MULTICS TECHNICAL BULLETIN                                MTB-630

To:       MTB Distribution

From:     Richard Fakoury

Date:     July 28, 1983

Subject:  Dipper T&D on Multics

This  MTB  describes the  Dipper  T&D interface  on  Multics.  It
discuss  the  communication  that  takes place  between  the user
running Tolts  on Multics and  the Maintenance Channel  Adapter (
MCA  )  which  is  the hardware  module  that  actually  does the
testing.   This paper  will discuss  the MCA  in its  role of T&D
processor and how  it fits into the general  T&D scheme of things
in  the  Multics  environment.   It  will  attempt  to  make some
correlation to the way things are currently done and the way they
will be done in Dipper.  This paper will also discuss some of the
security  issues  that  have  been  raised  and  offers  possible
solutions to these issues.  This MTB will describe a test session
and attempt  to highlight areas  of interest as  the test session
progresses.

Comments on this MTB may be made:

via Forum:
    >udd>m>clj>mtgs>DIPPER_Development (nio)

via Multics Mail:
    Fakoury.Tandd on System M

via telephone:
    Richard Fakoury
    HVN:  357-6545
    DDD:  602-862-6545

_________________________________________________________________

Multics  Project  internal  working  documentation.   Not  to  be
reproduced or distributed outside the Multics Project.



                            CONTENTS

                                                         Page

    1.0 Background  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .     1
    2.0 Dipper User Interface . . . . . . . . . . . . .     2
    3.0 A Basic Session . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .     4
       3.1 MCA Attachment . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .     4
       3.2 MCA Communication  . . . . . . . . . . . . .     5
       3.3 Command Line Validation  . . . . . . . . . .     5
       3.4 Device Allocation  . . . . . . . . . . . . .     6
       3.5 Begin Testing  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .     6
       3.6 Load Test Overlay  . . . . . . . . . . . . .     6
       3.7 Test completion  . . . . . . . . . . . . . .     7
          3.7.1 Normal Termination  . . . . . . . . . .     7
          3.7.2 User Requested Termination  . . . . . .     7
          3.7.3 Subsystem Fault . . . . . . . . . . . .     8
    4.0 Security  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .     9


Multics Dipper T&D                                        MTB-630

1.0 BACKGROUND

Dipper is the result of a dramatic change in large systems design
and packaging approach to controllers, device interfaces, and I/O
central  subsystems.  These  changes were  caused by  a number of
factors and  requirements that affects  Honeywell's marketability
in the future.  One of these  requirements is that the I/O module
( IMU ),  the IOM replacement, be capable  of diagnosing problems
internally  down to  a board level.   This must  be achievable in
both  an online  and offline  environment and  the user interface
must be the same for  both.  To accomplish these requirements, it
was  decided to  include a micro  processor in the  design of the
IMU.  This  micro processor is the  Maintenance Channel Adapter (
MCA ).  The  MCA is a dedicated maintenance  processor within the
IMU,  which drives  a serial  maintenance interface  connected to
each  of the  Dipper subsystem  components.  It  has a  number of
tasks which include:

  1.  It is used to maintain a subsystem configuration which will
     reflect the current state of the subsystem components.

 2.  It  will boot  the system  as is  now done  by the  IOM boot
     channel.

 3.  It is used in the maintenance environment to run and control
     tests and diagnostics for all of the Dipper components.

Some   of   these   functions  are   replacements   for  existing
functionalities  and some  are new  and unique.   This paper will
discuss the MCA in its role of T&D processor and how it fits into
the general T&D scheme of  things in the Multics environment.  It
will  attempt  to make  some  correlation to  the way  things are
currently done and the way they will be done in Dipper.

Dipper on Multics will resemble in  many ways the current mode of
operation.   There are  some areas  where the  current and Dipper
diverge but the  basic precepts will remain the  same.  This will
be an attempt  to document the interface between  Multics and the
MCA  as perceived  by the  writer at the  time of  writing and is
subject to change as the development cycle continues.


