Server 95 / Server 520 - "CP" codes displayed on the 8595/9595/8641 information panel

5.799 bytes

Service Hints & Tips

Document ID: MCGN-42BPTV

This document is provided to IBM and our Business Partners to help sell and/or service IBM products. It is not to be distributed beyond that audience or used for any other purpose.

Server 95 / Server 520 - "CP" codes displayed on the 8595/9595/8641 information panel

Applicable to: AP-S, Canada, LA, United States

Source: RETAIN tip H036218

Abstract: "CP" codes displayed on the 8595/9595/8641 information panel.

TEXT:
All actual hardware error codes on the information panel are eight digits or more. (SCSI error codes may be 12 digits).
The "CP XX" codes, which are displayed on the 8595/9595/8641 information panel during POST (Power-On System Test), are not error codes.

The CP means: Check Point.
The purpose of this code is to provide an indication of activity taking place during POST. The actual CP codes vary depending upon model, installed options and other factors.

A check point code displayed in the information panel means that specific check point in the POST routine has been successfully reached. That CP code will be visible in the information panel until the next check point has been reached.

So, if a "hang" condition occurs during POST, it could be at any (unknown) point after the last CP code was sent to the information panel.

POST, on these system units, is very complex, and may consist of up to 20,000 lines of code. Any hardware attached
to the system has the potential of creating a "hang condition" at any point in the POST routine. For this reason, CP codes
are not meaningful for diagnosing system hangs during POST. Therefore, the hardware maintenance library does not
reference any "CP error codes."

Listing all the CP codes which may be displayed under various conditions is beyond the scope of this tip and are not
available for publication. However, it could be useful to note the check points which an individual system normally displays during the POST process. This could be of limited usefulness later, if "CP hangs" are experienced. (Remember, the actual CP codes vary depending upon installed features and other factors which affect the actual POST process.

However, some CP codes tend to be common and are listed below:

CP 05

INITIALIZE BASIC VIDEO SUBSYSTEM.

CP 25

THE BEGINNING OF KEYBOARD TESTING.

CP 40

THE CURSOR FIRST BECOMES VISIBLE ON THE MONITOR.

CP 66

THE DISKETTE DRIVE IS INITIALIZED, TEST FOR 2ND DRIVE.

CP 6B

THE SERIAL AND PARALLEL PORTS ARE INITIALIZED.

CP 71

THE PASSWORD IS REQUIRED, IF INSTALLED. (MAY BE CP 70)

CP 80

THE SCSI FIXED DISK MOTOR IS STARTED.

CP 82

THE FIXED DISK IML RECORD IS LOADED AND VERIFIED.

Note: The above list is in numerical order. This is not the order in which they are exercised on the system.

An example of limited usage:
The system appears to "hang" with "CP 71" displayed on the information panel, but nothing is displayed on the attached monitor. At "CP 71," a "key" symbol is normally visible on the monitor and the system waits for the operator to key in the
power-on password. The operator only sees a blank monitor and the "CP 71" code, which doesn't go away (hangs) and interprets this as a system failure. Actually, the system unit is functioning normally, but the attached monitor is defective, or turned off.

Note: The eight digit display panel on these systems is an output device. It may be addressed either by programming or by error, such as an adapter failure. Unusual or unexpected "codes" or "characters" seen in the panel could be the result of either. An example of the information panel being intentionally used as an output device by software, is the asterisk indicating fixed disk activity by OS/2 Version 2.0.

SAS KEYWORDS:
PSY2, 8595SYSERR, PSY2MISC, PSY2ERR, CP-XX, CP, PSY2PROG, D/T9595, D/T8641, 8641, SERVER, 500, 95, D/T9595A, 9595A

Search Keywords

Hint Category

Retain

Date Created

17-11-98

Last Updated

17-11-98

Revision Date

17-11-99

Brand

IBM PC Server

Product Family

PC Server 520, Server 95

Machine Type

8641, 9595, 8595

Model

ALL

TypeModel

Retain Tip (if applicable)

H036218

Reverse Doclinks
and Admin Purposes

Date created: O91/09/26
Date last altered: A95/09/27

CP 05	INITIALIZE BASIC VIDEO SUBSYSTEM.
CP 25	THE BEGINNING OF KEYBOARD TESTING.
CP 40	THE CURSOR FIRST BECOMES VISIBLE ON THE MONITOR.
CP 66	THE DISKETTE DRIVE IS INITIALIZED, TEST FOR 2ND DRIVE.
CP 6B	THE SERIAL AND PARALLEL PORTS ARE INITIALIZED.
CP 71	THE PASSWORD IS REQUIRED, IF INSTALLED. (MAY BE CP 70)
CP 80	THE SCSI FIXED DISK MOTOR IS STARTED.
CP 82	THE FIXED DISK IML RECORD IS LOADED AND VERIFIED.

	Search Keywords
	Hint Category	Retain
	Date Created	17-11-98
	Last Updated	17-11-98
	Revision Date	17-11-99
	Brand	IBM PC Server
	Product Family	PC Server 520, Server 95
	Machine Type	8641, 9595, 8595
	Model	ALL
	TypeModel
	Retain Tip (if applicable)	H036218
	Reverse Doclinks and Admin Purposes	Date created: O91/09/26 Date last altered: A95/09/27