series/1 server to write the contents
of the registers and RAM onto diskettes following a system crash.
Bridge Communications' technical support staff than uses the
information to diagnose the cause of the crash.

The memory dump procedure applies only to systems with a local
disk drive.

The procedure is valid only if the MCPU or MCPU20 Auto Reboot
option was disabled prior to the crash.  (To disable MCPU Auto
Reboot, remove jumper F in MCPU configuration area E1.  The
disable the MCPU20 Auto Reboot, use the firmware configuration
utility.)  Otherwise, the system resets and reboots automatically
after a crash, overwriting RAM.

Before sending a memory dump, Bridge recommends calling Technical
Support to describe the problem.

The procedure varies depending on the amount of memory in the
system,  the type or revision level of the MCPU PROM, and the
server type.  This section describes the procedures for the
following:

* Systems with 384K memory and MCPU PROMs designated M1 MMON 01B
or earlier.

* Systems with 384K memory and MCPU PROMs designated M1 MMON 01C
or later.

.br;* Systems with an MCPU20 board.

.br;* CS/1-SNA systems that contain an SBB board.

Whichever procedure you use, please send the following additional
information along with the dump diskettes:

.br;* The version number of the software running in the system.

.br;* The version numbers of all firmware in the system.

* For Ethernet networks, the transceiver brand name and model
number.

* The date and time at which the crash occurred, and any
information available about the network traffic load at the time.

* The condition of all LED indicators on the server front panel
and, if possible, on individual boards.

*  The extent of the system affected (i.e., a single port,
several ports, or the entire unit).

.br;* A description of any symptoms present prior to the crash.

*  The text of any error messages that appeared on the console
terminal at the time of the crash (if one was attached).

* The text of any error messages that appeared on the console
terminal during any step of the dump procedure, and a description
of any action taken to recover from the error (e.g., skipped the
step, repeated the step successfully).

.br;* The frequency of the problem.

.br;.h1;MCPU PROM Release M1 MMON 01B or Earlier

This procedure requires two previously formatted diskettes.  See
"Formatting a Diskette".

To obtain a memory dump, perform these steps from the console
terminal:

1.  Display the contents of the system registers by entering the
Display Register command:

.br; dr

    Write down the values listed in the resulting display.  This
information must be sent along with the dump disketters.

.br;2.  Insert the first formatted diskette into the disk drive.

3.  Write the contents of the first 256K bytes of MCPU RAM to the
diskette.  Enter the Write command as follows:

.br;  w 1 0 40000

    If an error message appears, use the Software Reset command
described at the end of this procedure.

4.  When the write is complete and the Disk Activity light on the
disk drive goes out, remove the diskette and label it "MCPU RAM
DUMP".

.br;5.  Insert the second formatted diskette into the disk drive.

6.  Write the contents of ESB RAM to the diskette by entering
this verion of the Write command:

.br;  w 1 100000 1ffe0

    If this step fails, write down the error message and include
this information with the dump diskettes; then continue to the
next step.

7.  Write the remaining 128K bytes of MCPU RAM to the diskette
tht is still in the disk drive by entering this version of the
Write command:

.br;  w 101 40000 20000

8.  When the write is complete, the monitor prompt appears.
Remove the diskette and label it "ESB RAM AND MCPU RAM DUMP".

9.  Send the diskettes, the register values displayed in step 1,
and any applicable information from the list at the beginning of
the previous section "Obtaining a Memory Dump" to Bridge
Communications or an authorized server representative.

In some instances a crash may leave the disk drive unusable
because some monitor parameters were overwritten.  In this case,
the system may respond to step 3 with an error message.

To recover from this condition, enter the Software Reset command:

.br;k

This procedure should reinitialize the monitor correctly without
causing too much information to be lost.  Return to step 3 above
and continue with the memory dump.  When you send diskettes to
Bridge, include a note saying that the Software Reset command had
to be entered.

.h1;MCPU Rel. M1 MMON 01C or Later

The procedure for obtaining a memory dump for systems with PROMs
designated M1 MMON 01C or later requires two or more diskettes.
It is not necessary to preformat the diskettes or to enter the
Display Register command; the DUmp command automatically performs
these steps.

1.  From the console terminal, enter the DUmp command:

.br;du

    If any error message appears, use the Software Reset command
described at the end of this procedure.

2.  Follow the system prompts for marking and inserting
diskettes.

3.  Send the diskettes, along with all the applicable information
indicated at the beginning of "Obtaining a Memory Dump", to
Bridge Communications or an authorized service representative.

In some instances a crash my leave the disk drive unusable
because some monitor parameters were overwritten.  In this case,
the system may respond to step 1 with an error message.  To
recover from this condition, enter the Software Reset command:

.br;k

This procedure should reinitialize the monitor correctly without
causing too much information to be lost.  Return to step 1 and
continue with the memory dump.  When you send the diskettes to
Bridge, include a note saying that the Software Reset command had
to be entered.

.h1;MCPU20

This procedure requires three or more diskettes.  It is not
necessary to preformat the diskettes or to enter the Display
Register command; the DUmp command automatically performs these
steps.

1.  From the console terminal, enter the DUmp command:

.br;du

    If any error message appears, use the Software Reset command
described at the end of this procedure.

2.  Follow the system prompts for marking and inserting
diskettes.

    When the write is complete, the monitor prompt appears.

3.  Send the diskettes, along with all the applicable information
indicated at the beginning of "Obtaining a Memory Dump", to
Bridge Communications or an authorized service representative.

In some instances a crash may leave the disk drive unusable
because some monitor parameters were overwritten.  In this case,
the system may respond to step 1 with an error message.  To
recover from this condition, enter the Software Reset command:

.br;k

This procedure should reinitialize the monitor correctly without
causing too much information to be lost.  Return to step 1 and
continue with the memory dump.  When you send the diskettes to
Bridge, include a note saying that the Software Reset command had
to be entered.

.h1;CS/1-SNA Screen Buffer Brd Dump

Use this procedure to obtain a dump of the SBB board RAM.  It
applies only to CS/1-SNA systems that contain an SBB board.

1.  Insert a formatted diskette in the disk drive.  See
"Formatting a Diskette".

2.  For systems with a 256K EC/2, write the contents of the SBB
RAM to the diskette by entering this version of the Write
command:

.br;w 1 140000 40000

    For systems with a 512K EC/2, write the contents of the SBB
RAM to the diskette by entering this version of the Write
command:

.br;w 1 180000 40000

3.  When the write is complete, the monitor prompt appears.
Remove the diskette and label it "SBB RAM DUMP".

Send the dump diskettes, along with any applicable information
from the list in the general heading "Obtaining a Memory Dump",
to Bridge Communications or an authorized service representative.