MTB-630                                        Multics Dipper T&D

2.0 DIPPER USER INTERFACE

The  most  notable  user difference  is  in the  command  line to
initiate  testing.  Previously  a test  request was  initiated by
entering ' test PICCDD ' where P =  type of test to run, I = IOM,
CC =  channel number, and  DD = device number.   For Dipper, this
was replaced by " a more user friendly interface " where the user
enters up to  an 80 character command line  which is identical to
the offline environment.  The test  line will be of the following
format:

test < target > via < path > using < technique > [options]

Where target consists of one of the following:

 1.  IMU - used to run diagnostics on the IMU central.

 2.  PS -  port select to  designate the port  select function of
     the IMU.

 3.  PA X - select port adapter ' X '.

 4.  IPC XX - integrated peripheral controller designated by ' XX
     '.

 5.  PUNCH X - run diagnostics on a card punch device type ' X '.

 6.  INTERFACE - run diagnostics on the IMU internal bus.

 7.  HELP - request assistance with format.

Where path is one of the following:

 1.  IMU X - designates which IMU subsystem ' X ' to use.

 2.  IMU X  IPC XX - designates  the IMU subsystem '  X ' and the
     IPC ' XX '.

 3.  IMU X  IPC XX PORT  XX - designates  the complete path  to a
     unit record device.

 4.  HELP - request help with format.


Multics Dipper T&D                                        MTB-630

The  technique  field specifies  the type  of diagnostic  to run.
These include:

 1.  DIAG - a technique to  comprehensively test the target using
     a variety of tests methods.

 2.  DISP -  invokes the Native  Fault Tests (  NFT ) maintenance
     panel functions.

 3.  DPM  -  ( Diagnostic  Procedure  Module )  a  manually coded
     diagnostic tool that uses the shift register paths as a test
     vehicle.

 4.  QRY - a technique to invoke microprocessor based maintenance
     panel functions.

 5.  NFT - use only NFT testing.

 6.  SELF - the MCA runs internal tests.

 7.  HELP - assist in formatting.


MTB-630                                        Multics Dipper T&D

3.0 A BASIC SESSION

The  session begins  with the  user either  logging in  under the
Tolts project or invoking  Tolts by calling ' bound_tolts_$tolts_
'.  Either way the user enters  the Tolts environment at the same
place.   It is  here the user's  access to system  gates and data
segments  is   verified.   If  for   any  reason  the   user  has
insufficient access, Tolts will  terminate with an error message.
If the person is logged in under the tolts_overseer_ he is logged
out.   After  these  checks,  the  user  has  at  least  passed a
rudimentary  security check,  and should  be allowed  to proceed.
These gates and data segments that are checked are:

 1.  >sl1>phcs_

 2.  >sl1>tandd_

 3.  >sc1>opr_query_data

 4.  >sc1>cdt

 5.  >sc1>rcp>tandd.acs

Next  the user  is prompted  for what type  of exec  he wishes to
invoke.  In this discussion, he will  select Molts as this is the
only subexec that will run the MCA tests.

3.1 MCA Attachment

Molts will be  loaded as is done now  and brought into execution.
The first thing  Molts does is request input from  the user as to
what  activity is  to be  performed by printing  ' ???   ' on the
user's  terminal.  The  user will then  reply with '  test nioI '
(where '  I ' is  an IMU number).  If  ' I ' is  not given, Molts
will terminate the request.

Molts will verify  the accessibility of the MCA  by attempting to
allocate the  MCA though Tolts.  When  Tolts receives the request
to  attach the  MCA, a  validity check  will be  made against the
configuration deck.   If the requested IMU  number corresponds to
valid Dipper  subsystem, a request  will be made  of the operator
via  an opr_query_  request requesting  permission to  run an MCA
test.  If granted, Tolts will  then do an rcp_priv_$attach of the
MCA.

3.2 MCA Communication

When the  MCA is attached  to the requesting  process, Molts will
load and put into execution the  MCA Driver (MCAD), which will do


Multics Dipper T&D                                        MTB-630

the  actual communicating  with the MCA.   Communication with the
MCA is accomplished via three idcws.  These idcws are:

 1.  write text  - idcw command (B0  - B5) = 13  with B22 (c bit)
     set.  This idcw is the only one  that can be used to start a
     test session and must be chained to an idcw type 03.

 2.  write data -  idcw command = 15 with B22  set.  This idcw is
     used to transfer  data to the MCA and must  be chained to an
     idcw type 03.

