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HP OpenVMS Systems Documentation
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HP OpenVMS System Management Utilities Reference Manual

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Chapter 11
Error Log Viewer Utility (ELV)

11.1 ELV Description

The Error Log Viewer (ELV) utility allows you to quickly examine, from the command line, an error log file in a user-readable format before deciding whether the data warrants a more comprehensive analysis with a tool such as the System Event Analyzer (SEA).

ELV is particularly useful with error logs created on systems with newer devices or on newer systems such as most of the DS, ES, and GS series. ELV can also be used with error logs created on some older systems or on systems equipped with older devices.

ELV provides detailed information for all error log events of the following types:

  • Bugchecks
  • Volume mounts and dismounts
  • Correctable error throttling notifications
  • Software parameters
  • Control entries:
    • System service messages
    • Network messages
    • Operator messages
    • ERRLOG.SYS created
    • Time stamps
    • System startup messages

ELV provides detailed information for some error log events of the following types:

  • Machine checks
  • Device errors
  • Device timeouts
  • Asynchronous device attentions
  • Logged messages
  • Logged MSCP messages

This chapter describes the ELV commands, along with their parameters and qualifiers, that support the Error Log Viewer utility. It also contains a section of sample reports produced using the ELV TRANSLATE command.

11.2 ELV Usage Summary

You can execute ELV commands directly from the DCL command level or from ELV's interactive shell mode.

Format

ANALYZE/ERROR_LOG/ELV

[command]

Parameter

command

Specifies an ELV operation to be performed. If you do not specify an operation, the utility enters interactive shell mode, displays the ELV> prompt, and waits for command input.

To invoke ELV, enter the following DCL command: 


$ ANALYZE/ERROR_LOG/ELV

If you do not enter an ELV command, the utility enters interactive shell mode and displays the ELV prompt: 


ELV>

You can then enter an ELV command. After ELV executes the command, it again displays the ELV> prompt.

To return directly to DCL after executing an ELV command from the ELV prompt, use the /NOINTERACTIVE qualifier.

You can also enter an ELV command directly from DCL; for example: 


$ ANALYZE/ERROR_LOG/ELV TRANSLATE ERRLOG.SYS;42

After ELV executes the command, you are returned to the DCL prompt by default.

To enter interactive shell mode after executing an ELV command directly from DCL, use the /INTERACTIVE qualifier.

11.3 Understanding Categories of Events

ELV recognizes several categories of events for inclusion in (or exclusion from) various operations. The first major distinction is between valid and invalid events. Within the category of valid events are selected and rejected events. Explanations of these categories follow.
  • Valid
    An event is considered valid if it can be read into a buffer and its header is translatable. The body of the event, however, does not need to be translatable; in this case, the event is valid but untranslatable. With the exception of the DUMP/INVALID command, all ELV operations are performed on valid events.
    • Selected
      By default, all valid events are considered to be selected events. Except when you use the /REJECTED qualifier, ELV operations are performed on selected events.
    • Rejected
      A valid event is considered to be rejected if it does not fall into an interval specified with the /BEFORE, /SINCE, or /ENTRY qualifier, or is filtered out with the /EXCLUDE, /INCLUDE, or /[NO]NODE qualifier.
      You can combine certain intervals and filters to further refine event selection. In addition, you can use the /REJECTED qualifier to force ELV operations to be performed on rejected (rather than selected) events.
      For more information, see the qualifiers for individual commands.
  • Invalid
    An event is considered to be invalid if it cannot be read into a buffer or its header is not translatable. You can use the ELV command DUMP/INVALID to output invalid events to an output dump file for further examination.

11.4 ELV Commands

This section describes and provides examples of the following ELV commands:

  • CONVERT
  • DUMP
  • EXIT
  • HELP
  • TRANSLATE
  • WRITE

CONVERT

Converts and writes events from one or more binary error log files written in the newer format to a single new error log file written in the older format. The new file can then be read by ANALYZE/ERROR_LOG.

This command is primarily used to enable translation of older error log events whose translation is not supported by ELV.

Format

CONVERT [input-file,...]

Parameter

input-file

Supplies one or more names of binary error log files to be converted to the older format.

If you do not specify an input file, the default input file is SYS$ERRORLOG:ERRLOG.SYS. If you do not specify a device and directory, your current device and directory are used. If you do not specify a file name, the default file name is ERRLOG. If you do not specify a file type, the default file type is .SYS.

Qualifiers

/BEFORE[=date-time]

Specifies that only those events dated earlier than the stated date and time are to be selected.

For date-time, you can specify an absolute time, a delta time, or a combination of absolute and delta times. See the OpenVMS User's Manual for details on specifying times.

If you omit a date and time, TODAY is used.

