Introduction
Power-up
The H3600-SA CPU Cover Panel
The CPU Patch Panel
Console commands
Error codes
The M7620 KA650-A CPU module was used in MicroVAX 3500 and 3600 systems, while the KA650-B was the heart of the VAXstation 3200 and 3500. The KA650-B is unctionally equivalent to the -A version, the difference is the single-user VMS and Ultrix license shipped with it.
The heart of the module is the CVAX chip, which contains 180.000 transistors and runs at 22 MHz. There are support chips for clock, floating-point accelerator (70 instructions, 32 other are simulated in software), memory management and qbus interfacing. The processor also utilizes 1 Kbyte first-level write-through cache memory (90 ns cycle) and 64 Kbyte second-level cache. The module also includes a system support chip (SSC) which provide console and boot code support, console serial line, interval timer, time-of-year clock, and some other functions. The processor's resident firmware consists of 128 KByte code stored in two 27512 EPROMs. It provides services for self testing, initialization, console command language (CCL), bootstraps.
The KA650 CPU features LMI (Local Memory Interconnect), which uses three different paths to system memory: the qbus, the C-D interconnect of the backplane (thus it must be fitted into a Q22/CD backplane, which is usually a BA215 enclosure with a straight-down Q22/C-D backplane, but it can also be used in the first few Q22/C-D slots of a BA23 or BA123, in which case the system is sometimes nicknamed "MicroVAX III"), and a ribbon cable that connects the CPU module to MS650 or compatible third-party memory boards. This means, that you can use qbus memory cards with the KA650 (although it results in weaker performance), or you can use LMI MicroVAX III memory modules. Do not try to use LMI memory modules intended for earlier MicroVAX systems (modules of the MS630-series, etc)! The CPU module should go into the first slot of the backplane, the LMI memory boards should be next. The maximal memory amount is 64 MBytes, although this is limited to 48 MB in VAXstations.
The console is used through a CPU Patch panel, which in the case of BA2xx enclosure is the H3600-SA cover panel, or the bulkhead CPU Patch Panel Insert on a BA23/BA123. The system can also be used in a BA11-S enclosure with straight-down Q22/C-D backplane, but I've yet to see a MicroVAX III like that...
Connectors on the board
The module has three connectors:
J1: CPU patch panel ("bulkhead panel") connector #1: serial
line connector
J2: CPU patch panel ("bulkhead panel") connector #2: LED
display and switches
J3: memory interconnect cable
All three cables are straight-through ribbon cables, nothing special.
Upon powering up, the KA650 performs some special actions, like checking the console firmware NVRAMs, locating the console device, query the console language and then running some self-testss. Locating the console device means sending some control characters to the SLU if there's a unit responding to it. If there's a VCB02 (QDSS) graphics module in the system, the console will be initialized here. (Note: the qbus hasn't been checked yet, so if there are failures on the bus, the console can be "lost"). After this is done, the firmware displays a banner message with the firmware and VMB (primary bootloader) version numbers:
KA650-A V5.3, VMB 2.7Next, if the Power-up Mode Switch on the CPU Cover/Patch Panel is in the Language Query position, or the previous value was lost due to failure of the back-up battery unit, the firmware asks for the language to use in console messages. After that, a sequence of tests is executed. On some (earlier) versions of the firmware, the countdown starts at 30 instead of 40 as shown here.
Performing normal system tests. 40..39..38..37..36..35..34..33..32..31..30..29..28..27..26..25.. 24..23..22..21..20..19..18..17..16..15..14..13..12..11..10..09.. 08..07..06..05..04..03.. Tests completed.The example here shows a normal countdown; if there's an error, you'll get a dump of registers, and the message "Normal operation is not possible.". The interpretation of these messages is not trivial, here's a little hint:
?16 2 08 FF 00 0000"16" is the number of the test that bombed.
