SYSEX(1)

NAME
sysex - start the system exerciser

SYNOPSIS
sysex

AVAILABILITY

Available only on Sun 386i systems running a SunOS 4.0.x release or earlier. Not a SunOS 4.1 release feature.

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 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. 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 displays the log, which is 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

sysex 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 saves 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 messages 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