/ENTRY[=keyword,...]

Specifies the range of entries to be selected.

You can specify one or both of the following keywords:

Keyword Description
START[:decimal-value] Indicates the start of a range of entries to be selected.
END[:decimal-value] Indicates the end of a range of entries to be selected.

Usage Notes:

  • You can specify one or both of these keywords. If you specify both keywords, you must enclose them in parentheses.
  • If you specify /ENTRY without an entry range, the entry range defaults to START:1,END:end-of-file.
  • If you specify the START or END keyword without a value, the keyword is ignored.

/EXCLUDE=event-class[,...]

Specifies an event class or classes to be rejected. Do not use /EXCLUDE with /INCLUDE.

For event-class, specify one or more of the keywords shown in the following table. If you specify more than one keyword, use a comma-separated list of values enclosed in parentheses.

Keyword Description
ATTENTIONS Reject device attention entries.
BUGCHECKS Reject all types of bugcheck entries.
CONFIGURATION Reject system configuration entries.
CONTROL_ENTRIES Reject control entries. Control entries include the following entry types:
  • System power failure restarts
  • Time stamps
  • System startups
  • $SNDERR messages (system service to send messages to error log)
  • Operator messages
  • Network messages
  • ERRLOG.SYS created
CPU_ENTRIES Reject CPU-related entries. CPU entries include the following entry types:
  • SBI alerts/faults
  • Undefined interrupts
  • MBA/UBA adapter errors
  • Asynchronous write errors
  • UBA errors
DEVICE_ERRORS Reject device error entries.
ENVIRONMENTAL_ENTRIES Reject environmental entries.
MACHINE_CHECKS Reject machine check entries.
MEMORY Reject memory errors.
SNAPSHOT_ENTRIES Reject snapshot entries.
SYNDROME Reject firmware-generated entries that describe a symptom set used by HP support personnel to identify problems.
TIMEOUTS Reject device timeout entries.
UNKNOWN_ENTRIES Reject any entry that has an unknown entry class.
UNSOLICITED_MSCP Reject unsolicited MSCP entries.
VOLUME_CHANGES Reject volume mount and dismount entries.

/INCLUDE=event-class[,...]

Specifies an event class or classes to be selected. All other event classes are implicitly rejected. Do not use /INCLUDE with /EXCLUDE.

For event-class, specify one or more of the keywords shown in the following table. If you specify more than one keyword, use a comma-separated list of values enclosed in parentheses.

Keyword Description
ATTENTIONS Select device attention entries.
BUGCHECKS Select all types of bugcheck entries.
CONFIGURATION Select system configuration entries.
CONTROL_ENTRIES Select control entries. Control entries include the following entry types:
  • System power failure restarts
  • Time stamps
  • System startups
  • $SNDERR messages (system service to send messages to error log)
  • Operator messages
  • Network messages
  • ERRLOG.SYS created
CPU_ENTRIES Select CPU-related entries. CPU entries include the following entry types:
  • SBI alerts/faults
  • Undefined interrupts
  • MBA/UBA adapter errors
  • Asynchronous write errors
  • UBA errors
DEVICE_ERRORS Select device error entries.
ENVIRONMENTAL_ENTRIES Select environmental entries.
MACHINE_CHECKS Select machine check entries.
MEMORY Select memory errors.
SNAPSHOT_ENTRIES Select snapshot entries.
SYNDROME Select firmware-generated entries that describe a symptom set used by HP support personnel to identify problems.
TIMEOUTS Select device timeout entries.
UNKNOWN_ENTRIES Select any entry that has an unknown entry class.
UNSOLICITED_MSCP Select unsolicited MSCP entries.
VOLUME_CHANGES Select volume mount and dismount entries.

/INTERACTIVE

/NOINTERACTIVE

Specifies whether or not ELV is to run in interactive shell mode after you execute the ELV command. By default, interactive shell mode results from the way the current ELV command is entered.

For more information, see Section 11.2.

/LOG

/NOLOG

Specifies whether or not ELV is to output control and informational messages to the terminal. The default /NOLOG does not output these messages to the terminal.

/NODE[=node-name,...]

/NONODE[=node-name,...]

Specifies that events occurring on a node or nodes are to be selected or rejected.

If you enter /NODE without a value, only events that occur on the node on which you are running ELV are selected.

If you enter /NONODE without a value, events occurring on all nodes that are represented in the error log file are selected.

/OUTPUT[=output-file]

Specifies the output file that is to contain converted copies of events.

If you do not specify an output file name, the input file name is used. If you do not specify a device and directory, your current device and directory are used. If you do not specify a file type, the default file type is .CVT.

/REJECTED

Specifies that rejected (rather than selected) events are to be converted. For more information, see Section 11.3.

