Troubleshooting
Problem
This document outlines several tips for making Twinax printers work properly.
Resolving The Problem
Twinax devices can work wonderfully for years and then when something seemingly insignificant happens (like a system goes down or a printer is moved), they can fail for no apparent reason. The following are some tips for getting them working again.
This document was last updated on 28 July 2014.
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If it will not vary on, check your cabling
The majority of Twinax problems are printer hardware or cabling problems. The code that the IBM System i products uses to handle Twinax rarely changes. If a printer device will not vary on (Vary on Pending does not mean Varied on), it means that the system cannot see it.
Display the device description to confirm the values for the Port number (PORT), Switch setting (SWTSET) and Attached controller (CTL) parameters. Verify that the switch setting specified on the device description corresponds to the Twinax address specified in the printer hardware. The Twinax address is typically specified through a setup menu on the printer hardware, but only twinax dot matrix and line printers could use physical switches on the printer itself.
Also, use the Print Device Addresses (PRTDEVADR) command to print a "map" of all of the twinax display and printer devices on the attached controller, then use the resulting QPDCDEVA spooled file to verify that the printer device is cabled to the correct port on the local workstation controller. Twinax cabling uses a "daisy chain" configuration, so a twinax device can be attached directly to the port on the local workstation controller, or to another device that in a chain that must eventually be attached to the port on the local workstation controller.
There is a maximum number of twinax devices that can be chained together, and each one must have a twinax address that is unique on its specific port. Sometimes a printer device cannot be varied on because of a problem with the physical cabling, but sometimes it cannot be varied on because another display or printer device is setup with the same twinax address.
If the printer device is cabled properly to the correct port on the local workstation controller, or to another device on the same port that is functioning properly, and the twinax addresses are not conlicting, and the twinax address in the printer device matches the Switch Setting (SWTSET) parameter in the printer device description, then try replacing the cabling used to connect the printer.
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Examine the SST error logs for hardware errors
To get to the SST error logs, do the following:
The following is from the 9402/9404 Models 4xx Problem Analysis, Repair and Parts, and Upgrade manual (SY44-4941-01):1 To access the Service Tools, type STRSST on the operating system command line and press the Enter key. 2 Select Option 1 on the next three screens. 3 Type 4 for the log, and type the approximate start time of the problem. 4 Press the Enter key two times. 5 Press F11 four times. 6 The columns on the right side should read: Name, Component, and Library code. 7 Find the name of the failing printer under the Name column and match the last four digits of the system reference code (SRC) shown to the following list:
- 2.2.40 (6140) Twinaxial Workstation I/O Processor Reference Codes
Note: If the failing item is a failing item (FI) code and not a part number, go to "Failing Item (FI) Code Table" in topic 2.3 in the manual (9402/9404 Models 4xx Problem Analysis, Repair and Parts, and Upgrade manual, SY44-4941-01) to determine which part number associated with the FI code is failing.
