PCI NMI Board (Dump Switch)

NTDEV
1

Anybody have an idea where to get a PCI NMI board (a.k.a. “Dump Switch”)?
This is used to induce memory dumps and is described on Microsoft’s web site
http://www.microsoft.com/hwdev/platform/proc/dmpswP.asp.

((&-<

2

I would love to get my hands on one of these boards. I am presented with
computer problems involving freezing before boot, hanging in mid-stream,
and other problems where an NMI switch (for the PCI bus) would come in
VERY handy. Microsoft has an article on making such a board, and I may
end up taking that route if there isn’t a commercial one around.

-----Original Message-----
From: xxxxx@lists.osr.com [mailto:bounce-ntdev-
xxxxx@lists.osr.com] On Behalf Of QuasiCodo
Sent: Thursday, February 06, 2003 5:26 PM
To: NT Developers Interest List
Subject: [ntdev] PCI NMI Board (Dump Switch)

Anybody have an idea where to get a PCI NMI board (a.k.a. “Dump
Switch”)?
This is used to induce memory dumps and is described on
Microsoft’s web site
http://www.microsoft.com/hwdev/platform/proc/dmpswP.asp.

3

Build one yourself from an old unused ISA or PCI card – it’s only a case of
joining two pins on the bus temporarily.

-----Original Message-----
From: Lee Mowatt [mailto:xxxxx@craftechsoftware.com]
Sent: Friday, February 07, 2003 4:19 PM
To: NT Developers Interest List
Subject: [ntdev] RE: PCI NMI Board (Dump Switch)

I would love to get my hands on one of these boards. I am presented with
computer problems involving freezing before boot, hanging in mid-stream,
and other problems where an NMI switch (for the PCI bus) would come in
VERY handy. Microsoft has an article on making such a board, and I may
end up taking that route if there isn’t a commercial one around.

-----Original Message-----
From: xxxxx@lists.osr.com [mailto:bounce-ntdev-
xxxxx@lists.osr.com] On Behalf Of QuasiCodo
Sent: Thursday, February 06, 2003 5:26 PM
To: NT Developers Interest List
Subject: [ntdev] PCI NMI Board (Dump Switch)

Anybody have an idea where to get a PCI NMI board (a.k.a. “Dump
Switch”)?
This is used to induce memory dumps and is described on
Microsoft’s web site
http://www.microsoft.com/hwdev/platform/proc/dmpswP.asp.

4

> Anybody have an idea where to get a PCI NMI board (a.k.a. “Dump Switch”)?

This is used to induce memory dumps and is described on Microsoft’s web
site
http://www.microsoft.com/hwdev/platform/proc/dmpswP.asp.

You can get processor boards (and plug in PCI cards) with hardware watchdog
timers. You basically activate these timers and if you don’t “reset” them
within a programmable interval they will cause a NMI. It’s pretty easy to
write a little app/driver that checks the health of the system and resets
the watchdog if it’s ok. It seems like you could also have this app check
the status of something like a com port for specific status, and put a
switch across appropriate pins.

  • Jan
5

Yeah, I know. In the good ol’ DOS days on ISA, I used a paper clip to to
connect Ground to NMI. Most of the time, this worked and the debugger would
break in to a point where I could debug the problem. However, sometimes,
the NMI signaled bounced so much that the bus hung – or some other nasty
thing.

However, the system I’m working on doesn’t have ISA bus – and I don’t want
to try the paper clip with PCI – I might ruin something. I’d rather have a
dump switch to do it properly.

I saw in some a MS website where they are recommending that the Dump Switch
become a standard feature on Enterprise type machines. How I wish they were
standard right now on all motherboards!

((&-<

6

Sounds like someone could make a nice little business out of this.

((&-<

7

Actually, this sounds like a good idea. However, this is more work than I
want to do.

I actually write the driver for a network device that has a watchdog on it
and does exactly what you described. It would be a matter of combining the
MS Dump Switch spec with the watchdog chip and some driver to strobe the
watchdog.

((&-<

8

If enough of you all are interested, I could be persuaded. Would you be willing to fork over $120 for it? (I know that seems high, but remember it’s not exactly a high volume market… gotta amortize the layout costs, the build costs, etc.)

-----Original Message-----
From: QuasiCodo [mailto:xxxxx@Nobody.com]
Sent: Monday, February 10, 2003 10:53 AM
To: NT Developers Interest List
Subject: [ntdev] Re: PCI NMI Board (Dump Switch)

Sounds like someone could make a nice little business out of this.

((&-<

You are currently subscribed to ntdev as: xxxxx@livco.com
To unsubscribe send a blank email to xxxxx@lists.osr.com

9

Count me in - I’ve been looking for this for a while also… (heck, even
the old 128k Macs had a MacsBug switch you could plug into the side to
force an interrupt into the debugger).

  • Nicholas Ryan

-----Original Message-----
From: xxxxx@lists.osr.com
[mailto:xxxxx@lists.osr.com] On Behalf Of Miramonti, John
Sent: Monday, February 10, 2003 8:47 AM
To: NT Developers Interest List
Subject: [ntdev] Re: PCI NMI Board (Dump Switch)

If enough of you all are interested, I could be persuaded.
Would you be willing to fork over $120 for it? (I know that
seems high, but remember it’s not exactly a high volume
market… gotta amortize the layout costs, the build costs, etc.)