/SINCE[=date-time]

Specifies that only those events dated later than the stated date and time are to be selected.

For date-time, you can specify an absolute time, a delta time, or a combination of absolute and delta times. See the OpenVMS User's Manual for details on specifying times.

If you omit a date and time, TODAY is used.

Examples

#1 

$ ANALYZE/ERROR_LOG/ELV CONVERT /INTERACTIVE /NONODE=(BEAVIS,BUTTHD)

The command in this example, executed from DCL command level, converts selected events in the default SYS$ERRORLOG:ERRLOG.SYS file to the older format and writes these events to the ERRLOG.CVT file. After the command executes, the system displays the ELV> prompt.

The selected events are from all nodes except BEAVIS and BUTTHD.

#2 

ELV> CONVERT /LOG /OUTPUT=OUTFILE

The command in this example converts events in the default SYS$ERRORLOG:ERRLOG.SYS file to the older format and writes the converted events to OUTFILE.CVT.

In addition, control and informational messages are output to the terminal.

#3 

$ ANALYZE/ERROR_LOG/ELV CONVERT /NODE /BEFORE=YESTERDAY ERROR_LOG.SYS

The command in this example converts selected events from ERROR_LOG.SYS to the older format and writes the converted events to ERROR_LOG.CVT.

The selected events are those that occurred before YESTERDAY on the current node.

#4 

ELV> CONVERT /ENTRY=START:5 /EXCLUDE=BUGCHECKS

The command in this example converts events in the default SYS$ERRORLOG:ERRLOG.SYS file to the older format and writes the converted events to ERRLOG.CVT.

The selected events, which start with entry 5, do not include the BUGCHECKS event class.

DUMP

Writes events from one or more binary error log files to a single new ASCII output file in an OpenVMS dump-style format.

Format

DUMP [input-file,...]

Parameter

input-file

Supplies one or more names of binary error log files to be used to produce an output dump file.

If you do not specify an input file, the default input file is SYS$ERRORLOG:ERRLOG.SYS. If you do not specify a device and directory, your current device and directory are used. If you do not specify a file name, the default file name is ERRLOG. If you do not specify a file type, the default file type is .SYS.

Qualifiers

/BEFORE[=date-time]

Specifies that only those events dated earlier than the stated date and time are to be selected. Do not use /BEFORE with /INVALID.

For date-time, you can specify an absolute time, a delta time, or a combination of absolute and delta times. See the OpenVMS User's Manual for details on specifying times.

If you omit a date and time, TODAY is used.

/ENTRY[=keyword,...]

Specifies the range of entries to be selected. Do not use /ENTRY with /INVALID.

You can specify one or both of the following keywords:

Keyword Description
START[:decimal-value] Indicates the start of a range of entries to be selected.
END[:decimal-value] Indicates the end of a range of entries to be selected.

Usage Notes:

  • You can specify one or both of these keywords. If you specify both keywords, you must enclose them in parentheses.
  • If you specify /ENTRY without an entry range, the entry range defaults to START:1,END:end-of-file.
  • If you specify the START or END keyword without a value, the keyword is ignored.

/EXCLUDE=event-class[,...]

Specifies an event class or classes to be rejected. Do not use /EXCLUDE with /INCLUDE.

For event-class, specify one or more of the keywords shown in the following table. If you specify more than one keyword, use a comma-separated list of values enclosed in parentheses.

Keyword Description
ATTENTIONS Reject device attention entries.
BUGCHECKS Reject all types of bugcheck entries.
CONFIGURATION Reject system configuration entries.
CONTROL_ENTRIES Reject control entries. Control entries include the following entry types:
  • System power failure restarts
  • Time stamps
  • System startups
  • $SNDERR messages (system service to send messages to error log)
  • Operator messages
  • Network messages
  • ERRLOG.SYS created
CPU_ENTRIES Reject CPU-related entries. CPU entries include the following entry types:
  • SBI alerts/faults
  • Undefined interrupts
  • MBA/UBA adapter errors
  • Asynchronous write errors
  • UBA errors
DEVICE_ERRORS Reject device error entries.
ENVIRONMENTAL_ENTRIES Reject environmental entries.
MACHINE_CHECKS Reject machine check entries.
MEMORY Reject memory errors.
SNAPSHOT_ENTRIES Reject snapshot entries.
SYNDROME Reject firmware-generated entries that describe a symptom set used by HP support personnel to identify problems.
TIMEOUTS Reject device timeout entries.
UNKNOWN_ENTRIES Reject any entry that has an unknown entry class.
UNSOLICITED_MSCP Reject unsolicited MSCP entries.
VOLUME_CHANGES Reject volume mount and dismount entries.

/INCLUDE=event-class[,...]