 3.  request  MCA response  - idcw  command =  03 and  B22 reset.
     This idcw requests a response from the MCA.

3.3 Command Line Validation

MCAD will request from the user a command line with a prompt of '
enter nio request ', which will be  sent as data to the MCA using
an  idcw 15.   The MCA  exec will  recognize the  data as  a test
request and request that the Maintenance Executive be loaded into
the MCA overlay area where it  will be placed in execution.  MCAD
will  perform  a MME  CATA  followed by  a  MME DATA  to  get the
Maintenance  Executive   from  the  deckfile.    MCAD  will  send
Maintenance Executive via channel 3 to the MCA using an idcw with
a command of 15.

The Maintenance Executive will parse  and attempt to validate the
test  request.   If  the request  is  invalid for  any  number of
reasons, ie.   format, invalid device,  or a field with  ' help '
request  inserted.   The  Maintenance Executive  will  attempt to
assist the user in formatting  a valid test request by responding
to  the  outstanding read  with  the appropriate  action  that it
requires MCAD  to take.  This  could be a write/read  to the user
terminal, reading a help file from the deckfile, or whatever else
that  is required  to obtain a  valid test request.   When a test
request is  determined by the Maintenance  Executive to be valid,
the Maintenance  Executive will "echo"  the test request  back to
MCAD, with the  message header block containing a  code that MCAD
will recognize  as a valid  test request is  available.  The user
will then  be queried by MCAD  as to the correctness  of the test
request by  reprinting the test request  followed by the question
"Correct (y  or n)".  If the  response is ' n '  , then MCAD will
terminate the  test request and wrapup.   If the reply is  ' y ',
MCAD  will  reply with  a  negative response  to  the Maintenance
Executive which  will cause the Maintenance  Executive to wrapup.
The  reason  this is  done  is to  allow  the MCA  to  handle the
upcoming  request  to read  the  configuration deck  initiated by
Molts.


MTB-630                                        Multics Dipper T&D

3.4 Device Allocation

MCAD will perform  an as yet unnamed MME that  will pass to Molts
the  valid   test  request.   Molts   will  then  read   the  MCA
configuration deck using an idcw 15 to determine what devices are
required to  execute the test  request and then  request Tolts to
allocate the devices for testing.   Each device requested will be
validated  against   the  Multics  configuration   deck  and  the
associated devices will be  attached using rcp_priv_$attach as it
is  done today.   If all requested  devices can  not be attached,
Molts will close out the request  and wrapup.  If all devices are
attached, Molts will notify MCAD of the successful attachments.

3.5 Begin Testing

MCAD will  send the command line  to the MCA using  an idcw of 13
(write  text  command).   This  is   the  only  time  during  the
maintenance  session that  the idcw 13  will be  used.  All other
idcw  requests will  utilize the idcw  15 chained to  an idcw 03.
This  will  allow  ioi  an  opportunity  to  also  read  the  MCA
configuration and  validate the test request.   If the request is
valid, it  will be sent to  the MCA where the  MCA Executive will
detect the  presents of a '  test ' request and  request that the
Maintenance  Executive  be loaded  and  placed into  execution as
previously  described.   The  MCA  Executive will  then  pass the
command   request  to   the  Maintenance   Executive  which  will
revalidate it as  a valid request and echo this  back to MCAD who
will then  reply with an affirmative  response to the Maintenance
Executive.

3.6 Load Test Overlay

The  Maintenance Executive  will then interpret  the command line
and request that the appropriate Test  Driver be sent to the MCA,
where  it  will  be loaded  in  the overlay  area  overlaying the
Maintenance  Executive.  The  Test Driver will  then request that
each test  case be loaded  and executed individually.   Each test
case will be sent using an idcw  15 which will send the test case
to  the  MCA  followed  by an  idcw  03  which will  keep  the IO
outstanding to  the host and provide  a means for the  MCA ( Test
Driver  )  to  reply  with  the  results  of  the  test.   When a
particular test  is completed, the Test  Driver will request that
the  Maintenance Executive  be loaded  into the  overlay area and
placed  back  into  execution.   The  Maintenance  Executive will
determine  the  mode it  is  running, ie.   if  only one  test or
multiple test mode.