__________ ______________________________ ______________________________ | Failing | | | | Item | Description | Document Description | |__________|______________________________|______________________________| | AJLMY0B1 | Twinaxial WS IOP system | Service Functions User's | | | Licensed Internal Code | Guide; APAR or LICTR | |__________|______________________________|______________________________| | CLMPDT | Printer definition table | | |__________|______________________________|______________________________| | GLMBBBB | Too many devices are active | | | | on the workstation IOP | | |__________|______________________________|______________________________| | GLMDMCC | Device Licensed Internal | | | | Code change | | |__________|______________________________|______________________________| | GLMEEEE | Active device turned off | | |__________|______________________________|______________________________| | GLM7777 | Electrical interference | | |__________|______________________________|______________________________| | GLM8888 | Other workstation on port is | | | | failing | | |__________|______________________________|______________________________| | GLM9999 | Error occurred with | | | | pass-through command | | |__________|______________________________|______________________________| | MLMFFFF | Magnetic stripe | Workstation Service Manual | |__________|______________________________|______________________________| | QUCVRYON | OS/400 licensed program | | |__________|______________________________|______________________________| | 22F0097 | Twinaxial workstation | Repair Guide; removal and | | | attachment conversion cable | installation procedures | |__________|______________________________|______________________________| __________ ______________________________ ______________________________ | Failing | | | | Item | Description | Document Description | |__________|______________________________|______________________________| | AJLMY0B1 | Twinaxial WS IOP system | Service Functions User's | | | Licensed Internal Code | Guide; APAR or LICTR | |__________|______________________________|______________________________| | CLMPDT | Printer definition table | | |__________|______________________________|______________________________| | GLMBBBB | Too many devices are active | | | | on the workstation IOP | | |__________|______________________________|______________________________| | GLMDMCC | Device Licensed Internal | | | | Code change | | |__________|______________________________|______________________________| | GLMEEEE | Active device turned off | | |__________|______________________________|______________________________| | GLM7777 | Electrical interference | | |__________|______________________________|______________________________| | GLM8888 | Other workstation on port is | | | | failing | | |__________|______________________________|______________________________| | GLM9999 | Error occurred with | | | | pass-through command | | |__________|______________________________|______________________________| | MLMFFFF | Magnetic stripe | Workstation Service Manual | |__________|______________________________|______________________________| | QUCVRYON | OS/400 licensed program | | |__________|______________________________|______________________________| | 22F0097 | Twinaxial workstation | Repair Guide; removal and | | | attachment conversion cable | installation procedures | |__________|______________________________|______________________________| __________ _____________________________________________________________ | FI00583 | FI00583 indicates that the Licensed Internal Code for the | | | multiple function I/O processor (MFIOP) or the magnetic | | | storage I/O processor is the failing item. | | | | | | The following list shows the types and Licensed Internal | | | Code groups of the possible failing items: | | | | | | ø 2611--AJEDA00 | | | ø 2615--AJEDA00 | | | ø 6110--AJED001 | | | ø 6111--AJEW101 | | | ø 6112--AJER101 | | | ø 6500--AJEDA00 | |__________|_____________________________________________________________| | FI00601 | FI00601 indicates that the display station is the failing | | | item. | | | | | | If a link protocol converter is used to connect the console | | | to the system, the protocol converter is the failing item. | |__________|_____________________________________________________________| | FI00602 | FI00602 indicates that the cable between the workstation | | | attachment and the device is the failing item. | |__________|_____________________________________________________________| | FI00603 | FI00603 indicates that the 5299 multi-connector is the | | | failing item. | |__________|_____________________________________________________________| | FI00604 | FI00604 indicates that a printer is the failing item. | |__________|_____________________________________________________________| | FI00605 | FI00605 indicates that a magnetic stripe reader on a | | | display station is the failing item. | |__________|_____________________________________________________________| | FI00606 | FI00606 indicates that the disk or tape is the failing | | | item. | |__________|_____________________________________________________________| | FI00607 | FI00607 indicates that a selector light pen attached to a | | | display station is the failing item. | |__________|_____________________________________________________________| | FI00608 | FI00608 indicates that the link protocol converter is the | | | failing item. | |__________|_____________________________________________________________| | FI00609 | FI00609 indicates that a unit reference code of FFFF was | | | indicated when the user entered