Specifies an event class or classes to be selected. All other event classes are implicitly rejected. Do not use /INCLUDE with /EXCLUDE.

For event-class, specify one or more of the keywords shown in the following table. If you specify more than one keyword, use a comma-separated list of values enclosed in parentheses.

Keyword Description
ATTENTIONS Select device attention entries.
BUGCHECKS Select all types of bugcheck entries.
CONFIGURATION Select system configuration entries.
CONTROL_ENTRIES Select control entries. Control entries include the following entry types:
  • System power failure restarts
  • Time stamps
  • System startups
  • $SNDERR messages (system service to send messages to error log)
  • Operator messages
  • Network messages
  • ERRLOG.SYS created
CPU_ENTRIES Select CPU-related entries. CPU entries include the following entry types:
  • SBI alerts/faults
  • Undefined interrupts
  • MBA/UBA adapter errors
  • Asynchronous write errors
  • UBA errors
DEVICE_ERRORS Select device error entries.
ENVIRONMENTAL_ENTRIES Select environmental entries.
MACHINE_CHECKS Select machine check entries.
MEMORY Select memory errors.
SNAPSHOT_ENTRIES Select snapshot entries.
SYNDROME Select firmware-generated entries that describe a symptom set used by HP support personnel to identify problems.
TIMEOUTS Select device timeout entries.
UNKNOWN_ENTRIES Select any entry that has an unknown entry class.
UNSOLICITED_MSCP Select unsolicited MSCP entries.
VOLUME_CHANGES Select volume mount and dismount entries.

/INTERACTIVE

/NOINTERACTIVE

Specifies whether or not ELV is to run in interactive shell mode after you execute the ELV command. By default, interactive shell mode results from the way the current ELV command was entered.

For more information, see Section 11.2.

/INVALID

Specifies that invalid (rather than valid) events are to be written to an output dump file. Do not use /INVALID with /BEFORE, /ENTRY, /EXCLUDE, /INCLUDE, /[NO]NODE, /REJECTED, or /SINCE.

For more information, see Section 11.3.

/LOG

/NOLOG

Specifies whether or not ELV is to output control and informational messages to the terminal. The default /NOLOG does not output these messages to the terminal.

/NODE[=node-name,...]

/NONODE[=node-name,...]

Specifies that events occurring on a node or nodes are to be selected or rejected. Do not use /NODE or /NONODE with /INVALID.

If you enter /NODE without a value, only events that occur on the node on which you are running ELV are selected.

If you enter /NONODE without a value, events occurring on all nodes that are represented in the error log file are selected.

/OUTPUT[=output-file]

Specifies the output file that is to contain OpenVMS dump-style records for events.

If you do not specify an output file name, the input file name is used. If you do not specify a device and directory, your current device and directory are used. If you do not specify a file type, the default file type is .DMP.

/REJECTED

Specifies that rejected (rather than selected) events are to be written to an output dump file. Do not use /REJECTED with /INVALID.

For more information, see Section 11.3.

/SINCE[=date-time]

Specifies that only those events dated later than the stated date and time are to be selected. Do not use /SINCE with /INVALID.

For date-time, you can specify an absolute time, a delta time, or a combination of absolute and delta times. See the OpenVMS User's Manual for details on specifying times.

If you omit a date and time, TODAY is used.

Examples

#1 

ELV> DUMP /NODE=DUMBO /ENTRY=END:10 ERROR_FILE.SYS,ERRLOG.SYS

The command in this example writes OpenVMS dump-style records created from selected events in two input files, ERROR_FILE.SYS and ERRLOG.SYS, to an output dump file named ERROR_FILE.DMP. The name of the output file comes from the name of the first input file in the list.

The selected events, which end with entry 10, are those that occurred on node DUMBO.

#2 

$ ANALYZE/ERROR_LOG/ELV DUMP /INCLUDE=(DEVICE_ERRORS,TIMEOUTS) /LOG

The command in this example writes OpenVMS dump-style records created from selected events in the default SYS$ERRORLOG:ERRLOG.SYS file to an output dump file named ERRLOG.DMP.

The selected events include only the DEVICE_ERRORS and TIMEOUTS event classes. In addition, control and informational messages are output to the terminal.

#3 

ELV> DUMP /SINCE=22-MAY-2003:01:00:00.00 /BEFORE=24-MAY-2003:04:51:33.87

The command in this example writes OpenVMS dump-style records created from selected events in the default SYS$ERRORLOG:ERRLOG.SYS file to an output dump file named ERRLOG.DMP.

The selected events fall in the interval between the two specified dates.

#4 

ELV> DUMP /SINCE=22-MAY-2003:01:00:00.00 /BEFORE=24-MAY-2003:04:51:33.87
/REJECTED

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