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AIX Versions 3.2 and 4 Asynchronous Communications Guide

BIOS Console Troubleshooting Commands

The following commands may be useful for diagnosing problems with downloads and uploads:

set Command

The following troubleshooting subcommands require password privilege mode. Use the save command to update NVRAM. To return to normal operation, reset the parameters.

The set command has several troubleshooting subcommands that toggle debugging, display diagnostic information to the terminal, rerun the load procedure, and loop diagnostic tests. Refer to "BIOS Console Configuration Commands" for more information on the set command.

set Log

The set log command determines whether the BIOS uses the BIOS console for communication. Accessing the BIOS console automatically enables the set log command.

Note: The set log command is a special support function to be used with technical support only.

set Console

The set console command sets the 7318 debug console port. When a terminal is in use as a console, the host cannot access it.

Note: The set console command is a special support function to be used with technical support only.

set Upload

The set upload command uploads a memory image dump of the 7318 to the load host. This memory image can be analyzed to find programming problems.

Note: The set upload command is a special support function to be used with technical support only.

show Command

The following show subcommands as well as the load and stats commands are useful for troubleshooting problems with the 7318.

show self

The show self command displays on demand the result of the BIOS diagnostic self-test, a 32-bit hexadecimal number. The value of the self-test mask for a 7318 that has successfully passed all of the power up diagnostics is 0xFFFFFFFF. To see the result of the BIOS diagnostic self-test, type:

show self
FFFFFFFF

The meaning of each bit is as follows:

/* selftest results 1=passed, 0=failed */
port 0                           0x00000001
port 1                           0x00000002
port 2                           0x00000004
port 3                           0x00000008
port 4                           0x00000010
port 5                           0x00000020
port 6                           0x00000040
port 7                           0x00000080
port 8                           0x00000100
port 9                           0x00000200
port 10                          0x00000400
port 11                          0x00000800
port 12                          0x00001000
port 13                          0x00002000
port 14                          0x00004000
port 15                          0x00008000

CPU test                         0x00010000
DRAM test                        0x00020000
PROM test                        0x00040000
LAN loopback                     0x00080000
DMA ASIC test                    0x00100000
Static RAM test                  0x00200000
Reserved                         0x00400000
First NVRAM                      0x00800000
Second NVRAM                     0x01000000
CIO #1 Test                      0x02000000
CIO #2 Test                      0x04000000
VPD area                         0x08000000

show pmem

The BIOS automatically detects the amount of physical memory in the 7318. It does not, however, change that setting in the NVRAM, unless a conflict exists that makes the platform nonfunctional.

The show pmem command displays the results of the BIOS autodetect. It shows the number (1-8) that corresponds to the proper dynamic random access memory (DRAM) setting for that amount of memory. If the show ram command displays a different DRAM value than the show pmem command, then the 7318 contains a different amount of memory than configured in the NVRAM. To see a 7318's physical memory, type:

show pmem
4

biosload Command

The biosload command reprograms the BIOS NVRAM. Use this program with care, since improper programming of the NVRAM may result in the 7318 needing to be reloaded using the low-level loader.

Note: The biosload command is a special support function to be used with technical support only.

load Command

The load command loads the 7318 with its download image. After issuing the load command, the BIOS downloads an image and transfers control to the executable entry point. To run the load command, type:

load PathName

where the PathName parameter is an optional download path name. If any NVRAM parameters have been changed prior to the load (from the BIOS console), you must use the save command before issuing the load command. If you do not, the BIOS issues a warning and returns you to the BIOS console prompt.

ipxping Command

The ipxping command tests the 7318's hardware and network attachment. To send repeated echo requests to another machine, type:

ipxping IPXAddress

where the IPXAddress parameter specifies the IPX address of the machine to which to issue the ipxping echo request.

stats Command

The stats command displays information about the state of the LAN interface. The command is a diagnostic tool for debugging Ethernet problems.


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