🚀 go-pugleaf

In article <1992Apr25....@alliant.com>, we...@alliant.com (Ric Werme) writes:
> ...
> Before DEC wrote some system-wide diagnostics, we were having occasional
> problems with our Ampex core memory.  Memory diagnostics didn't find the
> problem, so I was asked to write something better.  I came up with something
> that ran as three standalone processes.  The highest priority process
> read and wrote stuff to the RM10B (Bryant drum), the fastest rotating
> memory we had.  The next did the same to a RP03 (30 MB washing machine).
> The last just checked memory ala a standard memory diagnostic.  Each process
> stepped through a set of patterns and wandered through memory.  Each I/O
> took a reasonable amount of time.
> 
> -- 
> | A pride of lions               | Eric J Werme                   |
> | An odd lot of programmers      | uucp: mit-eddie!alliant!werme  |
> | A Constitution of Libertarians | Phone: 508-486-1214            |

(Hi Ric!)

My favorite system light show was the memory port interaction test which could use
drum, disk and tape.  It's original name was INTACT (for INterACTion test) but was
later renamed to DCQCB.  If you had DL10 based comm gear it could run that too.
Best thing about it, it could often find problems that all the other diags missed.
Almost as good as TOPS10! :^)

Another favorite of mine was a hack called SWAPEX.  It ran under TOPS10 and would
get memory, fill it with a pattern and then HIBER with the "swap me out now" bit set.
When the HIBER returned, it would check the pattern and then complement it and HIBER
again.  4 or 6 of those could make a big system go "pink" (remember pink scheduling?)
without much trouble.

Ah, the good old days, when systems had lights that meant more than "power on".

/Ted
--
Standard Disclaimer:

    The opinions expressed above are those of the author and do not
    represent the official views of  Digital Equipment Corporation.

Ted Wojcik, Systems Manager (woj...@crl.dec.com)
Digital Equipment Corporation, Cambridge Research Lab
1 Kendall Sq. Bldg. 700 Flr. 2 Cambridge, MA, 02139, USA
(617)621-6652