The error logging subsystem automatically writes error messages
to the latest version of the error log file, SYS$ERRORLOG:ERRLOG.SYS. Error log reports
are primarily intended for use by HP support representatives
to identify hardware problems. System managers often find error
log reports useful in identifying recurrent system failures that
require outside attention.
Detect errors and events, and write relevant
information into error log buffers in memory.
Error Formatter (ERRFMT)
The ERRFMT process,
which starts when the system is booted, periodically empties error
log buffers, transforms the descriptions of errors into standard formats,
and stores formatted information in an error log file on the system
disk. (See
Maintaining Error Log Files.)
The
Error Formatter allows you to send mail to the SYSTEM account or
another user if the ERRFMT process encounters a fatal error and
deletes itself. (See
Using ERRFMT to Send Mail.)
Error Log Viewer (ELV)
Selectively reports the contents of an
error log file. This utility is most useful with error logs written
on systems running OpenVMS Version 7.3 and later.
The executive routines and the Error Formatter (ERRFMT) process
operate continuously without user intervention. The routines fill
the error log buffers in memory with raw data on every detected
error and event. When one of the available buffers becomes full,
or when a time allotment expires, ERRFMT automatically writes the
buffers to SYS$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.