ERS II and ERS/FT II
Chapter 5 - Functions

Function Overview

In addition to the second power supply and integrated IES, the ERS/FT II subsystem provides the following functions not supported by the ERS II subsystem:

• LED Diagnostics - the backplane configuration is illustrated in a LED display; slot power is also represented in LED illumination
• Group Power Switching - BC groups may be individually turned on and off
• Automatic Multiplexor Channel Configuration - the ERS/FT II automatically configures the multiplexor channels to match the backplane configuration (no DIP switch configuration is required)
• Power On Self Tests - each time power is applied, the subsystem executes a series of hardware tests and reports any errors detected
• Runtime Error Detection - the ERS/FT II will report runtime errors as they occur

Each function is explained below.

* The ERS/FT II also provides subsystem environmental LEDs on the front panel that are not included on the ERS II. These LEDs are explained as ERS/FT II front panel functions in Chapter 3.

LED Diagnostics

ERS/FT II subsystems include the following LEDs:

• Slot Power LEDs - indicate which slots are receiving power
• Shunt Board LEDs - illustrate the backplane configuration

Slot Power LEDs

A group of sixteen green LEDs is located on the top bracket of the multiplexor panel. These LEDs are interspersed with the amber shunt board LEDs explained below (refer to Figure 5-1 ). The green LEDs reflect the +5vdc fuse power for each individual slot within the subsystem. Each LED is aligned with the slot it represents.

Figure 5-1
LED Configuration

In addition to illustrating the +5vdc state on each slot, the LEDs on the top bracket are used to indicate which BC group is currently selected. BC groups are selected via the BC Group pushbuttons on the front panel of the subsystem. The LEDs indicate the selected group in the following fashion:

• If the group power is on to a particular group, BUT the group is not selected, the green LEDs pertaining to that group will be solid on.
• If the group power is on to a particular group, AND the group is selected, the green LEDs pertaining to that group will be on, but will pulse off for an instant every two or three seconds.
• If the group power is off to a particular group, BUT the group is not selected, the green LEDs pertaining to that group will be solid off.
• If the group power is off to a particular group, AND the group is selected, the green LEDs pertaining to that group will be off, but will pulse on for an instant every two or three seconds.

If a fuse is blown, the corresponding green LED will either be solid off if the group containing the fuse is not selected, or off and occasionally pulsing if the group is selected.

Although these LEDs normally represent the status of slot power, when the subsystem is turned on the LEDs will not show the correct state of the slots until initialization is complete. Therefore, in addition to the LEDs on the top bracket of the subsystem, a second group of sixteen LEDs is located on the backplane itself. These LEDs will always reflect the correct state of +5vdc to the slots.

Shunt Board LEDs

A group of seven amber LEDs are located on the subsystem top bracket. These LEDs are interspersed with the green slot power LEDs previously described. The amber LEDs indicate the presence or absence of a shunt board between every two ISA slots on the backplane. Each amber LED is aligned with a possible shunt board location. Refer to Figure 5-1 for an illustration of the LED configuration.

If a shunt board is installed in the shunt slot between two slots, the corresponding amber LED will be on. If no shunt board is installed, the amber LED will be off.

* For backplanes that do not contain a shunt slot between every two slots (such as on an EISA backplane), the shunt LEDs indicate whether a group separation exists between the slots. Regardless of whether the groups are joined by traces on the backplane itself or by shunt boards, the shunt LEDs will accurately represent the backplane configuration.

Group Power Switching

The backplane of the ERS/FT II contains sixteen slots that may be divided into a maximum of eight groups. Each group may function as a separate computer residing in the subsystem. The ERS/FT II allows groups to be powered on and off individually without affecting the other groups in the enclosure. This is a helpful maintenance feature as it allows maintenance to be performed on one group without requiring all of the groups in the subsystem to be taken offline.

Group power is controlled by a pushbutton on the front panel. Initially, the ERS/FT II will power on all groups. To power down a group, the operator must select the group via the BC Group pushbuttons, and then press the Group Pwr pushbutton (this button is recessed to prevent accidental power interruptions). To restore power to a group that is powered off, select the group and press the Group Pwr pushbutton again.

When power is applied to the ERS/FT II, the subsystem will reinstate the group power to its condition when the subsystem was turned off. Therefore, if a group is powered down and then the subsystem loses power, when the ERS/FT II is powered on that group will remain off. This feature may be overridden by the operator during the power up sequence (refer to the Automatic Multiplexor Channel Configuration section).

Automatic Multiplexor Channel Configuration

The purpose of the automatic multiplexor channel configuration is to determine which channels on the multiplexor are connected to which BC groups in the backplane. When the ERS/FT II is powered on for the first time, it will automatically perform a self configuration. First the ERS/FT II determines the backplane configuration. This requires applying power to each group in the backplane. The ERS/FT II will locate all BC processors and MP 2008 multiport boards. For a board to be recognized it must be connected to a channel on the multiplexor.

Once a valid configuration is determined by the ERS/FT II, the configuration will be stored in battery-backed CMOS memory. In addition, the state of power to each group is also stored in CMOS. If power is cycled on the subsystem, the ERS/FT II will boot using the configuration stored in CMOS.

To abort the five second countdown and assume the configuration stored in CMOS, press the BC Group Down pushbutton during the countdown displayed on the console upon power up. To force the ERS/FT II to rebuild the configuration, press the BC Group Up pushbutton during the five second countdown. Note that this will have the effect of turning power on to all groups in the subsystem.

* If CMOS does not contain a valid configuration when power is applied to the ERS/FT II, the subsystem will perform an automatic self configuration with no operator input required.

Power On Self Tests

Diagnostic tests are performed every time the ERS/FT II subsystem is powered on. The tests, their corresponding error codes, and their status of fatal or nonfatal are illustrated in Table 5 - 1.

If an error is detected, an error code is displayed using the three digit display on the front panel as follows: the letter "E", indicating an error, is displayed as the BC Group; the first hexadecimal digit of the error code will be displayed as the Multiport Board; and the second hexadecimal digit of the error code will be displayed as the MP Serial Port.

Fatal errors will prohibit subsystem operation until power is cycled and the error is resolved. Nonfatal errors will be displayed briefly (about one second) on the front panel, but they will not prevent the subsystem from functioning.

Table 5 - 1
Power On Self Tests

* This test is only performed during self configuration.

 

Runtime Error Detection

Any errors detected while the ERS/FT II is running are displayed on the front panel in the same manner as the Power On Self Test errors. None of the runtime errors are fatal. The runtime errors are explained in Table 5 - 2.

Table 5 - 2
Runtime Errors

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