Now, depending on the state of the Halt Enable switch on the CPU Cover/Patch Panel, the console prompt (">>>", also called the "chevron") is displayed (if halt is enabled), or the system attempts to boot (if halt is disabled). If no default boot device is set, the firmware will prompt you for one:
Loading system software. No default boot device has been specified. Devices: -DUA0 (RA81) -MUA0 (TK50) -XQA0 (08-00-2B-06-F3-E4) Device? [XQA0]
(BOOT/R5:0 XQA0)
2.. -XQA0This is a function used in the newer firmware, earlier revisions will search for a boot device much like the KA630 CPU does:
In this case, a successful bootstrap will look like this:
2.. -DUA0
1..0.. Loading system software.This countdown is also displayed on the LEDs of the Cover/Patch Panel and on LEDs on the CPU module.
The steps of the power-up tests:
F: Waiting for CDOK
E: Start executing ROM firmware code
D: Waiting for Power OK
C: SSC and ROM tests
B: CPU tests
A: FPA tests
9: Memory management chip tests
8: Memory tests
7: Qbus tests
6: Console loopback/QDSS tests
5: Cache tests
4: Miscellanous tests running
3: Console I/O mode
2: Searching for bootstrap device, control
passed to VMB
1: Bootstrap device found, control passed
to secondary bootstrap
0: Program I/O mode, controll passed to operating
systems
Some tips for troubleshooting
If there's nothing on the console display, nor on the hex LED display,
check if the CPU's in place, check the cable from the CPU module to the
bulkhead panel. I've experienced some silly behaviour when using too long
ribbon cables between the CPU and the Patch Panel... I you cannot use the
computer, as it loops through the tests, check if the power-on mode switch
on the Patch panel is in the "test loop" position.
Although I mentioned this earlier, I'll do it again: don't use MS630
or compatible memory boards with the KA650 (it would not be that easy anyway,
the connectors are in line to warn you!
H3600-SA CPU Cover Panel (BA2xx enclosure)
The H3600-SA is a special I/O panel covering the CPU and the first memory module. It's used in the BA2xx-series of enclosures (also called the "S-box"). On the inside, it has a one-piece ribbon cable which plugs into the SLU and bulkhead panel connectors (J1 and J2) on the KA650, the battery back-up unit (BBU, a battery pack) and a rotary switch for baud rate selection. On the outside there's a hex LED display, the power-up mode switch (Halt enable/disable, the upper position is "enabled"), a recessed rotary switch for language selection ("face" for language inquery, "arrow" for normal operation, "T in circle" for loopback test), and the SLU connector, which is a modified modular jack (MMJ), which can be used with the Digital "office cable" equipment, or you can break off the little "twitch" of a normal phone cable with MJs on both ends (the MMJ is just like a normal phone connector with this twitch off-center) so that it fits (although it will slide out quite easily). The newer Digital CRT terminals (VT320 and above) all have MMJ connectors ("DEC423" in the configuration menus), on VTs with a normal DB25 connector you must use a converter.
The CPU Patch Panel Insert (BA 23/BA123)
Picture 2: The CPU Patch Panel, sometimes called the
"bulkhead"
The two-position switch is for halt enable/disable ("dot in circle"
is enabled).
The LED display is for displaying the power-up test countdown
The three-position rotary switch is for selecting power-up modes ("arrow":
normal operation", "face": language inquery mode, "T in circle": test loop
mode)
The eight-position rotary switch is for selecting the baud rate for
the console terminal (from 300 baud to 38400)
The male DB9 connector is for the console. It's not a 9-pin PC serial port! You must have a Digital BCC08 cable, or build one. The pinout is:
DB9 (VAX) DB25 (PC)
1 -----------> 1 2 -----------> 3 3 -----------> 2 4 -----------> 5 5 -----------> 6 6 -----------> 20 7 -----------> 7 8 --\ 9 --/This is in general a null modem cable (pins 2-3, 3-2, 7-7, with the 8th and 9th pin on the VAX-side shorted; speaking from experience, you don't need all the pins that are connected in the BCC08 cable).
