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Understanding Error Logging  



The error logging subsystem automatically writes error messages to the latest version of the error log file, SYS$ERRORLOG:ERRLOG.SYS. Error log reports are primarily intended for use by HP support representatives to identify hardware problems. System managers often find error log reports useful in identifying recurrent system failures that require outside attention.

Parts of the Error Logging Subsystem

The error logging subsystem consists of the parts shown in Parts of the Error Logging Subsystem.

Table 2   Parts of the Error Logging Subsystem
Part Description
Executive routines
Detect errors and events, and write relevant information into error log buffers in memory.
Error Formatter (ERRFMT)
The ERRFMT process, which starts when the system is booted, periodically empties error log buffers, transforms the descriptions of errors into standard formats, and stores formatted information in an error log file on the system disk. (See Maintaining Error Log Files.)

The Error Formatter allows you to send mail to the SYSTEM account or another user if the ERRFMT process encounters a fatal error and deletes itself. (See Using ERRFMT to Send Mail.)
Error Log Viewer (ELV)
Selectively reports the contents of an error log file. This utility is most useful with error logs written on systems running OpenVMS Version 7.3 and later.

You invoke ELV by entering the DCL command ANALYZE/ERROR_LOG/ELV. (See Using the Error Log Viewer (ELV).)

The executive routines and the Error Formatter (ERRFMT) process operate continuously without user intervention. The routines fill the error log buffers in memory with raw data on every detected error and event. When one of the available buffers becomes full, or when a time allotment expires, ERRFMT automatically writes the buffers to SYS$ERRORLOG:ERRLOG.SYS.

Sometimes a burst of errors can cause the buffer to fill up before ERRFMT can empty them. You can detect this condition by noting a skip in the error sequence number of the records reported in the error log reports. As soon as ERRFMT frees the buffer space, the executive routines resume preserving error information in the buffers.

The ERRFMT process displays an error message on the system console terminal and stops itself if it encounters excessive errors while writing the error log file. Restarting the ERRFMT Process explains how to restart the ERRFMT process.


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