From VAX 6000 series owner's manual, Controls and Indicators 3-11:

"Fault Red On Self test is in progress. If light does not turn off, system
has a hardware fault. See Chapter 6 for self test information."

"Fault    Off  Self test has completed or the system is turned off"

Chapter 6 says:

"All (XMI) modules have yellow LEDs on the outer edge of the module that
light when the module passes self test."

Most other test results are reflected on the console output.  I could not
find any DTE DCE references in the manual.

I imagine that you are correct that your problem lies in the power
disttribution.

The H405E and H405F power controllers are listed as three phase.  Could
this part part of your problem?  A dryer plug typically is two phase.


On Tue, 22 May 2001, Gunther Schadow wrote:


> - Was it O.K. that the FAULT light never went off? I think
>   it was probably O.K. since there is no boot device
>   whatsoever.
>
> - Please give some specifics about the power up procedure. How
>   long is the FAULT light on? Until system goes into
>   console mode? Or until a first quick round of selftest?
>
> - Will it ever go into console mode if it's set to AUTOMATIC
>   boot and can't find a boot device?
>
> - Might the strange acting of the tape have something to do
>   with it trying to tell me that it really wants to boot
>   and since the tape is the only bootable device present,
>   it wants a booting tape?
>
> - How is the console plug on the back wired? As a DCE or a DTE?
>   (To avoid misunderstandings, does one need a null-modem to
>   hook up a laptop's RS232 port or is a straight-through cable
>   required?)
>
> I believe that none of the above things has to do with the
> eventual breakdown. The real crucial questions now are:
>
> - What caused the power failure? Why after 15 or more minutes
>   of what seemed like reasonable behavior of all observable
>   components?
>
> - How can the failure possibly be fixed?
>
> - Should I have chosen a different hookup? Like leave on line
>   open, like connecting the NULL wire? Like swapping some
>   wires in some way?
>
> - How will we ever find out so that we can try this again
>   without loosing yet another machine?
>
> I still hope the machine isn't lost but everything is now
> much harder.
>
> regards
> -Gunther
>
>
>

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