CPU Expert Tool (cstm Online Help)

The CPU Expert Tool provides sophisticated troubleshooting for problems associated with a specific
  Processor in a Multiprocessor environment.

  The CPU Expert Tool is fully interactive, with its own set of menu commands.

      Caution

The CPU Expert Tool contains commands which will cause severe 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.

• Command Summary
• Itroduction
• Step-by-Step Instructions
• Troubleshooting Tool-Related Problems
• Commands

Command Summary

• File Command

  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

• Exercise Commands

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

• Exercise Commands

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

• Other

  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 Troubleshooting Tool-Related Problems help topic.

Step-by-Step Instruction

• Running the CPU Expert Tool
• Troubleshooting a Suspect processor
• Common Tasks

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.
  or 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:
  
  
  • Troubleshooting a Suspect processor
  • Common Tasks
  • Command

• 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 Troubleshooting Tool- Related Problems 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 Tasks

If you run into problems, see the Troubleshooting Tool-Related Problems help topic.

Troubleshooting Tool-Related Problems

Consult the Failure Log (for failures) and the Test Activity Log, accessible from the STM prompt.

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 activation routine does not return SUCCESSFUL or wrong pdev # was selected.
The "Activate" command will display in the main window the SPU and Physical Device 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 deactivate the Monarch. The Deactivate command will display in the main window the SPU and Physical Device number along with the current number 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:
Status: (Enabled/Disabled)
Monarch: (Yes/No)

Runexercise (REX)

The "Runexercise" command will launch CPU Exercise for a selected cpu.
On the popup dialog box, the user can modify parameters of the exerciser such as Execution Time Limit and Error Allowed Number.
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.

General help (HE)

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" command at the STM prompt.

Version (VERS)

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

Control-C (Abort or Interrupt)

While a test is executing, you can press Control-C to abort or interrupt the text. When "Control-C" is detected, a list of choices will be displayed on the screen.
The list includes "Abort", "Interrupt", "Escape" and "Continue".

Choosing "Abort" or "Escape" halts the tool's execution and returns 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.

"Continue" causes the tool to continue with what it was doing at the time of Control-C.

Choosing "Interrupt" causes the tool to prompt 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 tool's prompt.

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