Physical Memory Test (pmem)

This test checks the physical memory of the system. The pmem test locates parity errors, hard and soft error correction code (ECC) errors, memory read errors, and addressing problems. The pseudo driver mem(7) is used to read the physical memory.

pmem Options

Figure 19-1 pmem

The amount of memory shown in the configuration field is the total physical memory probed by the SunVTS kernel. It reflects the amount of physical memory found, rounded up to the nearest megabyte by any fraction. The options to the test allows the user to choose the amount of memory to be read.

Figure 19-2

In the case of UltraSPARC servers, the configuration field lists the banks of memory on each cpu/memory board separately. When physical mapping is used pmem test is registered for each cpu/memory board separately.

pmem Test Modes

Connectivity Mode In this mode, 1 per cent of the memory is read. For UltraSPARC servers, the test reports the ECC errors that have occurred since it was last invoked. The test reports ECC errors for a particular cpu or memory board when physical mapping is selected.

Online Mode A variable amount of memory is read in online mode; the default is 50 per cent. For UltraSPARC servers, the ECC error reporting is the same as for the connectivity mode.

Offline Mode In offline mode, the amount of memory to be read can vary; the default is 50 per cent. For UltraSPARC servers, this test mode reports all ECC errors that have occurred since the system was brought online.

pmem Command Line Syntax

/opt/SUNWvts/bin/pmem standard_arguments [-p=n] [-i=n] [-w=n] [size=n]
[bdinfo=n]

Argument	Explanation
size=number	Specifies the percentage of memory to be read
bdinfo=number	For UltraSPARC servers, indicates the board number information. For example, if board 0 and board 5 have memory and you want the test to read the memory on these two boards, then bdinfo=33 (2**5 + 2**0)

pmem Error Messages

The pmem error messages are listed below with probable causes and recommended actions. Each error message is preceded by a four-digit number that is unique to this test:

6003: <number> intermittent errors on <text>.

  <text> would indicate the SIMM locations.

6004: Symbol <text> not found in kernel image.

<text> will indicate the name of the symbol not found in the kernel image.

6005: <number> persistent errors on <text> SIMM(s).

<text> would indicate the SIMM locations.

Probable_Cause(s):

a. <simm_location> SIMM(s).

Reccomended_Action(s):

a. Call your service representative.

8000  kvm_open() failed: <error_message>.

8001  sysinfo(SI_PLATFORM) failed: <error_message>.

8002  Symbol <text> not found in kernel image.

<text> will indicate the name of the symbol not found in the kernel image.

8003  Couldn't open file /dev/mem: <error_message>.

8004 Unable to read pointer to memlist structure.

8005 Unable to read "size" and "address" in memlist.

8006 llseek() to address <address> failed
(<error_message>).

8007 read() at address <address> failed (<error_message>).

8008 sysconf(_SC_NPROCESSORS_ONLN) failed: <error_message>.

8009 llseek to address <address> failed (<error_message>).

8010 llseek to address <address> [<text>] failed
(<error_message>).

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Note - This message is seen on UltraSPARC servers only. The <text> indicates to which board and bank the physical address <address> maps.

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8011 read() at address <address> [<text>] failed
(<error_message>).

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Note - This message is seen on UltraSPARC servers only. The <text> indicates to which board and bank the physical address <address> maps.

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