Multics Dipper T&D                                        MTB-630

3.7 Test completion

Testing  will continue  until one  of three  events occur.  These
events are:

 1.  normal test termination.

 2.  user elected termination.

 3.  subsystem fault.

3.7.1 NORMAL TERMINATION

Normal  termination  will  occur when  the  Maintenance Executive
determines that all test that are  scheduled to run have been run
to  completion.   The  Maintenance  Executive will  then  do some
housekeeping and wrapup by sending a normal terminate to MCAD and
returning control  to the MCA Executive.   MCAD seeing the normal
terminate will also  wrapup to Molts, who will  then read the MCA
configuration  to determine  the state  of the  hardware that was
tested.  This state  is reflected to Tolts when  Molts does a MME
RELEASE.    Tolts   will  then   verify   the  users   access  to
>sc1>rcp>mca_mp.acs.   If  the  user  does  not  have  sufficient
access, Tolts will do a  normal rcp_$detach.  Multics will verify
the state of  the resource by reading the  MCA configuration.  If
the flag  ' F/W load required  ' in the MCA  configuration is set
Multics  can  have  MCA reload  the  firmware.  If  the  user has
sufficient access,  Tolts will query the  user if firmware should
be reloaded.  If  the user replies "yes", Tolts  will do a normal
rcp_$detach as above and the  sequence is the same.  If, however,
the     user     replies     "no",     Tolts     will     do    a
rcp_$detach_no_firmware_load.   RCP will  verify user  access and
release  the  resource and  notify the  system operator  that the
resource has been released with no firmware reload.

3.7.2 USER REQUESTED TERMINATION

The user  will request termination  by depressing the  break key,
which will cause a  prompt of ' ???  ' to be  printed on the user
terminal.  The user will then input a ' test neio ' request which
will then  be passed to  Molt where it  will be interrupted  as a
termination  request.   Molts  will  notify MCAD  that  it  has a
termination request  which will be  passed to the  overlay module
currently running  in the MCA.   If the Maintenance  Executive is
not in operation  at this time, it will be  reloaded and put into
execution after the module that  was currently running cleans up.
The remaining sequence is the same as for a normal termination.


MTB-630                                        Multics Dipper T&D

3.7.3 SUBSYSTEM FAULT

If  a  subsystem  fault occurs  while  T&D is  in  operation, the
overlay in  operation is terminated  and a status  is returned to
MCAD  stating  abnormal  termination  system  fault.   The  fault
handling overlay  will then be  loaded into the  overlay area and
placed  into execution  by the  MCA.  MCAD  will then  cleanup as
previously stated.


Multics Dipper T&D                                        MTB-630

4.0 SECURITY

There has been a lot of discussion on permitting Tolts to run T&D
through the MCA.   The major complaint has been  the feeling that
security has been  compromised by allowing the MCA  run the test.
It is  felt that Multics loses  control once it passes  the MCA a
command line.  I am of the  opinion that although the actual test
pages that are run  in the MCA do not meet the  all levels of the
Multics design specifications, it is not much different than what
is done today when running with the MPC.  The only guarantee that
these devices perform as specified  is that all operating systems
run the same firmware and test pages and therefore are thoroughly
exposed.  Also  on Multics, access  can be restricted  to the MCA
and its associated  test pages to any degree  that a site elects.
I  will attempt  to discuss some  of the ideas  I have concerning
this matter.

 1.  Access to the MCA can be  controlled by Multics as disks are
     controlled now.  The  device can be attached by  rcp at boot
     time  and for  a user  to use  the MCA,  the system operator
     would  be required  to use  the set_device_usage  command to
     allow a user to attach it.

 2.  Access to  the MCA can also  be controlled by an  acs seg in
     >sc1>rcp which will be checked by rcp during attachment.

 3.   The firmware, which is read from a diskette attached to the
     MCA should only be loaded by Multics.  This will ensure that
     only  firmware  that  was  used  by  the  MCA,  initially at
     bootload will  be reloaded.  Multics will  be able to verify
     the  state  of  the  resource in  question  as  well  as the
     validity   of   the  firmware   diskette.    Having  Multics
     controlling the  firmware reload will place  the final state
     of the device back into the Multics security kernel.