IBM RS/6000 Adapter Power-On Self-Tests (POSTs)

Adapter Power-On Self-Tests (POSTs)
Two power-on self-tests (POSTs) are resident in the SSA adapter. The tests are
POST-1 and POST-2.
POST-1 tests all the functions that are necessary to enable the adapter to communi-
cate with the Micro Channel. POST-1 can fail for either of two reasons:
A hardware error has been detected. In such instances, the POST code enters
a tight loop, and does not put the identification of the SSA adapter into the pro-
grammable option select (POS) registers. If this error occurs, the SSA adapter
must be exchanged for a new one.
The flash erasable programmable read-only memory (EPROM) has a check sum
that is not valid. This error can be caused if the power fails while microcode is
being downloaded. In such instances, the POST checks all the hardware that is
needed to download the microcode. If all the hardware is correct, the POST sets
the ROS level to zero, puts the identification of the SSA adapter into POS 0-1,
and puts error data into the adapter status register.
To recover from this type of error, microcode must be downloaded to the SSA
adapter. If the using system can have an initial program load (IPL) without the
adapter, the configuration code detects the down-level ROS code and downloads
the latest level of code. The configuration code then uses control register bit 7 to
reset the adapter and restart POST-1.
If no error is detected during POST-1, the identification of the SSA adapter is put into
the POS registers, and POST-2 is started.
POST-2 tests the remaining hardware on the SSA adapter card and tests the other
FRUs that are attached to the adapter. If this test fails, an error code is saved and
sent to the using-system error log when the error logger becomes available. An
internal health check continues to send the error code at regular intervals.
10-2 RS/6000 Enterprise Server Model H Series User's Guide