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Online help for the CPU Expert Tool running under the menu user interface (mstm).

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 deactivate, reactivate, 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 deactivation, 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.

Introduction

The CPU Expert Tool allows on-line control of processor functionality in a multi-processor environment by issuing processor specific commands.
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 HP-Only 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 pulldown Menu.

    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.
    • * Deactivate all processors that may not have any problems, and assign a PID to activated processor that is suspected to be malfunctioning.
    • * Continue Deactivating and Reactivating Processors untill a malfunctioning processor is identified.
    • * If you get confused on which processors are diabled/enabled run the commDisplay command, which will indicate the status of all Processors.

    Common Tasks

    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 main window.

    * SYMPTOM: You start a CPU Expert Tool command but nothing seems to happen:
    The CPU Expert Expert Tool may be waiting for you to respond to a query message it is displaying. Look underneath the windows on your workstation for a query message. Also, de-iconize any windows related to stm or the expert tool.

    * 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 STM screen 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 and Pulldown menu

The CPU Expert Tool offers the following commands and Menu:
  • * File Menu
  • * Options Menu
  • * CPU-Exercise Menu
  • * Help Menu
  • * Buttons

      Save As


      The Save As command in the File pulldown menu saves the contents of tool's main window. ( Only the most recent 200 lines can be saved.)

      Print


      The Print command in the the File pulldown menu prints the contents of tool's main window. ( Only the most recent 200 lines can be printed. )

      Exit


      Use the !!Exit!! command to terminate the execution of the CPU Expert Tool and return to the main STM window. If the user tries to exit without reactivating deaotivated processor(s), a warning message will appear. The message will indicate that all processors have not been reaotivated, and reactivation of all processors will be done upon exiting.

      Activate


      The !!Activate!! command will only return a processor that has been previously Deactivated to normal system use. A deactivated processor that is also marked for deconfiguration may not be reactivated until it is marked for reconfiguration. Will return error message if activation 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 activated processors after execution.

      Assign


      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

      Deactivates a processor from system use. A pdev number argument is required. The Expert Tool will display a warning message if there is only one processor currently activated or on any attempt to deaotivate the Monarch. The !!Deactivate!! command will display in the main window the SPU, Physical Device, and HPA number along with the current number of activated processors after execution.

      Display

      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)
       Active: (Active/Inactive)
       Configured: (No Status/Configured)
       Marked for Configuration: (Not Marked/Marked for Deconfiguration)
       Monarch: (Yes/No)

      Mark Deconfig

      Marks a processor for deconfiguration on the next reboot. A pdev number argument is required. The Expert Tool will display a warning message if there is only one processor currently configured or on any attempt to deconfigure 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 deconfigure processors after execution.

      Mark Reconfig


      Marks a processor for reconfiguration on the next reboot. A processor must be either deconfigured or marked for deconfigure and deactive in order to mark for reconfiguration a processor. A pdev number argument is required. The Expert Tool will display a warning message if there is only no processor currently deconfigured or on any attempt to reconfigure 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 mark for reconfigure processors after execution.

      Run


      The !!Run!! 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.

      Termination


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

      General Help


      The "General Help" command displays online help for the CPU Expert Tool (the help system you are currently viewing).
      For online help on STM as a whole, use the Help function keys in the STM main window.

      Version


      The "Version" command displays version and copyright information for the CPU Expert Tool.

      Abort Button


      The !!Abort!! button allows you to abort the CPU Expert Tool, halting its execution and returning to the STM main window.
      The tool will be requested to abort and the state of the tool execution in the system map will be set to ABORT_PENDING. When the tool actually exits, its state will be set to ABORTED.

      Interrupt Button

      The !!Interrupt!! button allows you to interrupt the tool. When the tool receives the interrupt, it will stop whatever it is doing and prompt the user whether they want to continue with the current operation. If the choice is "Continue", the tool will continue with the current operation. If the choice is "Abort", the tool will abort the current operation and return to the window for the CPU Expert Tool.

      Control-C
      Pressing Control-C (CNTL-C) allows you to interrupt or abort execution of tool, or to escape to the user interface. After you press Control-C, the following function keys are displayed:
    • fkeyEscapetoUI
    • fkeyInterrupt
    • fkeyAbort
    • fkeyContinue

      ESCAPE TO UI


      The ESCAPE TO UI function key allows you to disconnect from the currently executing tool and return to the main User Interface (UI) command level. To reconnect to the tool, select the Attach to Tool menu item in the Tools->Tool Management pulldown menu.

      INTERRUPT


      The INTERRUPT function key allows you to interrupt the tool.
      When the tool receives the interrupt, it stops whatever it is doing and asks you if you want to continue with the operation. If the reply is "Continue", the tool resumes what it was doing at the time of the interrupt. If the reply is "Abort", it terminates the operation and returns to the CPU Expert Tool main menu.
      The tool may not immediately receive the interrupt as it could be in the middle of an operation that should not or could not be interrupted. The interrupt is received as soon as the tool completes the operation.
      The tool will receive and ignore user interrupts when it is already in the process of returning to the main function keys of the tool.

      ABORT


      The ABORT function key allows you to abort the tool.
      The tool will be requested to abort and the state of the tool execution in the system map will be set to ABORT_PENDING. When the tool actually exits, its state will be set to ABORTED.

      CONTINUE

      The CONTINUE function key allows you to continue with tool execution. The tool will continue execution just as if the Control-C keys had not been pressed.