test

SunVTS 3.0 Test Reference Manual

Chapter 42 Virtual Memory Test (vmemtest)

The vmemtest checks virtual memory; that is, it tests the combination of physical memory and the swap partitions of the disk(s).

Note -

This test may not stop immediately after being disabled.

This test uses the Solaris valloc (page aligned) system call to allocate, write, read, and compare virtual memory. These operations normally cause heavy paging activity on the system and simulates a stressful environment for the operating system. This test also detects ECC parity errors, memory read errors, addressing problems, and displays the corresponding virtual memory addresses on failure.

Handling Swap Space

Running this test places a significant burden on the operating system, since it uses the majority of swap space available for testing. You should use the vmemtest swap space reserve option when non-SunVTS test processes are started after SunVTS testing has started. See "Swap Space Requirements" in the SunVTS User's Guide for a complete discussion of swap space requirements.

vmemtest Options

Figure 42-1 vmemtest Option Menu

Graphic

Table 42-1 vmemtest Options

vmemtest Options 

Description 

vmemtest Configuration

The amount of memory listed in the configuration field is equivalent to the sum of the used and available swap space amounts returned by the swap -s command. It indicates the amount of virtual memory found, rounded up to the nearest Kbyte.

Test Amount 

An amount can be specified to test the virtual memory, instead of the default. Specifying a number greater than the available memory, can cause vmemtest or other running tests to fail.

Mode 

Two modes are available:  

  • Regular mode tests the amount of memory and is limited by the amount of physical memory available to the system under test.

 

  • Page mode tests assign virtual memory one page at a time. Each page is mapped to the temporary file /tmp/vmem.page and is then paged out to storage once test data is written. Next, the temporary page is paged back into memory for a read and compare.

 

When the stress test execution option is selected, the vmemtest allocates the entire assigned system memory (through valloc), writing from beginning to end. The memory is then read back and compared with the original pattern, one long word at a time.

Reserve 

The Reserve option specifies the amount of memory to reserve from being tested by vmemtest. The reserved space is used for other processes running concurrently with the or SunVTS tests. The Reserve option can be used to reserve memory in addition to the default. This option applies only to a specific instance. Trying to reserve more memory than what is assigned to be tested by this instance will cause the test to fail.

vmemtest Test Modes

This test is only available in the Functional test mode. In this mode the, vmemtest writes a pattern to an amount of virtual memory specified by the user. Then the data is read back and compared. If there is a miscompare, the data is read again and compared. Whenever there is a miscompare, the virtual address is reported. When there is a miscompare on recomparison, an attempt is made to convert the virtual address to the physical address if the SunVTS diagnostic driver is installed.

vmemtest Command Line Syntax

/opt/SUNWvts/bin/vmemtest standard_arguments -o mode=type, reserve=number,amount=number,bdinfo=number,cerr=number

Table 42-2 vmemtest Command Line Syntax

Argument 

Explanation 

mode=type

Specifies which mode of the vmemtest you want to run; you can choose between page mode, which tells the write/read memory test to proceed one system memory page at a time, and regular, which valloc's the entire assigned memory which is read and compared, one long word at a time.

reserve=number

Specifies the amount of Mbytes of virtual memory to reserve in addition to the default amount. 

amount=number

Specifies the number of Mbytes of memory to be tested instead of the default amount. 

bdinfo=number

Provides the board number information for all the CPU/memory boards in the system. For example, if board 0 and board 5 have memory, then the bdinfo=33 (2**5+2**0).

cerr=number

Specifies the maximum number of contiguous errors to be dumped when a memory error occurs. 

Note -

64-bit tests are located in the sparcv9 subdirectory: /opt/SUNWvts/bin/sparcv9/testname. If a test is not present in this directory, then it may only be available as a 32-bit test. For more information refer to "32-Bit and 64-Bit Tests".

vmemtest Error Messages

Table 42-3 vmemtest Error Messages

 

Error Message 

Probable Cause(s) 

Recommended Action 

6001

setrlimit(RLIMIT_DATA) failed to set to RLIM_INFINITY: error_message

Failed to increase the size of test process's heap to 2GB 

(fatal error). 

 

6002

Test terminated after finding maximum number (number) of noncontiguous errors

Fatal error. 

 

6003

msync() failed: error_message

Failed to synchronize memory with physical storage (fatal error). 

 

6004

Test terminated after finding miscompared data

Test failed (fatal error). 

 

8001

Test completed. Found data noncontiguous miscompare errors

Suspect swap partition(s) 

(fatal error). 

Consult your authorized Sun service provider. 

Suspect SCSI controller. 

 

Faulty system software. 

 

8002

Increase swap space to allocate at least number MB from the process' heap

Failed to increase mem process' heap storage.

 

8003

Attempt to reserve more than what's been assigned

Fatal error. 

Reduce the "reserve" amount. 

8004

valloc(address) failed: error_message

Fatal error. 

Increase swap space or reduce the reserve amount. 

8005

Open(file_name) failed: error_message

Failed to open the file file_name used in the "page" mode (fatal error).

 

8006

mmap() virtual address address to file_name failed: error_message

Failed to map a region at the virtual address of the file file_name used in the "page" mode (fatal error).

 

8007

munmap(address) failed: error_message

Failed to unmap a region at the virtual address of the file file_name used in the "page" mode (fatal error).

 

8008

close() failed on file_name: error_message

Fatal error. 

 

8009

Not enough space to store miscompare information

Failed to allocate space to store miscompare data 

(fatal error). 

Increase swap space or reduce the load on the system. 

8010

swapctl() failed: error_message

Failed to obtain the amount of swap space configured in the system (fatal error) 

 
8011calloc failed: error  Fatal error. 
8012getitimes() error: error Fatal error.