About This Book

The AIX Version 4.3 Problem Solving Guide and Reference provides information to help you investigate, define, and fix problems with the operating system, software or hardware, or other programs installed on the system. Follow the procedures in Chapter 1, "Problem Solving Overview," before placing a service call.

How to Use This Book

Note: Before beginning problem determination, make a copy of the Problem Summary Form located in Chapter 1 to record problem information.

If a three-digit value is displayed on your system unit or if a message is displayed on your screen, go directly to the AIX Version 4.3 Messages Guide and Reference for information about the message and recovery procedures.

This book enables you to locate problem solving instructions and tools according to your needs and knowledge level. Chapter 1 contains prerequisite information for the rest of the book including the Symptom Index and the Problem Summary Form. Chapters 2 through 8 provide troubleshooting procedures for specific problems. Chapters 9 through 12 provide tools for investigating system problems and require some programming knowledge.

Overview of Contents

Directed Problem Analysis

• Chapter 1, "Problem Solving Overview," is the starting point for problem determination. You locate the general symptom of your problem in the Symptom Index and are directed to problem resolution steps in one of the following chapters. Instructions for installing the Software Service Aids Package are also included
• Chapter 2, "Inactive System," describes how to check your system hardware and the processes running on the system and then restart your system after diagnosing the problem area.
• Chapter 3, "Terminal Problems," describes how to free a terminal taken over by processes and respond to screen messages.
• Chapter 4, "Inaccurate System Clock," describes how to reset the system clock by testing the system battery or resetting the date and setclock commands.
• Chapter 5, "Device Problems," describes how to check the hardware and software that could affect device performance.
• Chapter 6, "Media Problems," describes how to check for media errors and recover data from a damaged diskette.
• Chapter 7, "Network Problems," describes how to solve network problems by diagnosing network hardware problems, network software problems, and network communication adapter problems.
• Chapter 8, "Printing Problems," describes how to reactivate the queue daemon, clear a print queue backlog, reallocate printer resources, and delete unnecessary files in the printer directory.

Problem Solving Tools

• Chapter 9, "Hardware Diagnostics," describes how to diagnose your system by loading a diagnostics program, choosing a test option, and reporting a service request number (SRN). Information is also included to help you identify your hardware, interpret codes in the three-digit display, and gather information about your system configuration.
• Chapter 10, "Error Logging Facility," describes how the error logging facility can be used to record hardware and software problems and provide informational messages for system operation. Also included is information on error logging and alerts and programs used to run an automatic error log analysis.
• Chapter 11, "Trace Facility," describes how to use the trace facility to isolate system problems by monitoring system events.
• Chapter 12, "System Dump Facility," describes the system dump facility and how to configure a dump device, start a system dump, copy a system dump, and return to normal operations.

Reference Information

• Appendix A, "Error Message Acronyms," describes the acronyms used in this book.

• Appendix B, "Software Validation," describes how to verify that an installed software product (or licensed product) has not been damaged or corrupted.
• Appendix C, "Error Identifiers for the Error Log," lists the possible error log entries by error label.
• Appendix D, "Recovering Volume Groups," describes how to recover volume groups when they are corrupted.

Highlighting

The following highlighting conventions are used in this book:

ISO 9000

ISO 9000 registered quality systems were used in the development and manufacturing of this product.

Related Publications

The following books contain information about or related to problem solving:

• AIX and Related Products Documentation Overview, order number SC23-2456.
• The operator guide for your system unit contains the checkout procedures for problem determination, system verification, and using the diagnostics.
• AIX Version 4.3 Messages Guide and Reference, order number SC23-4129.
• AIX Version 4.3 System Management Guide: Operating System and Devices, order number SC23-4126.
• AIX Version 4.3 System Management Guide: Communications and Networks, order number SC23-4127.
• AIX Versions 3.2 and 4 Performance Tuning Guide, order number SC23-2365.
• Performance Toolbox Version 1.2 and 2 for AIX: Guide and Reference, order number SC23-2625.
• AIX Version 4.3 General Programming Concepts: Writing and Debugging Programs, order number SC23-4128.
• POWERstation and POWERserver Common Diagnostics Information Manual, order number SA23-2765.
• SNA Formats, order number GA27-3136.
• AIX Version 4.3 Communications Programming Concepts, order number SC23-4124
• AIX Version 4.3 Guide to Printers and Printing, order number SC23-4130
• AIX Version 4.3 Commands Reference, order number SBOF-1877
• AIX Version 4.3 Kernel Extensions and Device Support Programming Concepts, order number SC23-4125
• 3270 Information Display System: 3274 Control Unit Description and Programmer's Guide, order number GA23-0061

Ordering Publications

You can order publications from your sales representative or from your point of sale.

To order additional copies of this book, use order number SC23-4123.