-----Original Message-----
From: QuasiCodo [mailto:xxxxx@Nobody.com]
Sent: Monday, February 10, 2003 10:53 AM
To: NT Developers Interest List
Subject: [ntdev] Re: PCI NMI Board (Dump Switch)

Sounds like someone could make a nice little business out of this.

((&-<

You are currently subscribed to ntdev as:
xxxxx@livco.com To unsubscribe send a blank email to
xxxxx@lists.osr.com

You are currently subscribed to ntdev as: xxxxx@nryan.com
To unsubscribe send a blank email to xxxxx@lists.osr.com

10

I don’t think the bean-counters here would mind $120 for such a thing.
It sure would be worth it to me in the time I spend in solving these
types of problems. I say go for it, and tell me where to send the $120.

Lee

-----Original Message-----
From: xxxxx@lists.osr.com [mailto:bounce-ntdev-
xxxxx@lists.osr.com] On Behalf Of Miramonti, John
Sent: Monday, February 10, 2003 11:47 AM
To: NT Developers Interest List
Subject: [ntdev] Re: PCI NMI Board (Dump Switch)

If enough of you all are interested, I could be persuaded.
Would you be willing to fork over $120 for it? (I know that
seems high, but remember it’s not exactly a high volume
market… gotta amortize the layout costs, the build costs,
etc.)

-----Original Message-----
From: QuasiCodo [mailto:xxxxx@Nobody.com]
Sent: Monday, February 10, 2003 10:53 AM
To: NT Developers Interest List
Subject: [ntdev] Re: PCI NMI Board (Dump Switch)

Sounds like someone could make a nice little business out of
this.

((&-<

You are currently subscribed to ntdev as:
xxxxx@livco.com
To unsubscribe send a blank email to leave-ntdev-
xxxxx@lists.osr.com

You are currently subscribed to ntdev as:
xxxxx@craftechsoftware.com
To unsubscribe send a blank email to leave-ntdev-
xxxxx@lists.osr.com

11

If I get enough interest, (like 20-30), I’ll do it…

-----Original Message-----
From: Lee Mowatt [mailto:xxxxx@craftechsoftware.com]
Sent: Monday, February 10, 2003 3:58 PM
To: NT Developers Interest List
Subject: [ntdev] Re: PCI NMI Board (Dump Switch)

I don’t think the bean-counters here would mind $120 for such a thing.
It sure would be worth it to me in the time I spend in solving these
types of problems. I say go for it, and tell me where to send the $120.

Lee

-----Original Message-----
From: xxxxx@lists.osr.com [mailto:bounce-ntdev-
xxxxx@lists.osr.com] On Behalf Of Miramonti, John
Sent: Monday, February 10, 2003 11:47 AM
To: NT Developers Interest List
Subject: [ntdev] Re: PCI NMI Board (Dump Switch)

If enough of you all are interested, I could be persuaded.
Would you be willing to fork over $120 for it? (I know that
seems high, but remember it’s not exactly a high volume
market… gotta amortize the layout costs, the build costs,
etc.)

-----Original Message-----
From: QuasiCodo [mailto:xxxxx@Nobody.com]
Sent: Monday, February 10, 2003 10:53 AM
To: NT Developers Interest List
Subject: [ntdev] Re: PCI NMI Board (Dump Switch)

Sounds like someone could make a nice little business out of
this.

((&-<

You are currently subscribed to ntdev as:
xxxxx@livco.com
To unsubscribe send a blank email to leave-ntdev-
xxxxx@lists.osr.com

You are currently subscribed to ntdev as:
xxxxx@craftechsoftware.com
To unsubscribe send a blank email to leave-ntdev-
xxxxx@lists.osr.com

You are currently subscribed to ntdev as: xxxxx@livco.com
To unsubscribe send a blank email to xxxxx@lists.osr.com

12

Sure. I will commit to 2. When can you deliver?

((&->

13

When I have enough orders, plus about 2-3 weeks.

-----Original Message-----
From: QuasiCodo [mailto:xxxxx@Nobody.com]
Sent: Tuesday, February 11, 2003 1:10 PM
To: NT Developers Interest List
Subject: [ntdev] Re: PCI NMI Board (Dump Switch)

Sure. I will commit to 2. When can you deliver?

((&->

You are currently subscribed to ntdev as: xxxxx@livco.com
To unsubscribe send a blank email to xxxxx@lists.osr.com

14

Server motherboards generally have this built in. Do a search on “nmi switch”.

-----Original Message-----
From: QuasiCodo [mailto:xxxxx@Nobody.com]
Sent: Thursday, February 06, 2003 4:26 PM
To: NT Developers Interest List
Subject: [ntdev] PCI NMI Board (Dump Switch)

Anybody have an idea where to get a PCI NMI board (a.k.a. “Dump Switch”)?
This is used to induce memory dumps and is described on Microsoft’s web site
http://www.microsoft.com/hwdev/platform/proc/dmpswP.asp.

((&-<

You are currently subscribed to ntdev as: xxxxx@interactivesi.com
To unsubscribe send a blank email to xxxxx@lists.osr.com