Topic: System Crash - Information needed

Question:

If I should find out that my system crashed with TCPware drivers found in the registers, what does Process Software need in order to analyze this crash as quickly as possible?

Answer:

Process Software will need the following information in order to do a speedy crash analysis;

All information on the crash MUST include:

1. The VMS version and machine architecture (VAX or AXP)
2. The TCPware version that was running and any patches that had been applied, especially any driver patches. The dump cannot be analyzed without this information.
3. Has anything unusual occurred recently or is the crash occurring on installing TCPware? Unusual events include:
   A. changed hardware configuration on local node or network
   B. changed software configuration including:
   • TCPware configuration,
   • VMS SYSGEN,
   • new applications on server or client
   C. an unusual load
4. Some SDA information could be useful:

      $ ANALYZE/CRASH_DUMP
      SDA> read/exec (don't need this output)
      SDA> show crash
      SDA> format @r3	(optional)
   
      SDA> format @r5	(optional)
   	- if this shows up as UCB$... structure, then do
      SDA> show device/address=@r5
   
      SDA> show stack
   
   

This information should be sent to Process Software’s Technical Support Department to expedite the crash analysis. In most cases a valid system dump from the crash will also have to be provided.