Online help for the CPU Expert Tool running under the command line user interface (cstm).

Help for the CPU Expert Tool

The CPU Expert Tool provides sophisticated troubleshooting for problems associated with a specific Processor in a Multiprocessor environment. The ability to deallocate, reallocate, and assign a process to a processor allows on-line control of processor functionality.
The CPU Expert Tool is fully interactive, with its own set of menu commands.

The CPU Expert Tool contains commands which will cause servere performance degradation as a result of processor deallocation, it is assumed that users are aware of the dangers of its utilization.
To use the CPU Expert Tool safely, you should be trained and knowledgeable about CPU modules.

• *summary
• *intro
• *steps
• *trouble
• *commands

Command Summary

File Commands
Exit (EX) - Exits tool and returns to main STM prompt

Options Commands
Activate (AC) - Re-Activate the specified SPU(s) (same as old Allocate command)
Assign (AS) - Assign a process (pid) to a SPU
Deactivate (DA) - Deactivate the specified SPU(s) (same as old Deallocate command)
Display (DS) - Display the SPU status
Mark Deconfig (MD) - Mark SPU for deconfiguration on next reboot
Mark Reconfig (MR) - Mark SPU for reconfiguration on next reboot

Exercise Commands
runexercise (REX) - Run exerciser for a specified SPU
termexercise (TEX) - Terminate the running exerciser

Help Commands
Generalhelp (HE) - Displays online help for the CPU Expert Tool
Version (VERS)- Displays version and copyright information

Control-C - Interrupt or abort execution of tool; escape to the user interface

Introduction

The CPU Expert Tool allows on-line control of processor functionality in a multi-processor environment by issuing processor specific commands.
This product provides individual operations that enable the user to identify a malfunctioning processor. The goal of the Expert Tool is to provide the user with an interactive tool that allows processor deallocating or reallocating of individual processor modules without requiring reset of the SPU or restart of the operating system. The ability to assign a specific process to an individual processor is an another capability of this product.
This tool should allow the multiprocessor system under test to be reduced in scope via programmatic elimination of one or more modules.
Thus, problems caused by a CPU module or specific process can be isolated without off-line testing.
The CPU Expert Tool requires that you install a license at the main STM window. Consult a Mesa Adminstrator for the password.
If you experience problems, consult the help topic.

Step-by-Step Instructions

• *runtool
• *troubdisk
• *commontasks

  Running the CPU Expert Tool

  
  
  To run the CPU Expert Tool on a device:
  
  • At the main STM window, select a CPU device. The CPU Expert Tool will access all CPU devices on the Unit Under Test.
    
  • If desired, change the options for the CPU Expert Tool at the main STM window. Options include the level of logging for the tool. For more information, see online help for STM as a whole (use the Help menu in the STM main window).
    
  • Run the CPU Expert Tool.
    
    
    • To select the desired commands, use the pull-down menus in the main window of the tool. For more information, see:
    • *troubdisk
    • *commontasks
    • *commands
      
    • To run any option commands, pull down Options Menu and make a selection.
      
    • To run exercise commands, pull down CPU_exercise Menu and make a selection.
      
    • If you run into problems, see the help topic.
      
    • Exit the tool by selecting the EXIT command from the File function keys.

    Troubleshooting a Suspect processor

    
    To troubleshoot a suspect processor:
    
    * Try running a specific process (identified by a PID Number) on a Processor to identify Process specific Problems.
    * Deallocate all processors that may not have any problems, and assign a PID to allocated processor that is suspected to be malfunctioning.
    * Continue Deallocating and Reallocating Processors untill a malfunctioning processor is identified.
    * If you get confused on which processors are diabled/enabled run the "Display" command, which will indicate the status of all Processors.

    Common Task

    If you run into problems, see the trouble help topic.
    

  Troubleshooting Tool-Related Problems

  • * SYMPTOM: A failure or other problem with the CPU Expert Tool:
    Consult the Failure Log (for failures) and the Test Activity Log, accessible from the STM prompt.
    
  • * SYMPTOM: When you try to run the CPU Expert Tool from the main STM interface, you do not see it listed:
    The CPU Expert Tool requires a license to operate. Install the license at the main cstm prompt and try to run the tool again.
    
