NAME

sysex − invoke the system exerciser

SYNOPSIS

sysex

AVAILABILITY

Sun386i systems only. 

DESCRIPTION

sysex is the system exerciser for Sun386i systems. 

This program is designed to run under the SunView environment, but a dumb terminal interface is provided.  The program tests subsystems of a Sun386i system, printing information to the console and log files.  Most commands are accessible by way of buttons, toggle switches, or menus.  A startup file .sysexrc, can be created by experienced users to set runtime parameters. 

USAGE

Subwindows

Control Panel Tells which version of the exerciser is running. User controls sysex executions through the toggles, buttons, and sliders in this panel. 

Perfmon window
Graphically displays system statics. The standard SunView perfmeter(1). 

Console window Displays the system messages and sysex error messages. 

Status Window Displays pass counts and error counts for all tests that are currently selected.  Also displays system pass count, and total system errors.  Elapsed time signifies time since start button is pressed. 

Load Sliders

These slide bars allow the user to modulate the load on the system. 

I/O-CPU Load
Moving this slider changes the balance between I/O-intensive and compute-intensive tests that are running.

SYSTEM LOAD
Moving this slider increases and decreases the system activity generated by sysex. 

Test Toggles

Each test selection on the control panel is selectable by moving the cursor over to the toggle and pressing the left mouse button. 

The tests are displayed by device groups in the control panel.  A test is enabled when a check mark is seen in the box.  Clicking left on the group label acts as a group enable/disable for all     Wed tests in that device group.  Currently there are tests for physical memory and virtual memory, fixed disk, diskette, Ethernet, and color frame buffer. 

Command Buttons

Command buttons exist for the following commands:

Quit Sysex Stop all current tests and exit the exerciser.  All logs will be saved. 

Log Files Display menu for choosing a log to view, reset, or print. 

Options Display window through which .sysexrc parameters can be modified. 

Print Screen Take screendump of the current screen. 

Start Tests Start all test from pass0 that have been selected.  Resets pass count. Toggles to Stop Tests. Begin elapsed time count. 

Stop Tests Stop all tests that are running.  Toggles to Start Tests. 

Pause Pause tests by issuing SIGSTP. 

Continue Continue testing from the stopped state without resetting pass count.  Toggles to Pause,leaves pass counts intact.  Will continue elapsed time count if Continued from a Pause. 

Logs

When the user selects the DISPLAY LOGS button and chooses from the log menu, a scrollable pop-up window will display the log, which can be one of /var/sysex/sysex.info, /var/sysex/sysex.error, or /etc/adm/messages.  Logs contain messages classified as INFO, WARNING, ERROR, or FATAL.  The INFO file contains all messages; the ERROR file contains only error and fatal messages. 

Variables

The sysex program has several variables than can be set in the .sysexrc file. Some of the variables pertain to only one test and others are global to all tests.  Clicking Done will save changes to the .sysexrc file.  Clicking Cancel leaves options unchanged. 

verbose
Display messages about what is currently taking place.

verify Run through a cursory pass of tests to see all subsystems present. 

run_on_err
Halt subsystem testing when an error occurs.

sysex_halt_on_err
Stop sysex if an error occurs in any subsystem. 

core Create core dump in /var/sysex.

single_pass
Run one pass of each selected device test.

For the expert user, more commands are available by clicking the manufacturing cycle to Enabled.  This displays the following options:

fdc_wait Variable wait time between executions of the diskette test. 

vmem_wait
Variable delay between successive executions of the virtual memory test.

debug Display all messsages to aid analysis of problem systems. 

check_eeprom
Read NVRAM configuration information and display values. 

intervention
Turn on or off the confirmer for all destructive tests, or for tests requiring media.

FILES

/usr/sysex/sysex

/var/sysex/core

/var/sysex/sysex.info

/var/sysex/sysex.error

Sun Release 4.0  —  Last change: 11 February 1988