Hidden Value May 2005

Hidden Value details commands and procedures in MPE that can improve your productivity with HP 3000 systems.

Edited by John Burke

How do we find out how much memory is installed on a machine?

Stan Sieler replies:
Here’s a simple way, though it requires you to be logged on somewhere with PM capability:

:debug
wl “Main memory = “, [$c0000ca8] / #512 : “#”, “ MBs”
Main memory = #320 MBs

Chuck Ciesinski adds:
There are several free ways; one is by running CSTM (SYSDIAG on pre-6.5 systems), and another is by running sysinfo. If you own Glance/iX or Lund’s SOS, these tools will also tell you how much memory is installed (and a lot more).

Is the external modem port (just below the internal modem port on the IO card) accessible on the HP 3000?

Lars Appel replies:
You switch between internal and external modem port with the CA command (configure access port) at the Ctrl-B prompt. Use CO to get back to regular console mode (leave Ctrl-B prompt). Some more Ctrl-B prompt info can be found at docs.hp.com/cgi-bin/doc3k/B3265090496.13461/94

I have a patch for FTP (FTPHD68A) that I want to install. There’s no indication as to whether it requires a reboot or not. Do all HP 3000 patches require reboots, or just some?

FTP patches do not require a reboot.

I’m trying to set up a test box. When I boot the system up it only goes to INIT C200. I look at the back of the system and I see the XCVR/NET FAIL light flashing. How can I fix the problem?

Gilles Schipper replies:
It could be you’re not waiting long enough. 9x7 boxes with a lot of memory can take 10 minutes or more to do a memory check.

We have a program that is locking a dataset and never unlocks it. Is there a simpler way to force a dataset to unlock than to to reboot the system?

Tom Emerson replies:
Usually the first thing to try is :ABORTing the program. When the database is closed, it implicitly unlocks the datasets. If it is in a state where you cannot abort it, such as trying to obtain a second [unconditional] lock, then you are getting into a “deadly embrace” situation. This is where UNDEDLOCK that others have mentioned will help. If you can re-write your program, then you need to investigate what it is trying to “lock”, whether or not it is getting into a “deadly embrace”, and/or if some programmer simply forgot to code a call to DBUNLOCK.

Likewise, “other programs” should be abortable [press <break>, then type ABORT at the prompt]. If they cannot, then perhaps they are the co-conspirator in the deadlock situation. Again, if you have access to the source, it is time to look into these to determine why locks are being held for so long.

I have a F/W card connected to a HASS unit. What is the SCSI access priority?

Guy Paul replies:
The SCSI priority is in this order: 7, 6, 5, 4, 3, 2, 1, 0, 15, 14, 13, 12, 11, 10, 9, 8, and 7 is usually set for the adapter card.

What does the “R” stand for in the JIN column below?

JOBNUM STATE IPRI JIN JLIST INTRODUCED JOB NAME #J14 EXEC 10 R LP FRI 10:16A BACKG,MGER.VESOFT
Ron Horner replies:
It’s there because the job has the RESTART option on the job card. Most jobs don’t use it unless you want the job to restart completely after a START RECOVERY reboot.