The KA650 has two operating states. One is normal operation (programmed I/O), the other is console I/O. Console I/O is entered when the "Halt enable/disable" switch on the Cover/Patch Panel is in the enable position and a/ the "Halt" button on the system control panel is pressed b/ upon power-up. You are also dropped into console mode, when something fatal occurs to the operating system. You can identify the console state from the "chevron" prompt:
>>>You can enter bootstrap/diagnostic commands form this prompt (e.g. you can play around with memory locations, registers, etc), up to 80 characters once. Commands can be abbreviated. Note: some of these comands may not be present in earlier firmware versions.
The most important commands:
BOOT </qualifier> [DEVICE]
Boots the specified device (DUxy for disks where x
is the controller number, y is the disk on that controller, MUxy
for TMSCP tapes (in the same manner) XQA0 or XQB0 for Ethernet).
If no device is pecified, the system goes through the sequence discussed
at power-up tests. Qualifier: /R5:<value>
- the <value> gets passed to VMB (primary boot loader). If you enter
"BOOT" alone, the console goes through the normal bootstraping procedure.
A default boot device can be given with SET BOOT <DEVICE>.
Default boot flags can be set with SET BFLG <FLAG> .
CONFIGURE
This is a utility that is similar to the VMS SYSGEN
program: it generates a table of CSR and vector addresses of devices entered
interactively.
CONTINUE
The CPU starts instruction execution from the address in the PC (Program
Counter). No initialization is performed.
DEPOSIT [qualifier] <address> <data>
Deposits <data> into the address specified. Special address specifications
include PSL (Processor Status Longword), PC, SP (Stack
Pointer), Rx for register #x, + for the next location
(counted in the unit given with the qualifier), - the previous location,
*
the last referenced location. Qualifiers: /b data size is byte,
/w data size us word, /l data size is longword,
/v
address is in the virtual address space, /p physical memory,
/i
internal processor register, /g general register, /u access
to console program memory locations, /N:<count> range of the
operation.
EXAMINE [qualifier] <address>
Examines the data at the given address. The qualifiers are the same
as with DEPOSIT.
INITIALIZE
Processor initialization.
HALT
No effect, as the processor is in the halt state when in console I/O
mode.
HELP
Displays a list of commands and their arguments.
MOVE [qualifier] <src address> <dest address>
Moves the block of memory starting at <src address> to a block beginng
at <dest address>. The data format qualifiers are the same as with DEPOSIT
and EXAMINE.
NEXT
"Steps" the processors <n> macro instructions. If no count is specified,
single-step is assumed.
REPEAT <command>
Repeats <command> until CTRL+C is pressed.
SEARCH [qualifiers] <address> <pattern> [mask]
Search for occurences of a pattern. The data size qualifier can be
supllied as with DEPOSIT and EXAMINE. The mask is for not taking care of
some bits: if you specify "1", bit 0 will be ignored.
SET <parameter> <value>
Sets the indicated parameter to <value>. The following console parameters
will be accepted: BFLAG (boot flags), BOOT (default boot
device), LANGUAGE (default language). SET HOST is using
the DUP or MAINTENANCE driver on the selected node (intelligent storage
controllers, such as the KFQSA DSSI adapter).
SHOW <parameter>
Displyas the value of the parameter, which can be one of: BFLG
(default boot flag), BOOT (default boot device), DEVICE (all
devices in the system), ETHERNET (hardware address off Ethernet
adapter), LANGUAGE (default console language), MEMORY (memory
configuration, also accepts the /full switch), QBUS (all addresses
that respond to an aligned word read), RLV12, UQSSP, VERSION
(version of the firmware and VMB).
START <address>
Starts instruction execution at <address>
TEST [test number]
The test identified by [test number] is invoked. If no number is specified,
no test is performed. TEST 9E lists the available diagnostic tests.
UNJAM
I/O bus reset.