the ANZPRB (Analyze | | | Problem) system command from a workstation. | | | | | | The failing items for this error can be identified by | | | running the complete ANZPRB system command. The failing | | | items are also in the problem log when the WRKPRB system | | | command is entered. | |__________|_____________________________________________________________| | FI00610 | FI00610 indicates that the twinaxial workstation I/O | | | processor card is the failing item. | | | | | | The following list shows the twinaxial workstation I/O | | | processor types: | | | | | | ø 6040 | | | ø 6140(1) | | | ø 6050 | | | | | | Note: | | | | | | (1) You may exchange a 2 connector card with a 1 connector | | | card, but this needs an adapter cable (part 22F0097) to | | | change from a 25-pin D-shell connector on the card end to | | | two 9-pin D-shell connectors (4-port twinaxial workstation | | | attachment ends). | |__________|_____________________________________________________________| | FI00611 | FI00611 indicates the following: | | | | | | For type 6041, the ASCII workstation I/O processor (6041) | | | and the 12-port attachment (part 59X3816) are the failing | | | items. | | | | | | For type 6141, either the ASCII workstation I/O processor | | | (6141) or the 12-port attachment (part 59X3816) or both are | | | the failing items. | |__________|_____________________________________________________________| | FI00612 | FI00612 indicates that the cable between the 6-port | | | attachment or the 12-port attachment and the device is the | | | failing item. | |__________|_____________________________________________________________| | FI00613 | FI00613 indicates that the display station used as the | | | console is the failing item. | |__________|_____________________________________________________________| | FI00614 | FI00614 indicates that a unit reference code of FFFF was | | | indicated when the user entered the ANZPRB (Analyze | | | Problem) system command from a workstation. | | | | | | The failing items for this error can be identified by | | | running the complete ANZPRB system command. The failing | | | items are also in the problem log when the WRKPRB system | | | command is entered. | |__________|_____________________________________________________________| | FI00615 | FI00615 indicates that the twinaxial workstation I/O | | | processor attachment cable is the failing item. | | | | | | The following list shows the twinaxial workstation I/O | | | processor types and the part numbers of their attachment | | | cables: | | | | | | ø 6040 attachment cable--part 21F5093 | | | ø 6050 attachment cable--part 21F5093 | | | ø 6140(1) attachment cable--part 72X5645 | | | ø 6140(2) attachment cable--part 21F5093 | | | | | | Notes: | | | | | | 1. Exchange this part if the attachment has a 9-pin | | | D-shell connector and four ports. | | | 2. Exchange this part if the attachment has a 25-pin | | | D-shell connector and eight ports. | |__________|_____________________________________________________________| | FI00616 | FI00616 indicates that the 5259 Migration Data Link is the | | | failing item. | | | | | | Exchange the 5259 Migration Data Link. | |__________|_____________________________________________________________| | FI00624 | The display on the failing port is the failing item. | | | | | | Exchange the display station. | |__________|_____________________________________________________________| | FI00625 | The printer on the failing port is the failing item. | | | | | | Exchange the printer. | |__________|_____________________________________________________________| | FI00626 | The modem on the failing port is the failing item. | | | | | | Exchange the modem. | |__________|_____________________________________________________________| | FI00700 | FI00700 indicates that the remote data terminal equipment | | | (DTE) or an attached device is the failing item. | | | | | | Report this problem to the operator of the remote | | | equipment. | |__________|_____________________________________________________________| | FI00701 | FI00701 indicates that a local communications cable is the | | | failing item. | | | | | | Part numbers for the local communications cables are shown | | | in FI00708, FI00709, FI00710, FI00711, FI00716, FI00717, | | | and FI00722. | |__________|_____________________________________________________________| | FI00702 | FI00702 indicates that the local cable for the automatic | | | call unit is the failing item. | | | | | | The following lists show the part numbers of the automatic | | | call unit interface cables used in the various countries: | | | | | | Stage 1: | | | | | | ø United States--part 21F5023 | | | ø Japan--part 21F5024 | | | | | | Stage 2: | | | | | | ø United States--part 72X5643 | | | ø Japan--part 21F4415 | |__________|_____________________________________________________________| | FI00703 | FI00703 indicates that the automatic call unit is the | | | failing item. | |__________|_____________________________________________________________| | FI00704 | FI00704 indicates that the local data circuit-terminating | | | equipment (DCE) is the failing item. | |__________|_____________________________________________________________| | FI00705 | FI00705 indicates that the remote data circuit-terminating | | | equipment (DCE) is the failing item. | | | | | | Report this problem to the operator of the remote | | | equipment. | |__________|_____________________________________________________________|
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Power cycle the printer
Power the printer off. Ensure that the printer is left off for at least 10 seconds before powering it back on.
