VAX Diagnostic System User's Guide

This "VAX Diagnostic System User's Guide" from Digital Equipment Corporation, published in September 1980, serves as a comprehensive manual for field service engineers and customers on VAX hardware verification, troubleshooting, and maintenance.

The document outlines a hierarchical diagnostic system consisting of six program levels (Level 1 through Console Level), designed for fault detection and isolation. These diagnostics operate in various environments (User, System, Cluster, Console) and modes (on-line under VMS or standalone), employing a "building block" approach where "hard-core" components are assumed fault-free to test other areas.

Key aspects covered include:

1. Diagnostic System Structure and Strategy: Details the different program levels, operational environments, and a strategy for effective troubleshooting using online tools (like SYE, SDA, UETP) and a bottom-up approach with diagnostic programs.
2. Console Command Language: Explains the commands and syntax for interacting with the VAX console, which provides direct control over memory, processor registers, and CPU operations (e.g., Halt, Deposit, Examine, Initialize).
3. Level 4 Diagnostics: Describes macro-level diagnostic programs that run without a supervisor in standalone mode, primarily for testing basic CPU functions.
4. Diagnostic Supervisor Commands: Focuses on the supervisor, which provides a framework for running Level 2, 2R, and 3 diagnostic programs. It details commands for program/test sequence control (Load, Run, Attach, Select, Start), scripting (automated execution of command files like CONFIG.COM and SYSTEST.COM), execution control through flags (e.g., for error handling, quick verification, tracing), and debug/utility functions (e.g., setting breakpoints, examining/depositing memory, stepping through instructions).
5. Diagnostic Program Interpretation: Guides users on understanding error reports and utilizing the extensive documentation hierarchy (including EVNDX, documentation files, memory allocation maps, and program listings in MACRO-32 and BLISS-32) for in-depth error analysis.
6. System Verification and Analysis: Introduces critical VAX/VMS tools for hardware maintenance:
   • User Environment Test Package (UETP): A non-diagnostic tool to verify the integrated functionality of hardware and software components.
   • System Dump Analyzer (SDA): A utility to analyze operating system crashes by examining system dump files, processor registers, and memory contents.
   • Error Logging Facility and SYE: Mechanisms for detecting and reporting system errors and events, aiding in performance tracking and proactive maintenance.

The guide concludes with a troubleshooting appendix featuring flowcharts to assist in diagnosing and repairing VAX computer systems, along with a comprehensive glossary of terms.