The commands can be abbreviated (e.g. it's enough to type I for INITIALIZE, etc). Later/other MicroVAX CPUs had more complex console commands.
Whenever an error occures, the KA650 dumps a small error message on the console, which consist of a two-digit hexadecimal number, a small, abbriviated message, and the content of the PC.
+-----------------------------------------------------------------------------+ |HEX VALUE| MESSAGE | EXPLANATION | +-----------------------------------------------------------------------------+
02 EXT HLT Break was typed on the console, QBINIT or QHALT was asserted.
04 ISP ERR In attempting to push state onto the interrupt stack during an interrupt or exception, the processor discovered that the interrupt stack was mapped NO ACCESS or NOT VALID.
05 DBL ERR The processor attempted to report a machine check to the operating system, and a second machine check occurred.
06 HLT INST The processor executed a HALT instruction in kernel mode.
07 SCB ERR3 The vector had bits <1:0> equal to 3.
08 SCB ERR2 The vector had bits <1:0> equal to 2.
0A CHM FR ISTK A change mode instruction was executed when PSL<IS> was set.
0B CHM TO ISTK The exception vector for a change mode had bit <0> set.
0C SCB RD ERR A hard memory error occurred while the processor was trying to read an exception or interrupt vector.
10 MCHK AV An access violation or an invalid translation
11 KSP AV An access violation or an invalid translation occurred during processing of an invalid kernel stack pointer exception.
12 DBL ERR2 Double machine check error. A machine check occured during processing of a kernel stack, not valid exception.
13 DBL ERR3 Double machine check error. A machine check occured while trying to service a machine check.
20 CORRPTN The console database was corrupted. The console program simulates a power-up sequence and rebuilds its database.
21 ILL REF The requested reference would violate virtual memory protection, the address is not mapped, the reference is invalid in the specified address space, or the value is invalid in the specified destination.
22 ILL CMD The command string cannot be parsed.
23 INV DGT A number has an invalid digit.
24 LTL The command was to large for the console to buffer. The message is issued only after receipt of the terminating carriage return.
25 ILL ADR The address specified falls outside the limits of the address space.
26 VAL TOO LRG The value specified does not fit in the destination.
27 SW CONF For example, for example two different data sizes are specified with an EXAMINE command.
28 UNK SW The switch is unrecognized.
29 UNK SYM The symbolic address in an EXAMINE or DEPOSIT is unrecognized.
2A CHKSM The command or data checksum of an X command is incorrect. If the data checksum is incorrect, this message is issued and is not abbreviated to "Illegal Command". occurred during machine check exception processing.
2B HLTED The operator entered a HALT command.
2C FND ERR A FIND command failed either to find the RPB or 64 kb of good memory.
2D TMOUT During an X command, data failed to arrive in the time expected.
2E MEM ERR Parity error detected.
2F UNXINT An unexpected interrupt or exception occurred.
40 NOSUCHDEV No bootable devices found.
41 DEVASSIGN Device is not present.
42 NOSUCHFILE Program image not found.
43 FILESTRUCT Invalid boot device file structure.
44 BADCHKSUM Bad checksum on header file.
45 BADFILEHDR Bad file header.
46 BADIRECTORY Bad directory file.
47 FILNOTCNTG Invalid program image file.
48 ENDOFFILE Premature end of file encountered.
49 BADFILENAME Bad file name given.
4A BUFFEROVF Program image does not fit in available memory.
4B CTRLERR Boot device I/O error.
4C DEVINACT Failed to initialize boot device.
4D DEVOFFLINE Device is offline.
4E MEMERR Memory initialization error.
4F SCBINT Unexpected SCB exception or machine check.
50 SCB2NDINT Unexpected exception after starting program image.
51 NOROM No valid ROM image found.
52 NOSUCHNODE No response from load server.
53 INSFMAPREG Invalid memory configuration.
54 RETRY No devices bootable, retrying.
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| Created by: Ákos Varga | Last modified: |