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If the printer is attached to a display, try different combinations of power cycles
Some printers respond better to one method of cycling the power and some printers respond better to the other method. Other printers seem to have no preference. Try the following methods to power cycle the printer:o Power off both the printer and the display. Leave them off for at least 10 seconds. Power on the display and sign on. Then power on the printer. o Power off both the printer and the display. Leave them off for at least 10 seconds. Power on the printer and wait until it says READY. Then power on the display.
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Change to a simpler printer emulation
Sometimes it helps for an older printer to be configured as a simpler printer model. For example, printers that are configured as a model 4214 might work better if they are configured as a model 5256, which is a simpler printer. This emulation is changed in the printer setup; or if the printer is attached to a dumb terminal, it is changed in the off-line setup of the terminal.
Alternatively, you might try turning on Host Print Transform and specifying MFRTYPMDL(*WSCST) and WSCST(QWPDEFAULT). This converts the spooled file into a very simple, text-only datastream that might be easier for the printer to understand.
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Restart the controller
If the printer is attached to a remote twinax controller, sometimes the controller must be varied off and then varied back on to reset the controller's microcode.
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If you cannot get it working, work around it for the time being and call for service.
If you cannot get the printer working and the above tips lead you to believe that it might be a hardware problem, you can attempt to work around the problem by reconnecting the printer a different way. A few options for this are:o Attach the printer to a working Twinax display via parallel cable (if that connection is available). You must configure the terminal to support a printer. This is done using the off-line setup and can be accessed by power cycling the display station while the space-bar is held down. o Attach the printer to a PC and configure a 5250 Printer Session using IBM iSeries Access for Windows or another 5250 Emulation product.
For more information about configuring an iSeries Access for Windows PC5250 printer session, please refer to the following document:
N1018716: IBM i Access for Windows: Configuring a PC5250 Printer Sessiono Attach the printer to a TCP/IP print server and configure a Remote Output Queue (RMTOUTQ) or *LAN 3812 PJL or SNMP printer device description, or a *LAN 3812 printer device description that uses the LPR Print Driver (TSPLPRD) utility.
For more information about Remote Output Queues (RMTOUTQs), please refer to the following documents:
N1019605: Information on Printers from Various Manufacturers
N1010090: Configuring a Remote Output Queue (RMTOUTQ)
N1019443: Configuring a Remote Output Queue (RMTOUTQ) to a Label or Receipt Printer
N1010172: Recommended Remote Printer Queue (RMTPRTQ) Values for Remote Output Queues (RMTOUTQs)
N1010256: Creating a Dummy Device Description to Use with a Remote Output Queue (RMTOUTQ)
N1019659: Capabilities and Limitations of Remote Output Queues (RMTOUTQs)
N1019686: TSPRWPR Remote Writer Page Range Support Exit Program
N1019713: Using Host Print Transform (HPT) with a Remote Output Queue (RMTOUTQ)
For more information about *LAN 3812 PJL printer device descriptions, please refer to the following documents:
N1010134: Configuring a *LAN 3812 PJL Device Description
N1019689: Recommended PJL Port Number Values for *LAN 3812 PJL Device Descriptions
N1019652: Configuration Settings and Error Messages for *LAN 3812 PJL Device Descriptions
N1010288: Using Host Print Transform (HPT) with a *LAN Device Description
For more information about *LAN 3812 SNMP printer device descriptions, please refer to the following documents:
N1019572: Configuring a *LAN 3812 SNMP Device Description
N1019571: Recommended SNMP Port Number Values for *LAN 3812 SNMP Device Descriptions
N1019570: Configuration Settings and Error Messages for *LAN 3812 SNMP Device Descriptions
N1010288: Using Host Print Transform (HPT) with a *LAN Device Description
For more information about *LAN 3812 printer device descriptions that use the LPR Print Driver (TSPLPRD) utility, please refer to the following document:
N1019586: Configuring a *LAN 3812 Device Description that Uses the LPR Print Driver (TSPLPRD) Exit Program
N1010288: Using Host Print Transform (HPT) with a *LAN Device Description
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Modified date:
18 December 2019
UID
nas8N1019054