VAX 6000 Model 600 Service Manual

This VAX 6000 Model 600 Service Manual (Order Number EK-660EA-MG.001) is intended for Digital customer service engineers and licensed self-maintenance customers. It provides comprehensive information for servicing the VAX 6000 Model 600 system.

The manual covers:

1. System Overview: A functional description of the VAX 6000 Model 600 system architecture, which supports multiprocessing with up to six KA66A processors using the XMI bus as the primary system and I/O bus, along with support for VAXBI and VME I/O buses via adapters. It also includes troubleshooting flowcharts for initial power-up issues.
2. Diagnostics: Detailed descriptions of diagnostic tools, including:
   • Power-Up Tests: Automatic self-tests and extended tests run on the KA66A processor, with results displayed on the console terminal, module LEDs, and CPU registers (XBER, XGPR).
   • ROM-Based Diagnostics (RBDs): Six types of diagnostics (CPU self-test, CPU/memory interaction, I/O adapter, memory, cache, and multiprocessor tests) stored in ROM on the KA66A module, some of which run automatically during power-up and all can be invoked via console commands.
   • VAX Diagnostic Supervisor (VAX/DS): Loadable software diagnostics for system-level testing, including logic tests, function tests, and exercisers to identify and reproduce intermittent problems, runnable in standalone or user mode.
3. Hardware Modules: In-depth information on key system components:
   • KA66A Processor: Physical description, specifications, configuration rules, functional description (NVAX CPU chip, backup cache, NEXMI interface), automatic boot processor selection, power-up sequence, processor replacement procedures, and register details.
   • MS65A Memory: Physical description, specifications, configuration rules, functional description, memory interleaving, self-test procedures (including error handling), and control/status registers.
   • DWMBB I/O Adapter: Physical description (DWMBB/A for XMI, DWMBB/B for VAXBI), specifications, configuration rules, functional description (connecting XMI to VAXBI), and register information.
4. Appendices: Provide additional reference and troubleshooting support, including:
   • Detailed commands and qualifiers for the ROM-Based Diagnostic Monitor program.
   • Lists and interpretations of console error messages and boot status messages.
   • Guidelines for safe handling of modules.
   • General configuration rules for the system.
   • Parse trees for interpreting machine check and error interrupts.
   • Procedures for restoring a corrupted EEPROM.
   • Guidance on interpreting VMS Error Log printouts for various error types (machine check, INT54, INT60, lastfail, memscan, memory soft error).

The manual emphasizes practical troubleshooting through diagnostics, error message interpretation, and detailed hardware knowledge to identify and resolve system problems.