    

  Cpu Exercise

  The function !!Exercise!! applied on a specified cpu to run stress tests on data cache, data tlb and float point unit in turn.
  
  Data cache exerciser -- exercises the data cache by forcing misses, replacements and flushes.
  
  Data TLB exerciser -- exercises the data TLB by forcing page faults which forces TLB replacements.
  
  Floating point exerciser -- exercises the floating point unit by providing a series of known inputs and checks for corresponding outputs. The benchmark algorithm used here is "tomcatv".
  

  Execution Time Limit

  The parameter !!Execution Time Limit!! can be specified by user as option for limit the cpu exercise execution time in minutes. The default value is 10 minutes.
  

  Error Allowed Number

  The parameter !!Error Allowed Number!! can be specified by user as option for limit the allowed number of errors before the cpu exercise test termination. The default value is 10.
  

  Commands

  
  The CPU Expert Tool offers the following commands and function keys:
  

  Exit (EX)

  
  Use the "Exit" command to leave the CPU Expert Tool and return to the main STM prompt.
  
  

  Activate (AC)

  
  The "Activate" command will only return a processor that has been previously DEACTIVATED to normal system use. Will return error message if aotivation routine does not return SUCCESSFUL or wrong pdev # was selected. The "Activate" command will display in the main window the SPU, Physical Device, and HPA number along with the current number of allocated processors after execution.
  
  

  Assign (AS)

  
  The "Assign" command Forces (and locks) a process to a specific processor module identified by the physical device number. PID and pdev number arguments are required. If a wrong physical device number in entered, an error message will display. The user is required to find an active PID numbers with a different application (top, ps ef ).
  
  

  Deactivate (DA)

  
  The "Deactivate" command Deactivates a processor from system use. A pdev number argument is required. A deactivated processor may not be reactivated if the processor is marked for deconfiguration until is marked for reconfiguration. The Expert Tool will display a warning message if there is only one processor currently activated or on any attempt to dea ctivate the Monarch. The !!Deactivate!! command will display in the main w indow the SPU, Physical Device, and HPA number along with the current nu mber of allocated processors after execution.
  
  

  Display (DS)

  
  The "Display" command will display a listing of the current processor status and identify information for all system processors:
  
    SPU Number:
    Physical Device Number:
    HPA: (hex)
    Status: (Enabled/Disabled)
    Monarch: (Yes/No)
  
  

  Mark Deconfig (MD)

  
  The "Mark Deconfig" command is used to mark a SPU for deconfiguration on next reboot. The Expert Tool will display a warning message if there is only one processor configured or on any attempt to mark for deconfiguration the Monarch. The !!Mark Deconfig!! command will display in the main window the SPU, Physical Device, and HPA number along with the current number of marked for deconfiguration processors after execution.
  
  

  Mark Reconfig (MR)

  - Mark SPU for reconfiguration on next reboot The "Mark Reconfig" command is used to mark a SPU for reconfiguration on next reboot. Processors may be marked for reconfiguration if the processor is currently deconfigured (not the same as marked for deconfiguration) or if the processor is marked for deconfiguration !!and!! deactivated. The Expert Tool will display a warning message if there are no processors deconfigured, there are no processors marked for deconfiguration !!and!! deactivated, or an attempt to mark for reconfiguration the Monarch. The !!Mark Reconfig!! command will display in the main window the SPU, Physical Device, and HPA number along with the current number of marked for reconfiguration processors after execution.
  
  

  Runexercise (REX)

  
  The "Runexercise" command will launch for a selected cpu. On the popup dialog box, the user can modify parameters of the exerciser such as and . By design, only one cpu exerciser can run at any time.
  To monitor the running processes, the user may use the Top utility to obtain execution information on the running process.
  The running record can be found on cpu expert activity log.
  

  Termexercise (TEX)

  
  The "Termexercise" command terminates running the exerciser as user desires to stop the exercise earlier than the "cpu exercise". The exercise termination message will be indicated on main window of this expert tool.

Generalhelp (HE)

Version (VERS)

Control-C (Abort or Interrupt)