VAX soft error messages

[Chris Torek]

"soft ecc" messages come from all sorts of places in all sorts of
Unix kernels.  However, the one you mentioned sounds like a 780 or
750 memory controller (mcr) ecc error.  The 4BSD kernels print
something like this:

	mcr%d: soft ecc addr %x syn %x

You can then use your manufacturer's tables to look up the "address"
and "syndrome number"; this will point you to the bad chip.  The
tables vary for different memory boards and systems.  4.2/4.3 BSD
kernels will even (optionally) point you to the chip, IF you have
all Trendata boards....

(Maybe someday I'll put in the National Semi board tables.  Too bad
there's no way to pull a board identifier out of the controller.
Also too bad DEC doesn't seem to give out ECC tables---then again
DEC solders the chips in directly (better for stability, worse for
repairs).)
-- 
In-Real-Life: Chris Torek, Univ of MD Comp Sci Dept (+1 301 454 4251)
UUCP:	seismo!umcp-cs!chris
CSNet:	chris at umcp-cs		ARPA:	chris at maryland