System Diagnostics

A Hardware Diagnostics capability is built into MediaMatrix.  Upon selecting Diagnostics from the Tools Menu, the Hardware Diagnostics Window appears.  Only users with Operator, Supervisor or Designer access level have access to the Diagnostics Window.

Repeat Tests

Selecting this button will repeat the tests until the Stop button in the Hardware Diagnostics is selected, or until a failure is detected if the Stop Tests on Failure button has been selected.

Perform Tests

Perform Tests has two radio buttons, only one can be selected at a time.  These buttons present two options:

Perform All Tests

This performs all of the tests available.  The Selection Check Boxes in the Hardware Diagnostics Dialog Box are grayed when Perform All Tests is selected and do not function.

Perform Selected Tests

This performs all of the tests selected with the Selection Check Boxes in this Dialog Box.  You may select any combination of the check boxes available.

Available Diagnostic Tests

Depending on which box you checked (perform all tests, or perform selected tests), the following battery of tests available below will be run.  Along with the description of the tests (below), there is also a quick explanation of what the test does, and what course of action you should take should the respective test fail.  In most cases, repeated failure of a test indicates a defective unit, that may need to be returned for service and/or replacement.  Please contact MediaMatrix Customer Support for further instructions.  In many instances, the customer support representative may ask you to perform additional tests, or to look in the Terminal window and report additional information, or generate a log file of certain tests, and forward that via email to Peavey.

DSP Internal

This tests each of the four DSP chips on each DSP board.  Repeated failure of this test most probably indicates a defective chip or DSP board, and in either case, may require repair and/or replacement.  Contact Peavey MM customer support.

DSP External RAM

This tests the external RAM associated with the DSP chips on each DSP board.  Repeated failure of this test most probably indicates a defective chip or board, and in either case, may require repair and/or replacement.  Contact MediaMatrix Customer Support.

AES Loopback

This test checks all 16 of the AES inputs and outputs on each AES equipped DSP card.  To perform this test, it is necessary to first connect a special AES Loopback cable to the AES-DSP card under test. 2 DB-37 male connectors must be wired with the following pins connected together, and connected to the connectors on the back of the AES cards :

Repeated failure of this test most probably indicates a defective chip or board, and in either case, may require repair and/or replacement of the DSP card.  Contact MediaMatrix Customer Support for additional instructions.

DAB map RAM

This tests the portions of the DSP card circuitry responsible for transferring information between the DSP boards, via the connecting ribbon cable on the top of the DSP boards.  These transfers are referred to DAB (digital audio bus) transfers.  Repeated failure of this test may indicate a DAB ribbon cable that is not seated properly, but in most instances, probably indicates a defective chip or board. Contact MediaMatrix Customer Support for additional instructions.

DSP shared bus/RAM

This tests the portions of the DSP card circuitry responsible for transferring information between the DSP chips on a single board.  These transfers are referred to as LDAB (local digital audio bus) transfers, as they take place on a single DSP board.  Repeated failure of this test most probably indicates a defective chip or board, and in either case, may require repair and/or replacement of the DSP card. Contact MediaMatrix Customer Support for additional instructions.

DAB transfer

This tests the transfer of digital audio information between the DSP boards, via the connecting ribbon cable on the top of the DSP cards.  These transfers are referred to DAB (digital audio bus) transfers.  Repeated failure of this test may often indicate a DAB ribbon cable that is not seated properly.  First try carefully removing and then re-seating all of the insulation displacement connectors that are part of the DAB ribbon cable (that connects across all of the DSP cards at the top of the card).  Use EXTREME caution when performing this operation, and be sure you are properly grounded as a precaution against static discharge damage to the DSP cards. Repeat the tests.  If it solves the problem, great.  If not, it may indicate a defective chip or board.  Contact MediaMatrix Customer Support for additional instructions.

CobraNet interface

This tests the interface between the MediaMatrix mainframe's CPU, and the DSP processor found on the CobraNet daughter card attached to each CobraNet DSP card.  When this test passes, it indicates proper communications between the Intel CPU and each CobraNet DSP processor.  Repeated failure of this test most probably indicates a defective chip or board, and in either case, may require repair and/or replacement of the DSP card.  Contact MediaMatrix Customer support for additional instructions.

Repeat Tests

When this box is checked, the tests will continue to repeat until cancelled by pressing the stop button.  Running tests multiple times may assist in catching otherwise undetectable conflicts and failure modes.

Stop Tests On Failure

When this check box is checked, whenever a failure is detected, the test will stop automatically.

Result

Presents the result of the most recent execution of each test.  The possible results are as follows.

Canceled

The test was interrupted by pressing the Stop button.

Failed

The test failed, indicating a possible malfunction of the hardware.  If the DAB transfer test fails check to make certain that the DAB cables (the ribbon cable connecting the connectors on the top of each DSP board together) is properly installed.  All other failures indicate a hardware failure requiring servicing beyond the scope of this help file.

Not Applicable

The test does not apply to your hardware configuration.

Passed

The test was successfully passed

Testing

This text will be flashing, indicating that the test is currently in progress.

Untested

The test has not been attempted.

Pass Count

This field accumulates the number of times the test has passed in this diagnostic session.

Fail Count

This field accumulates the number of times the test has failed in this diagnostics session.

Hardware Present

This field displays a brief report of how many DSP boards are present in your system.

Sample Rate

This field displays the current sample rate.

Start

Begins execution of the diagnostic tests.  If the system is compiled when this button is pressed, you will be warned that the system will be muted during the tests, and you will be required to manually recompile the system to pass audio again.

Stop

Stops the test in progress.  This button is gray until you press start.

Done

Puts away the dialog box.  If this button is gray, you must press stop before you can press Done.  If your system was compiled before you executed diagnostics, you will be warned that you must recompile in order to pass audio.

Related Topics:

Tools Menu
Terminal Window