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 deactivating
or reactivating 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. More over, processors may be marked for deconfiguration
or reconfiguration upon the next boot. Care should be exercised to NOT
leave a cpu deconfigured or marked for deconfiguration as the system performance will be adversely effected. In addition, care must be taken on iCOD machines to not leave more cpu's active and/or marked for configuration than the customer has license for.
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
Step-by-Step Instructions
Running the CPU Expert Tool
To run the CPU Expert Tool on a device:
Troubleshooting a Suspect Processor
The following procedure is one possible method for troubleshooting
processors. The idea is to use utilize the process of elimination ideology.
First find easy problems then perform more-time consuming operations to find
less obvious problems.
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 aotivated 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
Common Tasks
If you run into problems, see the trouble help topic.
Troubleshooting Tool-Related Problems
Consult the Failure Log (for failures)
and the Test Activity Log, accessible from the STM main window.
Make sure the device is connected, powered on, and on-line. You could
try running the verifier on the device to see why the device is not
responding.
You can stop the executing function by pressing the
The CPU 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.
The CPU Expert Tool requires a license to operate. Install the license
at the main STM window 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".
Commands and Buttons
The CPU Expert Tool offers the following commands and buttons:
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 deactivated processor(s), a warning message will appear. The
message will indicate that all processors have not been reactivated, 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. 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 deactivate
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)
Status: (Enabled/Disabled)
Monarch: (Yes/No)
Mark Deconfig
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
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.
Run
The !!Run!! command will launch
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 General Help
The !!General Help!! command displays online help for the
CPU Expert Tool (the help system you are currently viewing).
For information on using the help
system, select the "Using Help..." command in the Help menu
in this Help window.
For online help on STM as a whole, use the Help menu 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.